Hey guys, Arizona softball starts its season tomorrow with the first pitch set for 6 p.m. versus Long Beach State to open the 2023 season in the Candrea Classic.
The Wildcats will play five games throughout the weekend against Long Beach State ( Thu. 6 p.m.), Kansas (Fri. 4 p.m.), Long Beach State (Fri. 6 p.m.), North Carolina State (Sat. 3 p.m.), and finishes off with North Carolina State (Sun. Noon).
Arizona is coming off a season where the Wildcats finished with their worst record in the regular season with a record of (39-22, 8-16 Pac-12) and yet managed to go on a run in the NCAA tournament sweeping both the Regional and Super Regional round with wins over Missouri (hosted the Regional) and Mississippi State (hosted the Super Regional) on their way to the Women's College World Series under first-year head coach Caitlin Lowe.
The Wildcats went 1-2 in the WCWS and were eliminated by Texas, who went on its own magical run to the Championship Series before getting swept by title winners Oklahoma.
Things looked to be looking bright for the Wildcats heading into the offseason with the potential of adding to a roster that seemed to welcome most key players returning. However, Lowe's team was hit by the transfer portal losing outfielder Janelle Meono (2021 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award winner) and catcher Sharlize Palacios, who became a staple in the heart of the order with a career batting average of .335 with 39 homer runs and 128 RBIs. Arizona lost four other players to the transfer portal, none of which got very much playing time and moved on to programs with the potential of more time on the field.
Key subtractions:
- Sharlize Palacios (transfer)
- Janelle Meono (transfer)
- Hannah Bowen (graduation)
The Wildcats' recruiting class ranked No. 8 according to Extra Innings Softball signing at the time five recruits. SInce then, Arizona added to the class with pitcher Aissa Silva, who reclassified from the 2024 class to be a part of the 2023 roster. Silva was ranked No. 6 overall softball high school player.
Recruiting class additions:
- P Aissa Silva (No. 6 recruit)
- INF Tayler Biehl (No. 15 recruit)
- INF Logan Cole ( No. 23 recruit)
- C/1B Olivia DiNardo (No. 7 recruit)
- OF Dakota Kennedy (No. 4 recruit)
- P Sydney Somerdyke ( No. 13 recruit)
Arizona was able to add to its roster through the transfer portal as well as its recruiting class. The Wildcats only had pitcher Devyn Netz coming back from the 2022 roster in terms of pitchers. So, Lowe's staff spent the offseason trying to add to the rotation and did so with transfers from other schools and even went to the junior college ranks to get help in the circle.
Transfer additions:
- P Brianna Hardy (JuCo)
- P Ali Blanchard (Princeton)
- OF Ali Ashner
As the Wildcats head into the 2023 season ranked No. 12 in the country by USA Today/NFCA, Arizona still has a lot of question marks similarly to what it had last season with the rotation and how the starting lineup will shape up. However, the roster still have key players in Allie Skaggs, Carlie Scupin, Jasmine Perezchica and Izzy Pacho from last season.
Projected rotation:
1. Devyn Netz
2. Ali Blanchard
3. Sydney Somerdyke
4. Brianna Hardy
5. Aissa Silva
I think this rotation is subject to change throughout the season as the freshmen get their feet wet and used to playing at the NCA-level. Also, the play of Somerdyke will be critical to the team's success and might be the determining factor on what the ceiling can be for this young roster.
Projected starting lineup/batting order:
1. CF Jasmine Perezchica
2. 3B Blaise Biringer
3. 2B Allie Skaggs
4. 1B Carlie Scupin
5. C Izzy Pacho
6. RF Paige Dimler
7. LF Ali Ashner
8. DP Dakota Kennedy
9. SS Sophia Carroll
The lineup has question marks in it as well with the loss of Meono and Palacios, but has the potential to put up a high number of runs and be one of the top run producing lineups in the Pac-12. Plus, the Wildcats will have to go with Pacho at catcher, which she has played in the past. However, she played mostly third base last season.
When you look at everything, I think a realistic season for this Arizona team is trying to host a Regional and advance to a Super Regional. However, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that the Wildcats get bounced in the a road Regional given the massive question marks surrounding the rotation.
The Wildcats will play five games throughout the weekend against Long Beach State ( Thu. 6 p.m.), Kansas (Fri. 4 p.m.), Long Beach State (Fri. 6 p.m.), North Carolina State (Sat. 3 p.m.), and finishes off with North Carolina State (Sun. Noon).
Arizona is coming off a season where the Wildcats finished with their worst record in the regular season with a record of (39-22, 8-16 Pac-12) and yet managed to go on a run in the NCAA tournament sweeping both the Regional and Super Regional round with wins over Missouri (hosted the Regional) and Mississippi State (hosted the Super Regional) on their way to the Women's College World Series under first-year head coach Caitlin Lowe.
The Wildcats went 1-2 in the WCWS and were eliminated by Texas, who went on its own magical run to the Championship Series before getting swept by title winners Oklahoma.
Things looked to be looking bright for the Wildcats heading into the offseason with the potential of adding to a roster that seemed to welcome most key players returning. However, Lowe's team was hit by the transfer portal losing outfielder Janelle Meono (2021 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award winner) and catcher Sharlize Palacios, who became a staple in the heart of the order with a career batting average of .335 with 39 homer runs and 128 RBIs. Arizona lost four other players to the transfer portal, none of which got very much playing time and moved on to programs with the potential of more time on the field.
Key subtractions:
- Sharlize Palacios (transfer)
- Janelle Meono (transfer)
- Hannah Bowen (graduation)
The Wildcats' recruiting class ranked No. 8 according to Extra Innings Softball signing at the time five recruits. SInce then, Arizona added to the class with pitcher Aissa Silva, who reclassified from the 2024 class to be a part of the 2023 roster. Silva was ranked No. 6 overall softball high school player.
Recruiting class additions:
- P Aissa Silva (No. 6 recruit)
- INF Tayler Biehl (No. 15 recruit)
- INF Logan Cole ( No. 23 recruit)
- C/1B Olivia DiNardo (No. 7 recruit)
- OF Dakota Kennedy (No. 4 recruit)
- P Sydney Somerdyke ( No. 13 recruit)
Arizona was able to add to its roster through the transfer portal as well as its recruiting class. The Wildcats only had pitcher Devyn Netz coming back from the 2022 roster in terms of pitchers. So, Lowe's staff spent the offseason trying to add to the rotation and did so with transfers from other schools and even went to the junior college ranks to get help in the circle.
Transfer additions:
- P Brianna Hardy (JuCo)
- P Ali Blanchard (Princeton)
- OF Ali Ashner
As the Wildcats head into the 2023 season ranked No. 12 in the country by USA Today/NFCA, Arizona still has a lot of question marks similarly to what it had last season with the rotation and how the starting lineup will shape up. However, the roster still have key players in Allie Skaggs, Carlie Scupin, Jasmine Perezchica and Izzy Pacho from last season.
Projected rotation:
1. Devyn Netz
2. Ali Blanchard
3. Sydney Somerdyke
4. Brianna Hardy
5. Aissa Silva
I think this rotation is subject to change throughout the season as the freshmen get their feet wet and used to playing at the NCA-level. Also, the play of Somerdyke will be critical to the team's success and might be the determining factor on what the ceiling can be for this young roster.
Projected starting lineup/batting order:
1. CF Jasmine Perezchica
2. 3B Blaise Biringer
3. 2B Allie Skaggs
4. 1B Carlie Scupin
5. C Izzy Pacho
6. RF Paige Dimler
7. LF Ali Ashner
8. DP Dakota Kennedy
9. SS Sophia Carroll
The lineup has question marks in it as well with the loss of Meono and Palacios, but has the potential to put up a high number of runs and be one of the top run producing lineups in the Pac-12. Plus, the Wildcats will have to go with Pacho at catcher, which she has played in the past. However, she played mostly third base last season.
When you look at everything, I think a realistic season for this Arizona team is trying to host a Regional and advance to a Super Regional. However, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that the Wildcats get bounced in the a road Regional given the massive question marks surrounding the rotation.
