SATURDAY MAY 25 SUPER REGIONALS
nn Arbor | Austin | Columbia | Eugene | Gainesville | Knoxville | Norman | Tempe
ANN ARBOR SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Friday, May 24 Game 1: Louisiana-Lafayette 3, No. 8 Michigan 4 (8)
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: Louisiana-Lafayette 5, No. 8 Michigan 0. Cajuns force Game Three.
Game 3: No. 8 Michigan 2, Louisiana-Lafayette 1. Michigan advances to Women’s College World Series
AUSTIN SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Austin, Texas
Friday, May 24 Game 1: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 9 p.m. POSTPONED
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: Florida State lost to No. 4 Texas 4-2
Game 2: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 3 p.m. Sunday (ESPNU)
Game 3 (if necessary)
COLUMBIA SUPER REGIONAL May 23-24 | Columbia, Mo.
Thursday, May 23 Game 1: No. 11 Washington 2. No. 6 Missouri 1 (8)
Friday, May 24 Game 2: No. 11 Washington 1, No. 6 Missouri 0 Huskies advance to WCWS
EUGENE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Eugene, Ore.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: No. 14 Nebraska 5, No. 3 Oregon 2
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 3 p.m. (ESPNU) Game 3: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) (if necessary)
GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Gainesville, Fla.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: Florida 4, UAB 3
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, Noon (ESPN) Game 3: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, 3 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary)
KNOXVILLE SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Knoxville, Tenn.
Friday, May 24 Game 1: No. 10 Alabama 2, No. 7 Tennessee 3
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: No. 10 Alabama loses to No. 7 Tennessee, 5-3 Vols advance to College World Series
Game 3: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) (if necessary)
NORMAN SUPER REGIONAL May 23-24 | Norman, Okla.
Thursday, May 23 Game 1: No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, POSTPONED
Friday, May 24 Game 1: No. 16 Texas A&M 2. No. 1 Oklahoma 10 (6)
Game 2: #16 Texas A&M 0, No. 1 Oklahoma 8 (5) Oklahoma advances to Women’s College World Series
TEMPE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Tempe, Ariz.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: No. 12 Kentucky def by No. 5 Arizona State* 5-4
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Game 3: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) (if necessary)
GAME NOTES
SATURDAY SCHEDULE (posted by NCAA)
1200 Oklahoma 8, Texas A&M 0 (5)
WP Keilani Ricketts 7K, 3H. LP Mel Dumezich. The Sooners have played with both aggressiveness at bat and in the field, and, with passion honoring the victims of the tornado in nearby Moore, their helmets emblazoned with the Oklahoma symbol. They advanced to the WCWS with a display of their vaunted power, starting with a solo shot by Pendley in the 1st. OU 3rd: Chamberlain singled, Casey walked; Pendley turned on a 1-2 pitch which she jacked over the fence in right, 3 rbi. Two out in the Sooners 4th, Turang singled, Chamberlain walked, Casey hbp, Pendley drew an rbi walk (fifth rbi), Ricketts doubled to center, 2 rbi. After TAMU changed pitchers (Lauren Ainsley), Williams singled, rbi. Sooners 8-0. The Aggies went down in order in the 4th; in their fifth, facing run-rule, Morgam struck out, pinch-hitter Shannon flied out, Dumezich hbp on a full count, Dozier struck out. OU (50-4) will play the winner of the Ann Arbor super regional.
1200 Louisiana Lafayette 5, Michigan 0. Cajuns force Game Three
WP Jordan Wallace LP Sara Driesenga. Seemingly raging after their mental and physical errors contributed to Michigan’s 8-inning win in Game One, the Cajuns came out firing. After Driesenga relieved starter Haylie Wagner, in the ULL 4th, Draheim belted a solo. Haack singled; with two out, Corbello jacked a 2-run homer, 3-0. One out, ULL 6th, Draheim slugged her second homer. Haack singled, scored two batters later on an error. Knapp singled in the 7th but was stranded. Impressive performance by Wallace: 3H, 10K. Michigan had won 20 straight games at home. ESPN announced that Game Three would begin at 3pm.
100 Florida 4, UAB 3
WP Hannah Rogers LP Leigh Streetman in relief. Gators score two bottom 7th. UAB 2nd: pinch-runner Britt scored on error at 1st. Two out Gator 3rd, Stewart singled, scored on McGrath single. Two out, UAB 5th: Attfield singled, Pearson doubled, Attfield scored on Fletcher single, UAB left bases loaded. Two out, Gators 5th: Merritt hbp, Tofft and Haeger singled, bases loaded, Horton hbp, rbi’ Gators also left bases loaded. Streetman relieved starter Lannah Campbell in 6th after Little walked and Fullersingled; again Gators left bases loaded. Two out, top 7th, UAB regained lead; Fletcher walked, Armstrong singled, Fletcher scored on McGrath single; UAB stranded two. Gators 7th: Haeger and Horton walked; Schwarz hbp, bases loaded, Schwarz hbp, rbi; game tied. Fuller looked at a third strike but Medina singled to left, driving in the winning run.
300 Michigan 2, Louisiana Lafayette 1 (what if game) Michigan wins Super Regional
WP Sara Driesenga 4H, 7K. LP Jordan Wallace. ULL broke the scoring ice with a run top 4th; Draheim scored on Landry single. Two out, Michigan 5th: Romero hbp; Blanchard single; Lane, formidable in previous games, doubled home both runners. Ragin Cajuns went down in order in 6th and 7th. Michigan advances to play Oklahoma on Thursday at the WCWS. Spy note: didn’t watch every at-bat of every game, but officiating crew at Ann Arbor was the only crew we saw calling slappers for being out of the box. Important rule, rarely called.
500 Tennessee 5, Alabama 3 Tennessee wins Super Regional and WCWS berth
WP Ivy Renfroe LP Jackie Trains Save Ellen Renfroe. There will be no repeat for 2012 WCWS champion Alabama, but the Tide made a major effort. Bama led 3-0, scoring 2 rums bottom 1st on Fichtner single which brought home Braud and McCleney (singles), then scoring a run bottom 2nd when McCleney reached on an error with bases loaded. All 3 runs off Ivy Renfroe. Vols loaded bases top 3rd, scoring on Shipman’s sac fly. Top 4th: Vols tied; Dotson and Brown singled; Dotson scored on Gaffin’s sac fly. Akamine walked, Burroughs in to run; both advanced on a passed ball; Lewis walked, Brown scored. 3-3. Shipman opened Vols 5th with a double; scored go-ahead run on Dotson’ sac fly. Cheyenne Tarango pitched bottom 5th; Tide stranded two. Vols 6th: Akamine singled; Leslie Jury relieved Traina. Lewis singled; both were stranded. Ellen Renfroe pitched the 6th; hita batter, no runs. ols 7th: Tarango walked, Hammond in to run; scored final run on Brown’s double up the middle. Tide 7th: McCleney singled, but Renfroe struck out two of three. Tennessee will face the winner of the Gainesville super regional.
600 Florida State def by Texas 3-2
WP Blaire Luna 10K. LP Monica Perry. Lacey Waldrop started for FSU and gave the first two Longhorn runs but Perry gave up the tiebreaker in the 6th. The Seminoles took the lead in the 3rd on East’s 2-run double. The Horns tallied a run on Scott’s rbi single in the 4th, and tied the game on Washington’s rbi double in the 5th. Florida State left bases loaded top 6th. After Perry relieved to pitch the bottom, the Horns scored when Schmidt singled, Scott rbi double.
800 Nebraska def Oregon 5-2
WP Ysyum Edwards LP Jessica Moore. Many observers contended that Oregon was a Top 5 teams, but the Huskers were battle-tested in Regionals against Top 25 teams. his gamr was effectively decided in the top 5th. Armstrong singled, advanced on a sac bunt by Fowler, Bettiol walked, Tatum Edwards singled, loading the bases. Banda singled, rbi; two out, Thomason jacked the fourth grand slam of her career, 5-0. The Ducks rallied, bottom 7th. One out, Pappas and Howard singled, Lindvall walked, Moore grounded out, rbi; Costa reached on an error at short, Howard scored. Takeda lined to short. Next game Sunday 3pm.
1000 Kentucky def by Arizona State 5-4
WP Dallas Escobedo LP Kelsey Hunley Save Mackenzie Popescue. Sun Devils scored bottom 3rd on Coyle’s 3-run homer. The Wildcats scored in the 5th on Stoke’s solo HR. ASU countered in the bottom with Johnson’s rbi triple and Coyles rbi sac fly. Kentucky rebounded with three homers in the 6th: Cumbess, O’Brien and Stokes (again). Ahead 5-4, ASU relieved Escobedo, Popescue gave up a walk but Kentucky could not rally.
NCAA SUNDAY SCHEDULE
1200 Florida vs UAB
300 Florida vs UAB (if necessary)
300 Texas vs Florida State
300 Oregon vs Nebraska
500 Arizona State vs Kentucky
600 Oregon vs Nebraska (if necessary)
600 Texas vs Florida State (if necessary)
800 Arizona State vs Kentucky (if necessary)
Women’s College World Series
May 30-June 5 (double-elimination) | Oklahoma City
FRIDAY SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Super Regional Round
May 23-26 (double-elimination)
Note the changed schedule for Norman Super Regional.
Ann Arbor | Austin | Columbia | Eugene | Gainesville | Knoxville | Norman | Tempe
ANN ARBOR SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Friday, May 24 Game 1: Louisiana-Lafayette 3, No. 8 Michigan 4 (8)
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. No. 8 Michigan, Noon (ESPN)
Game 3: Louisiana-Layfette vs. No. 8 Michigan, 3 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary)
AUSTIN SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Austin, Texas
Friday, May 24 Game 1: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 9 p.m. POSTPONED
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 3 p.m. (ESPNU) Game 2: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 3 (if necessary)
COLUMBIA SUPER REGIONAL May 23-24 | Columbia, Mo.
Thursday, May 23 Game 1: No. 11 Washington 2. No. 6 Missouri 1 (8)
Friday, May 24 Game 2: No. 11 Washington 1, No. 6 Missouri 0 Huskies advance to WCWS
EUGENE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Eugene, Ore.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 3 p.m. (ESPNU) Game 3: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) (if necessary)
GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Gainesville, Fla.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, 1 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, Noon (ESPN) Game 3: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, 3 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary)
KNOXVILLE SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Knoxville, Tenn.
Friday, May 24 Game 1: No. 10 Alabama 2, No. 7 Tennessee 3
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Tennessee, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Game 3: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) (if necessary)
NORMAN SUPER REGIONAL May 23-24 | Norman, Okla.
Thursday, May 23 Game 1: No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, POSTPONED
Friday, May 24 Game 1: No. 16 Texas A&M 2. No. 1 Oklahoma 10 (6)
Game 2: 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Oklahoma tbd, Game 3 tbd if necessary
TEMPE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Tempe, Ariz.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Game 3: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) (if necessary)
GAME NOTES
Michigan 4, Louisiana-Lafayette 3 (8)
WP Haylie Wagner in relief. LP Jordan Wallace. Michigan won on Lane’s walkoff, 2-run homer bottom 8th. ULL spotted the Wolverines 2 runs, bottom 1st, a lead UM held until the 7th. Leading off, Doyle reached on the first of two close plays at 1st. Sappingfield sacrificed. Doyle reached 3rd on the first of several wild pitches/passed balls. The box says Romero doubled, rbi. Actually, Romero hit a fly ball to right center, which CF Cherry and two other fielders watched drop between them. Romero scored on Blanchard’s single. She went to 3rd on a wild pitch but Wallace nailed the first of 10Ks and Sweet popped. The players on both teams treated viewers to sparkling defensive plays, Romero showing agility at short on two deflected balls which would have been hits. ULL left runners on 2nd and 3rd top 6th. With 2 out in the ULL 7th, UM was a strike away but Meyers slashed a 1-2 pitch for a single. Cherry jacked a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right center, tying the game. UM down in order. Top 8th: Haack homered to left, ULL up 3-2. One out, Corbello singled, pinch ruinner Thomas advanced on a wild pitch; Walsh singled to left. Wagner relieved starter Sara Driesenga, and fanned May. Walsh stole 2nd; but Fernandez fouled out to 3rd. The conventional wisdom is that you can’t give breaks to an experienced, well-coached team, and again the Wolverines made the Ragin Cajuns pay in the 8th. Blanchard was hit by Wallace’s first pitch. Lane’s foul pop-up outside 1st was caught and dropped by Haack. Pinch runner Virgit advanced on a passed ball. Lane slugged a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence. The defensive play of the game was made by Sappingfield in right; two on, two out in 5th, Cherry socked a pitch to right which Sappingfield deflected as it cleared the wall back onto the field, holding both runners while snuffing a three-run homer.
Washington 1, Missouri 0 Washington advances to Women’s College World Series
WP Bryanna Walker LP Chelsea Thomas. Save Kaitlyn Inglesby. Each pitcher was tagged for 2 hits. The first Husky hit was the dagger in the Tigers: Hayward led off with a home run on a 2-0 count — the only run of the game. Missouri forced a pitching change top 6th: Crane and Marston singled; Kaitlyn Inglesby relieved Walker. Three groundouts ended the at-bat. Washington will face the winner of the Oregon/UAB super regional.
Oklahoma 10, Texas A&M 2 (6)
WP Keilani Ricketts 2H, 13K. LP Mel Dumezich 6H.. Ricketts 3-run walkoff home run in 6th ends game on run-rule. Ricketts struck out first five Aggies. OU 1st: Chamberlain walked; one out, Chamberlain advanced on wild pitch; two out, Ricketts singled, rbi. OU 2nd: Williams hbp; two outs; Turang doubled, rbi, Chamberlain doubled, rbi, but out at 3rd. May led the Aggie 3rd with the first Aggie hit, a solo. One out, Aggie 4th, Lanphear slugged her 20th HR; TAMU leads D1. The Sooners loaded the bases on the 5thbut left three stranded. OU 6th: Williams walked, Vest in to run; Martinez singled; Parsons out on infield fly; Turang singled, loading the bases; Chamberlain and Casey drew rbi ealks on 3-2 counts. Lauren Ainsley relieved Dumezich. Pendley walked, rbi; Chamberlain scored on a wild pitch; Ricketts jacked a 3-run home run on a 3-2 count.
Tennessee 3, Alabama 2
WP Ellen Renfroe 2H, 4BB. LP Jackie Traina 4H, HR. Save Ivy Renfroe. Each team scored a run in 2nd. Bama 2nd: one out, Apencer and Richard walked; Conley singled, rbi. Vols: 2 out, Akamine homered. Bama loaded the bases top 3rd with one out; Renfroe struck out Spencer and Richard, no score. Vols 3rd: bases loaded, Tarango singled in 2 runs. Bama 4th: Hawkins singled, Graud walked; Ivy Renfroe relieved Ellen; two out, McCleney doubled rbi. Bama had two runners remainder of game.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE (posted by NCAA)
1200 Oklahoma vs Texas A&M
1200 Michigan vs Louisiana Lafayette
100 UAB vs Florida
300 Michigan vs Louisiana Lafayette (if necessary)
300 Oklahoma vs Texas A&M (if necessary)
500 Tennessee vs Alabama
600 Florida State vs Texas
800 Nebraska vs Oregon
800 Tennessee vs Alabama (if necessary)
1000 Kentucky vs Arizona State
Women’s College World Series
May 30-June 5 (double-elimination) | Oklahoma City
FRIDAY SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Super Regional Round
May 23-26 (double-elimination)
Note the changed schedule for Norman Super Regional.
Ann Arbor | Austin | Columbia | Eugene | Gainesville | Knoxville | Norman | Tempe
ANN ARBOR SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Friday, May 24 Game 1: Louisiana-Layfette vs. No. 8 Michigan, 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: Louisiana-Layfette vs. No. 8 Michigan, Noon (ESPN) Game 3: Louisiana-Layfette vs. No. 8 Michigan, 3 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary)
AUSTIN SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Austin, Texas
Friday, May 24 Game 1: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 3 p.m. (ESPNU) Game 3: Florida State vs. No. 4 Texas, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) (if necessary)
COLUMBIA SUPER REGIONAL May 23-24 | Columbia, Mo.
Thursday, May 23 Game 1: No. 11 Washington 2. No. 6 Missouri 1 (8)
Friday, May 24 Game 2: No. 11 Washington vs. No. 6 Missouri, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Game 3: No. 11 Washington vs. No. 6 Missouri, 9 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary)
EUGENE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Eugene, Ore.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 3 p.m. (ESPNU) Game 3: No. 14 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oregon, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) (if necessary)
GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Gainesville, Fla.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, 1 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, Noon (ESPN) Game 3: UAB vs. No. 2 Florida, 3 p.m. (ESPN) (if necessary)
KNOXVILLE SUPER REGIONAL May 24-25 | Knoxville, Tenn.
Friday, May 24 Game 1: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Tennessee, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, May 25 Game 2: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Tennessee, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Game 3: No. 10 Alabama vs. No. 7 Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) (if necessary)
NORMAN SUPER REGIONAL May 23-24 | Norman, Okla.
Thursday, May 23 Game 1: No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, POSTPONED
Friday, May 24 Game 2: No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) Game 1 . Game 2: 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 1 Oklahoma, Game 3 tbd
TEMPE SUPER REGIONAL May 25-26 | Tempe, Ariz.
Saturday, May 25 Game 1: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday, May 26 Game 2: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Game 3: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Arizona State*, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) (if necessary)
Women’s College World Series
May 30-June 5 (double-elimination) | Oklahoma City
THURSDAY GAME NOTES
Washington 2, Missouri 1 (8)
WP Bryanna Walker LP Chelsea Thomas. A nail biter until the Missouri 6th. Starter Kaitlin Inglesby and Thomas had not allowed runners to reach 3rd. But Crane walked, Marston limed to 3rd, Hudson grounded to 3rd; Randazzo singled, Roth singled to short, rbi. Missouri stranded two. Husky 7th: Inglesby walked; Lahners struck out by Inglesby advanced on a wild pitch; with Braun ruinning for Inglesby, Souza reached on an error at 3rd by Krebs; Wright singled, rbi, tie game. Huskies left two. Bottom 7th: Walker put the Tigers down in order. Washington 8th: Segura singled to 1st, advanced on throwing error by Roth at 1st. Hayward doubled to right center, rbi. Fagaly advanced Hayward with a sac bunt; but Braun grounded out, Lahners looked at a third strike. Again, Walker put the Tigers down in order. The close score was something of a surprise’ both teams had 2 runners on in the 1st, no score. The schedule calls for two games on Friday including a what-if game. Thomas has pitched double-headers in the season, but Washington would seem to have possibly a slight edge with Inglesby and Walker.
A Tribute to Rachele Fico
I first learned of Rachele Fico’s prowess as a pitcher in an email from Ralph, her father, when she was a highschool sophomore in Connecticut, setting incredible strikeout records. Over the years, as Rachele progressed through highschool and travel ball championships, and her All American career at LSU, I enjoyed friendships with her parents and Rachelle. So the news Monday that Rajph had died of cancer hit doubly hard – the loss of a parent/mentor to a ballplayer whom I liked and admired, but the loss of a parent who became a valued friend.
When Rachelle and I talked at Cathedral City in February, she expressed a fon hope that Ralph would be physically able to see her pitch this spring – and he was joyous that Ralph and Lee were present for LSU Senior Day.
Despite some losses which could have been avoided by timely hits, notably the bases-filled situation versus ULL, Rachele always praised her team whom she always praised as having her back.
More, during post-game interviews, win or lose, Rachele was always upbeat, always on message.
Not once, any interview or just casual conversation, did she allude to any burden, any pressure, associated with her father’s grave illness. Ralph was a valued instructor, helping her hone her athletic skills; I think Rachelle also acquired her mental toughness from a very standup guy.
Many stories have been written about Rachel and her father. Among the best, a tribute two weeks ago by Graham Hays on College Sports. Subsequent to Ralph’s passing, two other are worth noting – a story in the Louisiana Advocate, and a story on WAFB.
By Scott Hotard
Advocate sportswriter
May 23, 2013
A day after the LSU softball team lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the championship round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, standout senior pitcher Rachele Fico suffered a far greater loss.
Fico’s father, Ralph, died early Monday in a Metairie hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for terminal cancer, LSU spokesman Matt Dunaway confirmed.
“The world lost a fighter, but heaven gained an angel. R.I.P. Daddy 5-20-13,” Fico tweeted Monday morning, along with a photo of her and her father taken last year at the Women’s College World Series.
LSU softball coach Beth Torina lauded Fico for showing courage and focus during regional play, helping lead the Tigers in their home ballpark as her father fought for his life.
Fico pitched twice for LSU in the regional, losing 3-0 to ULL on Saturday and 1-0 on Sunday. In both outings, she allowed only two hits. Dunaway said Torina drove Fico to Metairie after the game Sunday so she could be with her family.
A senior right-hander from Oxford, Conn., Fico arrived at LSU before the 2010 season as one of the most decorated recruits in program history. She finished her career Sunday with a four-year record of 78-43 and 792 strikeouts.
In the wake of her father’s death, Fico has received support, much of it via social media, from LSU fans and the college softball community, Dunaway said.
| Fico touches them all By Jacques Doucet, WAFBA simple glance at the box scores will tell you LSU's Rachele Fico pitched two games against UL-Lafayette this past weekend and lost them both. They were a pair of defeats that ended the Tigers' season in the NCAA Tournament Regionals, just a year after LSU reached the College World Series for the first time since 2004. |
| The truth of the matter is no description could ever be more misleading or simply inaccurate than “losing pitcher”. The fact Fico could even get the ball over the plate is amazing. Firing a pair of two-hitters against an explosive Ragin' Cajuns lineup? Nothing short of a minor miracle. |
| As Fico grunted and launched strikes to UL-Lafayette batters Saturday and Sunday afternoon, she knew her father's longtime battle with cancer was likely nearing an unhappy end. Ralph Fico had already lived longer than perhaps he had even expected. Years ago when LSU signed Rachele, Ralph told then head coach Yvette Girouard that it was unlikely he'd make it to the end of his daughter's collegiate career. But somehow, there he was for “Senior Day” this season and shared that special moment with his little girl. |
| However as LSU geared up for Saturday's contest against UL-Lafayette, word began circulating in Tiger Park that Ralph's situation was taking a turn for the worst. The talk was he could possibly die at any moment. Nobody perhaps really knew the truth, besides the young lady that bravely marched into the circle trying to win a softball game for the Purple & Gold. The Cajuns hit Fico hard early for a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. All things considered, no one would've blamed #37 for completely coming unglued and getting blasted 10-0. How do you focus on getting outs when your father could be near death? |
| But in true Rachele Fico form she would fire back. Those early punches would quickly be returned with a flurry. The Cajuns swung and missed to the tune of seven strikeouts. Donuts went up of the scoreboard for five straight innings after that rocky LSU start. However the lack of run support, unfortunately another Fico staple throughout her LSU career, doomed the Tigers against tough UL-Lafayette hurler Jordan Wallace. The Cajuns tacked on a solo home run in the 7th inning for insurance and won 3-0. |
| LSU head coach Beth Torina gave Fico the opportunity to leave the park and visit her father that evening after the defeat. Instead, the senior stood in the dugout with her Tiger teammates and cheered them on Saturday during an 11-0 elimination laugher against Central Connecticut State. There would be at least one more contest against the rival Cajuns Sunday, and Fico would be handed the ball again. LSU would actually need to beat the Cajuns twice to advance to the Super Regionals. |
| The sun blazed brightly near the Mississippi River and it was a beautiful, humid day for softball. But Rachele Fico was again battling darkness on the inside. Ralph had made it through the night, but would he see the end of the day? |
| On the field, another a tough beginning for Fico. A leadoff double and then a hard grounder for an error between the shortstop's legs quickly led to a 1-0 LSU deficit. But “The Beast From The East” gave Tiger Park one final, fantastic performance. UL-Lafayette wouldn't score again, as Fico mowed down 21 of the 24 Cajun batters she faced. Unfortunately, LSU never dented the scoreboard. The Tigers would load up the bases in the 7th and final inning with just one out. But a first pitch pop up and strike out would soon follow. |
| Final score – UL-Lafayette 1, LSU 0. |
| After the game LSU's Bianka Bell and AJ Andrews vehemently apologized for not scratching any runs across the plate for their brave, relentless pitcher. She certainly deserved much better, they said. Bell sobbed and choked back tears. The Tigers definitely tried their best and it just wasn't meant to be. The Cajuns were simply better. Dwelling in guilt, LSU should not. |
| After tip-toeing around questions concerning Fico's performance through such enormous personal struggles, Coach Torina could no longer keep her emotions beneath the surface. During that same press conference, Torina broke into tears when speaking of her pitcher's incredible drive and perseverance. She would temporarily leave the podium to contain herself, before returning again. Torina's voice still cracked, tears filled her eyes. A very special Tiger's career, had now come to an end. Torina would then drive Fico to her father's hospital and stay with her through the night. |
| In a perfect world, perhaps Fico and LSU would've beaten the Cajuns twice and eventually reached The College World Series again. Maybe they could've won a national championship. But perhaps that wasn't God's plan. Maybe it was right for Fico to immediately drive to New Orleans Sunday evening. Because another game against the Cajuns and a possible LSU celebration would've robbed Rachele of spending precious extra time with her father that evening. And those moments would end up being the final hours of his life. |
| “The world lost a fighter, but heaven gained an angel. R.I.P. Daddy 5-20-13″ – was the message thousands of LSU fans read on Twitter Monday morning. Ralph Fico's long, taxing battle had come to an end. |
| In one incredibly painful weekend the LSU All-American would lose her father and see her brilliant college career come to a crashing halt. That's an unspeakable amount of misery for one 21-year old to endure. But something tells me Fico will return stronger than ever. And she'll dedicate a soon outstanding professional career with the Akron Racers (she was the #1 overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch draft) to the memory of her proud father. |
| During my career at WAFB-TV, I've been privileged to cover a long list of outstanding LSU female athletes – Kimberlyn Duncan, Seimone Augustus, Britni Sneed, Trena Peel, Sylvia Fowles, Susan Jackson, Mo Isom, Ashleigh-Clare Kearney and Temeka Johnson all immediately come to mind. But after what we witnessed this past weekend, Rachele Fico deserves her own special category. |
| She lost on the field and suffered the ultimate loss off it. And through it all Fico performed at the highest level, displaying staggering focus and grit for one Louisiana State University. Tiger fans should gleam with pride to call this young lady one of their own. |
| I for one, was truly touched. I hope you were too. |
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ASA/USA Softball announce Top 3 Finalists for 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today the Top 3 Finalists for the 12th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Tennessee’s Raven Chavanne (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Oklahoma’s Lauren Chamberlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) and Keilani Ricketts (San Jose, Calif.) are the three remaining athletes in the running. Ricketts is also the defending USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year having won the award as a junior in 2012.
Other past winners of this award include UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman, Florida State’s Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner from Texas Cat Osterman, Tennessee’s Monica Abbott, Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher, two-time winner Washington pitcher/hitter Danielle Lawrie and 2011 winner Ashley Hansen from Stanford.
A three-time first team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) infielder, Raven Chavanne saved her best season for her senior year. The Lady Vol currently ranks fourth nationally with a .470 batting average, third with 87 hits and has successfully stolen base 39 times on 40 attempts this year. The four-year started has hit .420 or better in each of her four seasons at Tennessee. Chavanne is fourth in the country this year with 68 runs scored. No. 5 Tennessee will face conference foe No. T10 Alabama in this week’s Super Regional’s for a spot in the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS), which will be held in Oklahoma City May 30-June 5.
The 2013 Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year, Keilani Ricketts currently ranks eighth in the country with a 1.21 ERA, 10th with 291 strikeouts and second with 15 shutouts. The lefthander holds a 29-1 record on the year and helped the Sooners to their 10th Big 12 Conference Championship and fourth-consecutive regional championship. Ricketts’ 1,546 career strikeouts currently rank 11th nationally and second in conference history. From the plate, she holds a .362 batting average, .677 slugging percentage and has recorded 12 home runs. Behind their senior leader, the Oklahoma Sooners held first place in all 14 regular season ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Polls this year.
As a team, the Sooners currently rank third nationally in batting average and seventh in home runs largely in part to their sophomore leadoff batter. Lauren Chamberlain currently sits ninth nationally with a .459 batting average and second with 27 home runs. Her .615 on-base percentage is third in the country and 1.110 slugging percentage leads all other Division I batters. Despite hitting leadoff, Chamberlain ranks third nationally with 77 RBI while still coming in at second nationally with 76 runs scored. No. 1 Oklahoma will meet up with No. 20 Texas A&M this weekend in Norman, Okla. for Super Regional’s with the winner advancing to the NCAA WCWS.
The winner of the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced on May 28 at the athlete only banquet just prior to the start of the NCAA WCWS.
The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award is voted on by coaching representatives from 11 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA Regions as well as members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country, and previous Player of the Year recipients.
