OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; For the second year in a row, UCLA pitcher
Keira Goerl took her team to the NCAA Championship.
Unlike the top pitchers on most teams in the Women’s
College World Series, Goerl has been asked to pitch in every game
for UCLA over the past two years.
Her 9-1 record in the Women’s College World Series in that
span, with a string of nine straight victories, will cement her as
one of the greatest players in UCLA history.
“Keira is the best we’ve ever had in this
program,” coach Sue Enquist said.
She then turned to her ace and said, “Your legacy is going
to remain alive forever.”
Once again, Goerl had an ERA below 1.00 in the World Series, and
she only gave up four runs during the entire tournament.
She gave up some hits but was able to get the critical outs when
needed throughout the weekend. Goerl specialized in shutting down
rallies, getting stronger when people were on base.
“There’s just part of me that gets stronger if they
already have batters on,” Goerl said.
By some standards, this was a down year for Goerl, as odd as it
is to call winning a championship a down year.
Last year, Goerl was named Most Outstanding Player and a First
Team All-American. This year she did not get Most Outstanding
Player and was a Second Team All-American, but she got another
ring, which is what matters most.
When Goerl played at home, she could always look down toward the
right field fence to see her place in UCLA history, one which only
got larger this season.
“Her photograph is already a banner in our field, and
she’s lived up to that,” Enquist said.
“She’s carried this team.”
Goerl is one of three pitchers to win back-to-back championship
games, and the first since Susie Parra of Arizona did it in 1993
and 1994.
“When (Goerl) absolutely needed to make a pitch, she
did,” Louisiana State coach Yvette Girouard said after Goerl
shut out her team on Friday.
With the expansion of the sport and the improved quality of play
across the nation, what Goerl has been able to do in her career is
even more impressive.
“In my eyes she’s a champion and she’s the
best,” Enquist said.