It was raining.
March 22, Megan Langenfeld’s homecoming double-header against Cal State Bakersfield, and it was raining.
On the day of the game Langenfeld had been so much looking forward to, the conditions could not have been worse. And the rain never stopped, so the game was canceled.
“The weather was miserable, and there was probably no way we could have got the game in,” Langenfeld said. “I was a little disappointed. But we got in a good day’s worth of practice, so that kind of made up for it.”
That’s a typical Megan Langenfeld response: relaxed, soft-spoken, positive. And it’s always about the team. Even on the days the focus should be on her ““ like that Bakersfield homecoming, when Langenfeld said family and friends were telling her that the stadium would be packed ““ it’s about the team.
Even after sweeping various Player of the Week honors ““ National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Player of the Week, USA softball Player of the Week, and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week ““ the junior maintains that external focus.
“It’s nice knowing that the nation as a whole is starting to look over at the Pac-10. It’s a hard conference and a tough conference,” Langenfeld said. Then, almost as an after-thought, she added, “It’s nice to get recognized.”
Her coach thinks those honors are well-deserved.
“Bottom line is, you’ve got to go out there and execute,” Bruin coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. “She’s doing exactly that. Megan Langenfeld got it done.”
Langenfeld, almost single-handedly, has given the Bruins a three-game winning streak. Last weekend, she gave up one hit in 16 innings of work. Add in April 5th’s win over Arizona, and Langenfeld allowed only one hit over 18 and 2/3 innings. The culmination of that streak was Langenfeld’s no-hitter ““ UCLA’s 100th ““ in Sunday’s 10-0 dismantling of Washington.
Yet Langenfeld takes it in stride. Her focus is “being a leader on the mound, at first, at the plate; just leading the team by example. If that means starting or closing, it really doesn’t matter.”
Her leadership has inspired her team because she does what she has to, and she does it exceptionally well.
“In previous years, she’s been a phenomenal closer, because she comes in, and she demands that you get ready to swing,” Inouye-Perez said.
“(Langenfeld) definitely sparked a whole new level of confidence in this team.”
ROAD TRIP: The No. 3 Bruins (29-8, 4-4 Pac-10) begin a three-weekend road trip on Friday, playing a game at Oregon State (20-19, 3-6) on Friday and two at Oregon (13-23, 2-7 Pac-10) on Saturday and Sunday. Though Oregon and Oregon State represent the bottom of the barrel in conference play, the Bruins do not plan on looking past them.
“(In the Pac-10), every game is a big one, and every opponent is capable,” Inouye-Perez said. “We, historically, don’t play well against the Oregons. … It doesn’t matter really who you’re playing; the minute you let your guard down, you become vulnerable.”