Jessica Hall ran up and down the stairs of Drake Stadium.
The senior pitcher didn’t have to spend her Tuesday afternoon running – it wasn’t part of the team’s practice schedule for that day. But even though Hall’s workout wasn’t mandatory, it was almost expected. The UCLA softball team has been putting in extra work all season long.
“The one thing that I say has been a big part of our success this year is their consistency in their training,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.
The No. 3 seed Bruins have prepared day in and day out for situations precisely like the one they will face this weekend: a three-game series against the No. 14 seed Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA tournament round of 16.
If UCLA wins the series, it will advance to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2010.
“We started way back in fall with the mindset, and buying into this whole ‘one shot’ thing and coming together as a team,” said junior catcher Stephany LaRosa.
The “one shot” mantra has followed the UCLA softball team throughout the season, and LaRosa said it has been key to the team’s success.
“One shot” relates to the concept that each UCLA softball player must always be ready to take advantage of her one opportunity to make a difference in the game, regardless of where or when it may come.
To be ready for that one shot, precise preparation is key.
Hall prepared for her one shot by putting in some extra cardiovascular work on the track. LaRosa prepared for hers by studying video of Kentucky’s hitters and coming up with a specific game plan for every Wildcat batter. Inouye-Perez prepared the infielders for their shots by using a stopwatch to see how fast they could retrieve a ground ball and throw it to first base.
“We have that focus, we know where we’re headed, and we’re working at it together as a team,” LaRosa said.
With a newly channeled focus and precise training, UCLA (51-6) has built a strong team foundation. Heading into the series against Kentucky (47-16), the Bruins are ready to handle the Wildcats’ strongest punches.
“Something (bad) could happen, but they could get to the next pitch ‘cause they’ve built such a strong foundation,” Inouye-Perez said. “They know how to get to the next pitch.”
After holding Notre Dame, which has one of the nation’s strongest offenses, to zero runs over two games last weekend, UCLA should not expect as much of a challenge from a much lighter-hitting Kentucky squad this weekend.
“I truly believe that we are the better team going into this,” Hall said. “If we do give up the first game … I think it would just kind of take us back to reality and remind us that hey, we need to play our game that we’ve been playing this entire season.”