Just in time for the postseason, when most teams rely on just
one pitcher, UCLA freshman Anjelica Selden seems to have regained
the dominance she showed for the first half of the season. Only two
weeks removed from an individual four-start losing streak, Selden
pitched effectively in three straight games to end the regular
season last week, allowing only one run in 17 innings.
“I’m really confident in how I’m throwing now,
coming back from that slump,” Selden said. “My whole
mentality at the end of games has improved. It’s really good
to contribute to this team.” Selden’s recent success
has coincided with her team winning five of its last six games
heading into Friday’s NCAA Regional game against Loyola
Marymount at Easton Stadium. While UCLA coach Sue Enquist, like
most softball coaches, will never disclose which pitcher she will
be using, it will likely be Selden who gets the nod for most of the
postseason. For only one weekend this season did Enquist use her
other pitcher, Lisa Dodd, more than Selden. “(Selden) has
been doing a great job for us lately,” Enquist said.
“When she keeps her head quiet, she can pitch incredible
softball.” Both Selden and Enquist have acknowledged that the
pitcher’s problems during the conference schedule were mental
and not physical. Selden would pitch dominantly for most of the
game, but after allowing one mistake, she would compound the
problem by allowing a big inning. But this past weekend against
Pac-10 co-champion Oregon State, Selden remained strong even after
allowing a hit. “I feel good about myself, and my team has
confidence in me,” Selden said. “I’m excited
about pitching in the postseason for the first time.” Selden
is closing in on the UCLA strikeout record, needing 13 to tie
DeeDee Weiman’s mark of 359 set in 1994. Since Selden
averages well over one strikeout per inning, she will likely break
the record with two starts this weekend.
FORMAT CHANGE: When the bracket for the NCAA Tournament was
announced on Sunday, it marked a new postseason format for
softball. The new model duplicates the baseball format of having
both a Regional and a Super Regional before the World Series. In
years past, there was only one regional before the Women’s
College World Series. In this week’s regional at Easton
Stadium, there will only be four teams instead of eight, like last
year. The Super Regionals, which take place next week, are a
best-of-three series. “It’s good for the sport,”
Enquist said. “We’ll be playing softball for an extra
week, and it will be good for TV.” The NCAA championship game
at the end of the WCWS also now will be a best-of-three series
instead of a single game.