Softball: Super showdown in Ann Arbor

All eyes figure to be on UL’s sophomore ace right-hander Jordan Wallace once again this weekend during Super Regional action in Ann Arbor, Mich. Leslie Westbrook/lwestbrook@theadvertiser.com

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, May 24, 2013

There are many similarities between the No. 8-seeded Michigan Wolverines and the UL Ragin’ Cajuns softball teams and programs.

Both are among the nation’s most talented offensive units. Both have workhorse ace pitchers. Both have a history of being in postseason play. Both are more than ready to end World Series droughts.

Both lost Super Regionals on the road last year against powerhouse programs.

Something’s got to give when they square off at 1 p.m. today Central time on ESPNU in the first game of the best-of-three Ann Arbor Super Regional series at the Wilpon Complex.

“We’re not trying to determine who the best pitchers is or which team has the best lineup this weekend,” Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. “We’re just trying to see which team is going to play the best when it counts the most in order to win and advance.”

Michigan is hoping to nail down its first World Series berth since 2009 and UL is counting on securing its first since 2008. A year ago, UL lost in three at defending national champion Arizona State, while Michigan was swept at eventual national champion Alabama.

“I think it’s going to be a war,” UL coach Michael Lotief said. “I think it’s going to be very similar to the Super Regional at Arizona State last year. It’s going to be two great programs going at it. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

The road to this juncture in the postseason has been filled with twists and turns – both on and off the field.

Before the season even began, UL lost pitching coach Joy Webre-LeBlanc and then the day before the regular season opening road trip, Lotief himself stepped down as the head coach.

Megan Granger, just one year after finishing as a player, took over as the interim head coach and didn’t finish the year in the dugout with the team. Other volunteer assistant coaches filled in to close the gaps.

During that entire process, Lotief’s varying roles both expanded and shrunk, and the No. 1 priority became preparing ace right-hander Jordan Wallace for the stretch drive.

“I believe in my heart that without all of those things that have transpired this season, we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” Lotief said. “This team had to take this path and go through all of the adversity it went through. Everybody wants a season like we had last year with no adversity, but that’s not always possible.”

Wallace certainly looked prepared for the challenge this past weekend when she threw 21 shutout innings. As dominant as she was in winning the Baton Rouge Regional, Michigan’s Sara Driesenga wasn’t much worse, giving up just one run in 21 innings to push the Wolverines through their regional.

“From what we’ve been able to see from Jordan, she can throw it up and she can also throw it down,” Hutchins said. “She’s done a great job for them. I’m just hoping that our kids can execute against her.”

While Wallace is more of a power pitch with 356 strikeouts in 235.1 innings, Driesenga pitches to contact a little more with 221 strikeouts in 226 innings. She’s allowed 191 hits, compared to Wallace yielding 137 hits.

“She’s a big girl over six-feet tall who throws in the middle 60s,” Lotief said.

“She’s known as a dropball pitcher. She is predominantly down, but her down pitch runs. It runs inside and out. But she can also throw it up.

“She’s obviously done a great job for them. She’s carried the weight of the team on her shoulders. We’ve got a gameplan against her that hopefully our girls will be able to execute.”

The weather on Thursday was cool and wet in Ann Arbor. Lotief said the forecast calls for it to be in the 60s, but not as wet today.

“To me, the wind is the most important weather factor for the pitchers,” Lotief said.

The $64,000 question for the Cajuns is, will Wallace be able to start all three games over two days if the two teams split the first two games?

“Hopefully after two games, we’re headed to Oklahoma City,” Lotief said. “If not, it’s going to be the toughest decision of the weekend and quite possibly of the season.”

Hutchins said it’s not a foregone conclusion that she’ll pitch Driesenga in all three games.

“Since Haylie‘s been back, that was the first weekend that we did that (pitch Driesenga in every inning)”," she said.

Wagner, who is 18-3 with a 2.58 ERA, missed 22 games earlier this season due to an injury.

“’It’s definitely going to be a tough decision for both of us,” Hutchins said.

Michigan is 19-0 at home this season, but Hutchins said that can be an overrated statistic.

“Playing at Ann Arbor isn’t going to faze Michael’s team,“ she said. “We’ve won regionals at home and lost regionals at home. I’d rather be at home, but being at home doesn’t win a regional for you.”