Now, the Crimson Tide is a different team. No longer can it rely on Jaclyn Traina’s arm as it did during her four years. She has since graduated.
“I know it’s all in our minds subconsciously that we made it to the final series and we lost, but we haven’t really worried about that a whole lot,” senior infielder Danae Hays said. “I feel like what makes this team special this year is that we see the opportunity that’s ahead of us instead of what we’ve done in the past, because not one game, one single hit, one single play is going to benefit us this year.”
No. 4 Alabama has a full rotation of pitchers: senior Leslie Jury and sophomore Sydney Littlejohn are joined by freshman Alexis Osorio.
Osorio is one of five freshmen on the team.
“I think everybody’s assimilating very well,” Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said. “We only have 12 hitters on the team right now. We have three pitchers that don’t hit and two kids are just going to run bases, and then Peyton [Grantham] tore her ACL so we’re down to 12 hitters. So I think that’s a good thing though because we’re getting a lot of reps, lot of positives to see from everybody.”
The road back to Oklahoma City is a long one, and there are no cupcake games to ease into the season.
“You’re getting a top 25 team right off the bat, and then you have the five teams you play in the tournament, all five of them are capable of getting into a regional, and I told the organizer, ‘Give me the best schedule you can give me,’” Murphy said.
Alabama starts its season on Thursday against No. 23 South Alabama in Mobile before facing Eastern Kentucky, Houston, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International and McNeese State in the Sand Dollar Classic.
Houston made a regional last season, and McNeese State came to Tuscaloosa for the Easton Bama Bash and handed Alabama its first home loss of 2014.
“It’s going to be tough right out of the gate,” senior infielder Danielle Richard said. “I think this is one of the hardest seasons I’ve ever seen on a schedule, and it’s going to be a great opener down in South.”
But first, the Crimson Tide has to face the Jaguars. The Team has a 9-0 record all-time against South Alabama.
Last season South Alabama led the nation with a 1.29 team ERA. When Alabama faced the Jaguars, the average was under one, and the Crimson Tide put up three unearned runs in the shutout win.
Thursday’s game is a sellout, according to South Alabama’s Athletic Ticket Office.
“That’ll be fun, get the season started off right,” Hays said.
