The UCLA softball team relied on the pitching of Ally Carda last year to help them reach the College World Series. This season the Bruins will need to turn to their offense if they expect to reach the playoffs and the college world series because they have a young pitching staff.
Leading the offense is senior third baseman Mysha Sataraka, junior shortstop Delaney Spaulding and catcher Madeline Jelenicki. Their bats will be on display this weekend on the Westwood campus when the Bruins host Oregon State starting tonight at 7 p.m. They will continue their three game series with the Beavers on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
"Every team is different but this years' team has a lot of experience expect inside the pitching circle," said UCLA assistant coach Kirk Walker who has coached Bruin softball for 15 years.
"Our pitching staff is really young but they have talent. We are explosive on offense because we have more balance up and down the lineup but in order for us to win games everyone has be to firing on all cylinders."
The Bruins went deep into the College World Series last year so that exposure really helped the returning players. "Every team is a unique within itself," said Spaulding. "The exposure from the World Series really helped us developed the younger players and that has helped us grow as a team. I think we are going down the right path. We are trying to have fun. We all have roles to fill."
Senior Sataraka is ending her career at UCLA and she knows this season she has to become more of a vocal leader. "We are heading in the right direction right now," SHE SAID.. We are learning a lot but I have to step out of my comfort zone this year and talk to the younger players more. If that's what this team needs I will do that. I have to keep the energy up because I have the experience."
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