🏈 2014 Alabama Softball Season Preview—Season opener today, Friday, in Troy

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Looking ahead to 2014, Murphy believes the lessons learned and hardships of 2013 will pay dividends to this year's squad.

With such a rich history in only 17 years as a program, the list of accomplishments left to tackle for Alabama softball grows smaller each year. The 2013 season, however, was a major first for the program: defending a national championship. Looking objectively, 2013 was another successful season for the Tide. Alabama boasted four All-Americans, three All-SEC honorees and earned a 15th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. But, in the end, an early exit from the SEC Tournament and defeat at the hands of Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional prevented a proper title defense.

“We had so many new people in major positions last year,” says Patrick Murphy, who enters his 16th season as Alabama’s head coach in 2014. “I’m not sure everyone realized, but in certain situations they had to be the person who delivered when we needed it. I think it took them a while to get used to that.”


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[TerryP]

With every rule there's always exceptions. We see it in softball, occasionally, with a freshman pitcher being dynamic. In the majority of the cases, upper classmen hold the keys to how well a team will do—especially when we get to the post season.

I've always viewed softball, and how well a team can do, based on that criteria. In addition to that experience pitching, the catcher plays a vital role—overlooked by the "casual fan" and often by those who follow the sport more closely.

One thing I'm encouraged about going into this season is that experience; not only pitching but catching. Two seniors behind the plate along with a senior and junior on the mound? We've got the makings of a strong team.

It's not going to be an easy road to the SEC Championship. UT and UF are getting recognition as being the best team in the country this season (both received six first place votes in early polls.) That's not to mention over half of the SEC teams are in the top 25 to start the season.

The ladies are opening the season with five games in the next three days.