Anyone who did not see this coming was either not paying attention, or didn't know what to look for, or their crimson glasses were dark burgundy and they could not see.
Welp, you and I are going to be on different sides of this fence. Pardon the analogy, but "dark burgundy glasses" fits if we're taking about thinking a QB like Avalos was going to lead Bama to ATL despite he was a fourth stringer. The idea that one should have seen a loss coming doesn't fit with what we've seen this season (with the exception of one team/game, OU, the only team to have shut Bama out this season.)
Consider:
•Going into the season Demi Turner was our starter at second base. We didn't see her until the post season after her elbow injury.
•Lexi started the season on what's basically an injured list. She was hurt last season and was still dealing with it at the beginning of this season as evidence by not having starts in the pre-season (coming out of the bullpen with limited action.)
•Littlejohn was dealing with a bad ankle coming into the season. Nowhere near 100% last year, nowhere near that this year. But, like Lexi, was able to get healthier as the season progressed.
There's one other girl that was lost for the season, pretty good bat, but for the life of me I can't recall her name. (Been that kind of night ... hell, couldn't remember where I parked ... google has its advantages.)
Murphy went with a speed, small ball approach this year. With everything these girls dealt with it didn't bother me in the slightest. Still doesn't.
What's my point? Despite all of of that look where this team found itself this past weekend. One of eight teams—out of right at 300 D1 softball programs—playing in OKC. They demonstrated that they had the ability to get it done.
I knew they could have had a good run in OKC. I still believe they could have. It just wasn't in the cards this year.
The quick exit certainly is disappointing. The season as a whole? A good one.
All I look for is a program that is competing on a national level; competing or national titles. Once again, this Tide softball team did just that. They will once again next season considering how few seniors we have on the team.