The Midwest Represents on the Big Stage

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What is more exciting than World Series softball? NOTHING tops it in my world. And this year in 2022, I was especially excited about Northwestern making it to OKC. It’s fun to see MidWest teams representing softball on the biggest stage - especially because it’s not as prevalent as the southern and western teams who make it to Oklahoma City year after year. Also, my good friend (and basically cousin), Jessica Rigas, was a player at Northwestern when they made their epic 2-year run in 2006 and 2007 finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively. That was the last time these “Cats” were there - until now!

And though Patty Gasso’s powerhouse dynasty -the University of Oklahoma- dished NW their first loss in the opening round of play yesterday afternoon, I know they’re going to give UCLA all that they can handle later today. Granted, yesterday’s final score (13-2) wasn’t the game to inspire hope in just any softball fan… you might even be thinking that I’m speaking with my heart and not my head in trying to inspire purple hope. But I assure you - I am not. I absolutely believe in this 2022 NW team. And the reason for my confidence is because of the super regional series against Arizona State. NW proved against an offensive juggernaut in ASU -who was poised to win game #3 with a commanding 5-0 lead- that these Cats won’t just go down swinging, but actually have what it takes to win…even when hope seems lost. And part of the reason for this tenacity is due to their offensive resilience: they scratch and claw and battle relentlessly. But the other part of why they can take down UCLA later today is because of their pitcher, Danielle Williams. And that is the piece I want to hone in on today.

Danielle Williams is not the power pitcher who will muscle her way through the zone like many other World Series contenders we are watching in OKC. She doesn’t have one or two main pitches that have exceptional velocity and good break with a periodic change of speed. That’s everyone else’s story. Danielle’s prowess was described during the ASU series by the wise commentators as being an effective hurler due to her FIVE pitches. That’s right. FIVE. In this day an age where 70 mph, an off speed pitch and a good rise can win it all (and therefore we are told to develop only 2 great pitches), we have not seen the power of spin, spot, change of speed, and variety the way Danielle Williams has now brought that concept back to the circle. For the last decade, softball aficionados have shamed the pitching world for teaching too many pitches and balked at the absurdity of thinking that could be effective. They’ve even gone so far as to insist it was impossible to have elite command of more than 2-3 pitches and state that no hurler who makes it “big” pretends to have more than 2-3 true options.

Then along came Danielle Williams.

Her devastating change up that drops off the table is complimented by spinning demons in each direction to fool the hitter into guessing one way as it breaks the other. And though it is clear that if you throw it 70 and have a rise ball and a change up, you can make it to the big stage in OKC, it is also great to know that non super-human pitchers who work hard to develop pitches in multiple directions and a change of speed that dances at its finish can also have a chance. Do you understand that, Ladies? We all have a chance to be elite… as there truly are multiple ways to win as a pitcher. And I just want to thank Danielle Williams for proving “another” way.

So let’s go Northwestern! My “cousin” Jessica calls them the Cardiac Cats. I definitely agree that they have gotten my heart pumping with excitement for them and for you and for us as a pitching school. Let’s keep up the great work and bleed a little purple for another week… and let it inspire us to be the NEXT Danielle Williams. As your pitching coach, I truly believe that one of YOU will win a D1 World Series Championship one day. I hope you’re dreaming it too!