It was a tough day for Badger softball and due to how the NCAA Softball Tournament works, Wisconsin's season has ended. Losing to the defending national champions, the Texas Longhorns, and later that day falling to Baylor. Now, Yvette Healy's team is headed back to Madison, licking their wounds.
It's tough to watch it end in one day by getting run-ruled by Texas and then losing to Baylor after beating the same team the day before. Everything was flying high, and then it crashed to the ground, and it's hard not to feel bummed. However, there are three reasons to smile.
Wisconsin has a young core
The biggest loss this offseason is watching star pitcher Shelby Jacobson graduate. However, the rest of the top players are (ideally) coming back. Jaclyn Showalter is a redshirt-freshman, Hannah Conger is a sophomore, and Hilary Blomberg is a junior. There is also a pretty great pitcher waiting in the wings (only a freshman): Berritt Herr. There's also sophomore Jordan Felci, who could be the leader of the circle.
This is a great sign, as this team will have a chance to return to the NCAA Tournament next year based on the offensive firepower coming back next year alone.
That young core now has postseason experience
The other good news and a reason to smile is that this young core now has postseason experience. That's huge, as there was a bit of nerves coming in for these Badgers. It's been a few years since Wisconsin was there, so this is now good for the future.
The Badgers will walk into next year with post season expectations while having post season experience.
Wisconsin is reloading not rebuilding
Not only is Wisconsin not rebuilding after this season, but there is some pre-built offseason momentum. The Badgers, as mentioned above, don't need to be rebuilt but are now reloading. Wisconsin signed a great six-player recruiting class that has some really strong talent coming in.
Not all will play next season, as some of them may redshirt, but there's good talent coming in. Karianne Drury has a ton of intrigue, Nalia Clifford is one of the better recruits in Wisconsin's history, and a couple of interesting pitchers.
So it's bitter for now, but the future looks bright for Yvette Healy and her squad.
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