No one in Tucson sports history knows what it’s like to be No. 1 more than UA softball coach Mike Candrea. No one better knows the feeling of being a moving target, undefeated, getting every opponent’s best shot.
“Good players absolutely embrace it,” says Candrea, who has coached Arizona to eight NCAA titles. “It’s what they want. They aren’t scared by it; they are motivated by it.”
Candrea’s softball teams opened 31-0 in 1994 and 2001. They opened 30-0 in 1997 and 27-0 in 1995.
They have gone to the final game of the Pac-12 season unbeaten, 23-0, before losing a 2-1 game to Washington in 1994.
“I think it’s the fans that get scared about it,” Candrea says. “I’ve heard fans this year say (the UA basketball team) ‘needs to lose one.’ Baloney. We don’t need to lose one. The great teams don’t talk about it, but it became their own little fort to protect.”
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Candrea’s unbeaten streaks were ended by some unheralded teams, such as Louisiana-
Lafayette in 2001 and Fresno State in 1994.
“I never worried so much about the good teams we played,” he says. “It was those that shouldn’t beat you, when you might be a little flat. That’s what they live for.”
Much like UA basketball coach Sean Miller, Candrea didn’t shrink at the enormity of being No. 1.
“It’s a fun place to be,” he says. “I’ll tell you that.”
Candrea is on a mission to return to No. 1. The Wildcats, currently unranked, open his 29th UA season next weekend with a homestand against Southern Miss.
The everyday lineup is formidable, including freshmen second baseman Mo Mercado and outfielder-third baseman Kaityana Mauga, who are among the top first-year players in the country.
The reason Arizona hasn’t been to the Women’s College World Series since 2010 is ineffective pitching. Senior Kenzie Fowler, decked by a series of injuries, is one of five pitchers, the most Candrea has ever deployed entering a season.
Freshman Michelle Floyd, sophomore Nancy Bowling and seniors Estela Piñon and Shelby Babcock will attempt to overturn last season’s 33-26 record, which included a 9-15 conference mark, the worst in Candrea’s career.
“Right now, Kenzie’s in a great place, enjoying the game, refreshed,” says Candrea. “She’s got help; it’s not like it’s all on her shoulders. We all know she can be a starter, but we could also use her as a closer. We’ll see how it works out.”