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You wish you could throw like a girl: The 2007 Women's College World SeriesMy brain is filled with images of ponytails and visors after watching hours of the Women's College World Series for softball all weekend on ESPN and ESPN2. Did you catch all of the coverage? I never get tired of watching Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith, who was one of the commentators.
This weekend, Arizona State, Texas A&M, DePaul, Baylor, Northwestern and Washington all got knocked out of the series, leaving the Arizona Wildcats and Tennessee Lady Vols to play for the title starting today. Since I watch sports like I play golf, I spend a lot of time yelling at inanimate objects that cannot hear me, like golf balls and television sets. This weekend I wanted Texas A&M to advance, mostly because I like Texas schools, because I like the food in Texas. My loyalty to teams — if the school I went to is not playing — revolves around food or national monuments. Or the uniforms. Or a member of the team I develop a crush on after flipping through the media guide. No, I don't know why I'm not working for ESPN. I would be OK with Tennessee winning another championship title to stack onto the basketball bling the school just brought home in April. Plus, the Lady Vols have pitcher Monica Abbott, who just won the USA Softball Player of the Year award, and who is also the NCAA All-Time leader in wins (188), strikeouts (2,414), shutouts (111) and appearances (251).
Along with the in-depth analysis of the games I was doing this weekend, I chatted with friends of mine who played college softball. One friend is in the hall of fame for her college, and another for her home state. They had some fun, unprintable stories about coming out on a college softball team. I found an article on the GLBTQ site that talks about women and the pull of softball:
How, exactly, do you process a lesbian? I’ve played on softball teams. Nobody processed me. Moving on, I recommend reading Graham Hays’ column on ESPN’s website to catch up on the games and get details on the teams. I know, he’s a dude, but I’ve covered some women’s sports with him before, and he does a great job covering the games. He also says things like this when talking about women's sports:
Whoa. I didn't know it was so cerebral, but I see his point when I look at this photo of Jennie Finch:
The best-of-three game series starts tonight. Check the ESPN site for the schedule. Submitted by on June 4, 2007 - 2:38pm. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
image
here's some catcher love for you
hell yeah!
WCWS
Still think Cat Osterman is the hottest softball player:
Eileen Canney is up there too:
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
i'm gonna miss canney
oh i'm right there with ya!! i'm not really a fan of northwestern but i looooove eileen canney. she is just super hot!!! i love her game face too! she's a badass!
actually, i had yesterday's game recorded and kept rewinding it so i could watch her. i didn't wanna delete it cuz i knew i wasn't gonna get to see her once it was deleted.
if you ever get a chance, check out missy pena, the pitcher for LSU. She's another hottie!
Missy Penna!
Missy Penna (Stanford)
Let's see if i can find some more hotties...
Alessandra Giampaolo (Michigan)
Sam Banister (Arizona)
Kristie Fox (Arizona)
Amanda Freed (UCLA alum)
Lauren Lappin (Stanford alum)
Lindsay Schutzler (Tennessee)
BUT OF COURSE>>WE CAN'T FORGET Eileen!!!
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
hot hot hot!!!
hey, what about caitlin lowe??? i think she should be named MVP. I posted the clip of her hittin the wall on youtube... she broke her nose and was back at it the next day, playin with a broken nose!! that's girl's hardcore!! here's the link http://youtube.com/watch?v=zl1UgY-jr3U
my bad on missy, i forgot she played for stanford not LSU. I just remembered watching the stanford vs. LSU game and couldn't keep my eyes off her. did you see that game? it was probably the best game i've seen all year. well... i dunno bout that, some of the super regionals games were pretty good. anyway, hot!!!
caitlin is fierce!!!!
this picture is so small:( i really hope the arizona bats turn it on tonight, last night was painful to watch.
Caitlin was a great lead off
Caitlin was a great lead off hitter last year along with Autumn Champion, they were the best hitters on the team last year. If only Champion was a senior this year, I believe they could have put some runs up if they still have her. I mean, looking back at last year's game, Champion had many RBI's and gotten on base against Tennessee many times. I hope they win this game tonight or I'll be upset.
Hotties!
OMG i can't believe i forgot caitlin. how could i forget her?!?!
I did see the Stanford/LSU game. I never really realized how hot Missy is. I never realized she is only a sophomore too!! woo we can still watch her for 2 more years!!! And i'd also like to mention, she wears the #9, i wear the #9...we are that cool. And!! she will be a junior next year, as will I. IT MUST MEAN SOMETHING!!!
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
cat
same here! i miss cat so
same here! i miss cat so much it's not even funny. i had season tickets for all the texas home games this year and was hoping we could do some damage even without cat, but unfortunately we just didn't have it this year. not to mention our best offensive player, desiree williams suffered an injury half way through the season and wasn't able to play any more games. we were pretty much crippled without her! :( oh well, hopefully next year will be better ...
btw, i agree... cat will forever be the hottest softball player EVER!!!!!!!!!
What's with ...
the sweat pants pulled up to Michelle's nipples? As I scrolled down the pic, I was thinking, "Damn, she looks way better than I thought she looked on TV last ... WHOA! Why the hell is she wearing the granny sweat panties?"
Lisa
Heads up!
Really nice article.
For years, I've watched my neighbors as they've shuttled their daughters to softball. Both girls are amazing players.
Everybody learned straight away to be really alert and move vehicles whenever anyone was practicing because they could take your head off with a wild pitch just as easily as shatter your windshield. Even now, it never ceases to amaze me how loud the sound of a softball smacking into a catcher's mitt can be -- you can hear it from inside the house.
Years slipped away and now they are now brainy, brawny and beautiful young women who are poised to take their first steps into college athletics.
I fully expect to be watching them slinging rocket pitches in the WCW series very soon.
Go Lady Vols!
So glad I'm not the only one
Eileen Canney!
I know, she is absolutely stunning!! I really was pulling for Northwestern to win it. Dang...
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
T-Dub
It seems like I'm the only one...
that wants Arizona to win. I've seen WCWS last year and Arizona beated Tennessee in the elimination round to go to the WCWS and they beated Northwestern for the championship. And watching them this year without their ace pitcher, Alicia Hollowell, I think they're doing fine without her. They have great offense, defense, and a great pitcher (Taryne Mowatt).
Even though Tennessee did beat them in the elimnation round on Friday, (it was an unearned run) I'm still hoping they will win. But they're great teams, it's anybody's ball game for the championship. I just hope that Arizona wins and maintain their championship.
hmmm
Ok, I'm going to admit it. I have no idea who this lady is or even what she does.
.....but doesn't she look a little like Renee O'Connor?
I believe she was a two-time
I believe she was a two-time olympian and retired last year or the year before that. she was a coach for Cat Osterman back in the day.
sweet
I've been watching the WCWS for yeeaaars. I'm just grateful you ladies are giving the championship some attention.
I've watched Monica Abbott play for the entirety of her college career. Just today she issued her 700th strike out of the season, and has set record numbers in every stat category. She's earned a national title, and as much as I love AZ, I hope the lady vols can pull through for Abbott. She's held up their team for four years. Technically, I think her stats are better than even Cat Osterman's, but Abbott is a year younger and didn't have the chance to compete on the Olympic team (that's not really her fault).
I'm even more grateful that the WCWS is getting full coverage on ESPN these days. Not ESPN2, or ESPNU. Real ESPN. sweet :)
Monica Abbott!
Monica Abbott is my hero! She is fantastic
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
oooh thems fightin words...
Cat
I think they both played 4 years..??? Cat redshirted in 2004 to play on the olympic team, but came back in 2005 for her junior year. I know she played 4 years. Not sure about Abbott
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
I guess I'll reply since there's no comment box...
i'm sorry but the hottest softballer is an australian
Natalie Ward, shortstop and i think newly appointed captain
buggered if i can figure out how to post the pictures, but here is a couple of links
http://images.beijing-2008.org/36/87/Img212018736.jpg
http://www.sports-wired.com/women/showPhoto.asp?ID=813
http://www.ais.org.au/news/images/04110-11.jpg
game 2
ok, so did any one else think that at any minute jessica mendoza and michelle smith were going to start making out? every time they turn the camera on in the booth there was this crazy sexual tension. and they each had these secretive smiles.....hmmmm. time to go watch the game again.
Lol!
OMG i know, i noticed that too. i looked up at the tv and they were like 2 inches away from each other. i was like "hmmm...that's strange.." I do like Jessica Mendoza. She's a cutie :-)
"I wish I could lie down beside you tonight & take you in my arms." -Eleanor Roosevelt
hahaha
actually, Michele Smith
actually, Michele Smith wasnt commenting that night nor today. it was actually Beth Mowans (spelled wrong) and Jessica Mendoza. they were entertaining to watch and hear, it was funny to see them tryin to put on game faces.
ARIZONA WON!!!! 2nd time champions! im real happy about that. hey, if you thought last night's game was awesome, talk about tonight's game. now that was awesome. wildcats scored five runs in the bottom of the 5th, really impressive i must say.
sorry
CATS WIN!!!!!!
Jessica Mendoza
Is just so cute. I really enjoyed the whole college world series and thanks AE for starting this whole conversation and giving any and all attention to womens sports.
Some really great games and I enjoyed the chemsitry between Beth Mowins nd Jessica Mendoza, they did a great job on the games. Sigh, I believe Jessica plays for the straight team but I can always dream.
I like the 3 coaches from Northwestern, the twin sisters and their former teammate, but the Northwestern coach wasnt terribly forthcoming with answering any of Holly Rowes questions...
Washingtons coaches we're great too, two former players coaching together and the head coaches male friend from back in her little league days.
Watching Beth and Jessica and their humor made the games even better, anyone else enjoy Beth's comments about Charlies Angels, though the 3rd angel, Holly was down on the field. Sometimes I got so caught up in Beth and Jessicas comments I forgot to concentrate on the game, as did Beth once....who by the way I got to meet at a womens college basketball game when she was announcing and she seems to be very, very nice.
Cat Osterman is beautiful.
Cat Osterman, though tall and lanky, is awesome-beautiful with her girl-next-door, jock face, and her big rear end pushing back against her softball tights.