Top teams, POY picks and more

The 2023 college softball season is currently underway, with just two months left before the NCAA tournament and the Women’s College World Series kick off. The reigning champions, Oklahoma, started the season with 33 straight wins before losing to Baylor in their ninth game, but they have since gone undefeated. Other strong teams this season include Oklahoma State, Clemson, and Tennessee, with Tennessee having outscored opponents 183-12 so far. Experts have been impressed with consistency shown by UCLA, talent displayed by Stanford, and a quietly impressive Tennessee pitching staff.

In terms of biggest surprise teams this season, Baylor has shined after beating Oklahoma and winning 18 of their first 20 games before incurring two consecutive losses. Kentucky also stands out with the dominant pitching of Stephanie Schoonover, while LSU has been impressing with their combination of speed and power in the batting lineup. Cal State Fullerton has made some impressive wins, but some baffling losses have left their postseason outlook uncertain.

As for Player of the Year, opinions are split between Clemson’s Valerie Cagle, who has both a stellar pitching record and a batting average of .525 with eight home runs, and Tennessee’s Kiki Milloy, who has been a dominant player at the plate, with consistent power, range, and base-stealing skills. Other top players include those who lead their teams to the Women’s College World Series.

Finally, the focus shifts to which teams need to step up as conference play approaches. Some experts interpret this question as a call for coaches to do better and save their jobs. Northwestern, a talented team with experience in last year’s Women’s College World Series, is singled out as one that needs to step up their game after some lackluster performances prior to conference play. Coaches with less impressive records may face pressure to improve their performance.



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