The University of Washington softball team is ranked No. 1 in the nation, and the Huskies have their eyes on the prize – getting to the College World Series.
They just may have the team to do it.
"We have something special here,” said UW head softball coach Heather Tarr.
Tarr, who's been the head coach since 2004, has won a national championship, coached 22 All-Americans, three Olympians, and won over 500 games.
"She's always brought this mindset of how we do anything is how we do everything,” said senior infielder Kirstyn Thomas. “And I definitely take that to heart, because it's more than softball, especially on this team. It's about being the best teammate you can be, and she has definitely helped me grow as an individual."
"We really build up each other and build yourself as a person, besides just focusing on softball aspects, we really appreciate the relationships we build and the connections we have on and off the field, and that’s what makes our program so special," said senior outfielder Trysten Melhart.
Melhart from Snohomish is one of six seniors on a team that not only has a close bond, but also produced the third best team ERA and the eighth best batting average in the country.
"Once one person gets a hit, everybody starts hitting,” Thomas said. “It's contagious and fun.”
Tarr said this is one of the best offensive teams UW has had, although the Huskies’ pitching and defense is also up there.
“We really pride ourselves on being able to pitch and play defense,” Tarr said.
