Two-Month Warning: Auburn Softball Is Must-See Action

We are just a shade over two months away from the return of Auburn Softball to the diamond, and, for any Auburn fans that are unaware, I’m here to help you out:

Support these girls.

You won’t regret it.

Last year’s team was easily capable of making an almost-brand-new fan write some fairly emotional things, things he would have never believed — just a few years prior — he would ever be thinking, much less writing.

In fact, the only thing you’ll come to regret is that you didn’t support them sooner.

Unfortunately, to be honest, you’ve already missed a lot.

And I won’t lie: The 2017 Tigers will have to overcome some major departures.

The team did, after all, lose its all-time winningest pitcher in stalwart Lexi Davis.

It lost Marcy Harper, who finished fifth on Auburn’s career wins list.

If that wasn’t enough, it also lost Rachael Walters, who had a 29–6 career record, and was afraid of no batter and no moment.

It lost Tiffany Howard, she of miraculous catches and who decided at-bat No. 677 — and during the SEC Tournament Championship Game — was a fine time to launch her very first home run (more on that later).

It lost Jade Rhodes and her immense power, which left her in second-place on the all-time Auburn home run list.

It lost Emily Carosone — and her smile — who wrapped up her career as a Tiger first in hits, second in batting average, second in on-base percentage, second in slugging percentage, second in runs batted in, and third in homers.

And more.

Yes, Auburn Softball has a lot moving on.

But it also has a lot coming in.

And the pieces that remain in place — led by two of the best pitchers in the conference in Makayla Martin and Kaylee Carlson and perhaps the country’s top hitter, Kasey Cooper — don’t plan on taking even the slightest step back.

For the run-of-the-mill Auburn fan, a group in which I used to belong, there is a long dry spell between Auburn Football and . . . Auburn Football.

I watch professional sports, but I don’t love them — I don’t feel connected to them. I don’t get emotionally invested in them.

Auburn Athletics matter more. They matter most.

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Now, Auburn Softball stands alongside Auburn Football for me.

When the Tigers have a down season on the field, I don’t have to wait more than half a year for my Auburn team to return to action.

Because now I have more than one — and you can, too.

Then, when Auburn Football is 100 percent over, you just have to make it a month until February for softball. And by the time the Softball Tigers have wrapped up their season? Then it’s just a couple of months ’til football.

Life is much easier this way.

(And, yes, Bruce Pearl is looking like he plans to make it even easier.)

So, yeah: Support these girls.

The bad thing? You missed some amazing moments. And you missed some amazing accomplishments.

You missed the best heading-to-break 20 seconds of all-time. (It still gives me chills. And don’t miss the Auburn fan beyond the fence who’s holding a child but still raises an arm on the walk-away.)

You missed the program — the two-time, defending SEC Tournament Champion — take gigantic strides.

But the good news?

You don’t have to miss the next one.

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