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.