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USA Today
28-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Washington softball run-rules Howard University 8-0 at Outrigger Invitational
Washington softball run-rules Howard University 8-0 at Outrigger Invitational After heading halfway across the Pacific Ocean to the Outrigger Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Washington Huskies have gotten off to a fast start. In their second game of the tournament, coach Heather Tarr's team came away with a commanding 8-0 victory over Howard University in a five-inning run-rule victory. Hosted by the University of Hawai'i at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, this matchup marked another dominant performance for the Huskies as they continue on their 12-day road trip in style. Entering the tournament at 10-7 on the season, the Huskies had already faced a mix of tough opponents, but their game against 4-9 Howard gave them an opportunity to flex their offensive might and pitching staff. Freshman Morgan Reimer was the star of the show, delivering her second shutout in a week. Reimer was nearly untouchable, allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts as the Team Canada standout looks like she's settling in at the college level. While Reimer controlled the game from the circle, Washington's bats exploded. The Huskies wasted no time, plating eight runs to trigger the mercy rule. Freshman first baseman Alexis DeBoer led the charge, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a three-run home run that blew the game open. DeBoer's performance was a continuation of her incredible play this season, and her ability to deliver in clutch moments has quickly made her a cornerstone of Tarr's lineup. Adding to the offensive highlight reel was sophomore outfielder Ava Carroll, who has solidified herself in the lineup. In the second inning, she opened the scoring by sailing her first career Division I home run, a two-run blast, into center field. The Canby, Oregon, product has impressed early in the season and leads the team with a .393 batting average. For a team transitioning into the Big Ten Conference, contributions from new arrivals like Carroll could signal a bright future ahead for the Huskies. With the win, the Huskies improved to 11-7 on the season and will play three more games at the Outrigger Invitational across Thursday and Friday before heading home for a quick break. Then, they'll hit the road again on March 8 for the Black and Orange Classic in Pocatello, Idaho.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr steps down from USA Softball
Washington softball head coach Heather Tarr steps down from USA Softball For almost three decades, Heather Tarr and the Washington Huskies softball team have become synonymous. Whether it be as a player or a coach, softball on Montlake has had her stamp on it. Tarr started her career at Washington in 1994, where she was named an All-Pac-10 honorable mention three times. Now heading into season No. 20 as the Huskies' head coach, she holds an 820-313-1 record, highlighted by a 51–12 season in 2009 that culminated in a Women's College World Series victory, the only national championship in the program's history. The Husky lifer has also been on the coaching staff for Team USA since 2019, where she worked as an assistant in 2019 and 2020 before returning as the national team's head coach in 2022. On Thursday, the winningest coach in school history made a bold choice, announcing that she would step down from her position with USA Softball to focus solely on Washington. 2025 will be a big challenge from Tarr, who saw 12 players depart at the end of the 2024 season, four who graduated, and eight for the transfer portal, including most of her starting lineup from 2024 and her entire pitching staff, highlighted by All-American Ruby Meylan, who signed with Oklahoma State. But, Tarr has an eye for talent and has rebuilt. Not only did she bring in another former Husky and two-time NFCA All-Amercian Jenn Salling as an assistant coach, but she also added promising outfielder Ava Carroll from the junior college ranks, and local infielder Riley Pesheck, one of the top infielders available in the transfer portal. She also bolstered her pitching staff with former top recruit Stevie Hansen from Oregon, Sophia Ramuno, an All-Big West Player at Cal Poly, and Madi Balk from Florida State. While she admitted there may be some growing pains early in 2025, things are heading in the right direction for Tarr and the Huskies ahead of their first season in the Big Ten. Her team is set to take the field for the first time in the Candrea Classic in Tuscon, Arizona on February 7, where they'll take on the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 17 Arizona Wildcats.
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Heather Tarr warns of early growing pains for Washington Softball
Heather Tarr warns of early growing pains for Washington Softball After losing 12 players from the 2024 roster, including the top eight hitters in the lineup and every member of the pitching staff, there could be some growing pains for coach Heather Tarr and the Washington Huskies. During Big Ten media day on Thursday, Tarr said as much herself after the Huskies slotted in at No. 22 in the NFCA's preseason poll, which ranks fourth among the five Big Ten teams that made their way onto the initial list. "We're going to go through some tough times," she said. The Huskies are only returning four players from last season's roster: Sophomore Giselle Alvarez, who was a part-time starter at third base, backup catchers Jadyn Glab and Haley Winckler, and Jing Gardner, who was mainly utilized as a pinch runner. 2024 was also the team's earliest exit from the NCAA Tournament in nearly 20 years, after losing to the Missouri Tigers in the Regional semifinals. But despite the struggles the Huskies faced at different points last season, the roster overhaul is unique for Tarr and has brought its fair share of challenges. 'I think for our gals, it's just growing and learning together and sticking together through the good times, the tough times, and not letting one thing define us, whether it's really good or not good,' she said. The Huskies are bringing in a promising freshman class, highlighted by top infield recruits Sophi Mazzola and Alexis DeBoer, and pitcher Morgan Reimer. As her team transitions to the new guard, Tarr added that she's been impressed with the way her veteran players have adjusted to leadership roles. 'It's been crazy just to watch our returning players. There's only four of them, so not to burden them so much like, 'Let's teach what Husky softball is to a whole group of 16 new women,' but they've done such a great job," she continued. "They have humbly taken on that opportunity to be leaders. Giselle and Jayden came into this program last year trying to earn starting spots and they did awesome last year. And then to watch them and help them navigate a leadership experience, it's pretty cool." What will it look like on the field? Tarr will get her first opportunity to assess her team on February 7 at the Candrea Classic in Tucson, Arizona, where the Huskies will open the season with matchups against the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 17 Arizona Wildcats.
