Gritty Effort from Montana Fouts Not Enough as Alabama Eliminated From WCWS
OKLAHOMA CITY—The question that will be asked about Alabama softball’s Team 27 in years to come will be simple—How would the season have ended with a healthy Montana Fouts?
No one is saying Alabama would have hoisted the championship trophy had Fouts not hyperextended her knee in the SEC Tournament a month ago. But the Crimson Tide’s outlook with Fouts at 70% for the postseason was pretty much sealed.
This Crimson Tide team did reach the Women’s College World Series, but it was a quick trip. Alabama’s season ended Friday with a 2-0 loss to Stanford after losing to Tennessee the previous day, 10-5.
You can question whether Fouts was at her best this postseason. You can also question her fielding abilities. But try and question her grit and determination and the entire Alabama softball team might come after you. Maybe a few coaches, too.
"I don't think anyone gave us a shot in hell of being here when Montana went down in Fayetteville," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. "She has the most competitive spirit I've seen in a pitcher that wears the 'A.' I mean, she's come through time and time again."
Fouts won’t ever use her injury as an excuse for the Friday's outcome. When asked about her injury earlier this week she brushed it off. “Pain is temporary. I'll feel that some other day,” she said with no hint of humor in her voice.
But in the end, the injury may have been too much to overcome. Fouts couldn’t pitch the way she wanted against a solid Stanford team. A power pitcher who throws in the 72-73 mph range, Fouts was topping out at 67-68 mph.
Fouts ends her career with a suitcase of accolades: four-time All-American, four-time All-SEC, NFCA National Pitcher of the Year (2021), Co-SEC Pitcher of the Year (2021), SEC Freshman of the Year (2019).
What she doesn't leave with is a national title.
"I didn't start playing the game of softball just to win a national championship," a teary-eyed Fouts said after the loss. "I started playing because I love it. I love the game. I love the struggle that it brings me sometimes. I love, like Murph has taught me, to be an overcomer. I love that. I love that about our team. I love the memories. I love my teammates. I love that it's brought me a family. That would have been great, but I've won in life."
In her return from the knee injury at the super regional, Fouts pitched twice in relief and started once against Northwestern. Her longest outing was 3.2 innings in a win. The most pitches she threw in each outing was 60.
Alabama was going to ride with Fouts (25-11) to the very end Friday. She threw 108 pitches in a complete game, allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
She refused to leave the game when Murphy ran to the circle with two outs in the seventh inning. She turned down the curtain call.
Unfortunately, Stanford's Sydney Steele hit a solo home run to make it a 2-0 game.
"I feel like I wouldn't change a thing," Fouts said. "I would take any second to be out there. Home run or not, I love playing softball. I wouldn't change a thing. I think Murph knew that before he ran out there, that I wasn't coming out of the game. I would never take a pitch off from playing a game with these girls."
Stanford struck first in the second inning when Steele doubled to right field. The ball landed just under the glove of a diving Larissa Preuitt. That brought in Stanford’s Emily Shultz, who opened the inning with a single, to make it 1-0.
Thanks to a sputtering Alabama offense and some stellar Stanford defensive plays, it was all the Cardinal needed. Alana Vawter had Alabama hitters confused from the start with a diet of fastballs and change-ups.
Vawter went 5.1 innings and allowed just one hit with five strikeouts. She gave way to the National Freshman of the Year, NiJaree Canady, who allowed seven earned runs in 121.1 innings entering the WCWS.
Game over.
Canady got the final five outs, with three strikeouts, to put Alabama away and advance through the elimination round.
Alabama (45-22) was shut out for the first time this season in its final game. Ashley Prange had Alabama’s only hit.
"It's getting harder and harder to coach like kind of the way I want to. This team allowed me to do it again," Murphy said. "I tell them at the beginning of the year, we're going to take the seniors on a magic carpet ride and everybody is going to do it for 'em. We're going to end up here. It's a magic carpet ride for the senior class."
