For Aguilar, A National Championship Would Be ‘Everything’
March 30, 2017 | Softball
By Maureen Donovan
With two outs in the top of the 10th, runner on third, in a tie ball game against No. 2 Auburn, senior Ali Aguilar stepped up to the plate and did what she does best. Dropping a single into left field to score Kirstyn Thomas from third, Aguilar drove in what would be the winning run in the Husky's 2-1 season opening victory over the 2016 World Series runner up.
While she is no stranger to executing in pressure situations, this one held a little extra weight for Aguilar who will be suiting up for the final time in purple and gold this season.
"I felt a little bit of pressure, but I just trusted everything that I had done to prepare and it happened to drop through. I met with Coach (Heather) Tarr right before I went up to bat and she said whatever is going to happen has already happened. You can't control that part so just go up there and do what you do," recalled the veteran infielder from Orangevale, Calif.
While this was just one at bat for Aguilar, she is approaching her final season in similar fashion, trusting the preparation and playing pitch-to-pitch
.
Aguilar has already collected a host of superlatives heading into her senior season but there is one thing missing from her resume and it has nothing to do with personal accolades.
"We have not been to a World Series while I have been at the University of Washington. We have gotten really close," said Aguilar. "Getting to the World Series and then winning a National Championship would be everything."
The two-time All-Pac-12 honoree, Top 25 Finalist for 2016 USA Softball Player of the Year, and 2016 NFCA All-American Second Team member proved to be one of the most talented hitters in the nation last season. She led the Huskies with 20 multi-hit games and 18 multi-RBI games. Of those included four games where she collected five or more RBI. Despite being one of the most individually decorated players in Husky history with plenty of opportunity to add more to the list this season, Aguilar's focus lies more in the team aspect of the game, which is not surprising given her humble demeanor.
"Recognizing the whole team effort, competing with my teammates, and helping the young ones and all my other teammates grow as players to ultimately help the team win is my focus," said Aguilar. "It is rewarding to get those awards and recognitions but at the same time there is something so special about working together as a team towards a common goal."
Aguilar, a potent threat at the plate, has not always been a power hitter to say the least. Out of high school, she was more a slap hitter with the ability to hit away but Coach Tarr saw the potential in her swing, which has led her to become one of the best hitters to ever suit up in purple and gold.
"I definitely did not hit home runs all the time in high school. I think that is what Coach Tarr would say she recruited me as, more of a fast slapper," commented Aguilar. "Then she wanted me to get more comfortable with my swing. She did not want me to rely on slapping all the time so I started doing that and I began hitting the ball farther and farther so then I just kept hitting. They didn't really want me to slap anymore because I could get doubles instead of singles."
As an integral part of the lineup since her freshman year, Aguilar's swing is not the only thing that has developed since she first arrived on campus.
"Freshman year I felt like I was just surviving. I was in the lineup almost every game but I felt like I was just trying to get by. I grew sophomore and junior year just by learning new things about how to face different pitching, playing defense, and knowing the plays. Now I feel like I am in control of the experience," said Aguilar who was named to the 2014 Pac-12 All-Freshman team in her first season as a Husky.
"At shortstop you have to be the leader on the field and I think I have grown into a more confident leadership role throughout my career," added Aguilar. "I am still not a loud person. I am kind of quiet so I lead more by example, but I have learned to be more confident and knowledgeable of the game at the next level. "
Aguilar, who spent this past summer playing for the USA Women's National Elite Team, made an impact for Team USA when she was called up during the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's World Softball Championship in July. She went 2 for 3 and drove in the game's first run as Team USA jumped out to a 4-0 lead and downed Japan, 7-3, in the gold medal game. That experience helped Aguilar take her game to the next level heading into her senior season.
"It helped me to ignite my competitiveness and the deep-down drive to succeed because at Washington I have had the shortstop position the past three years but there I had to compete against other people again," said Aguilar. "It was also really cool to play with some of the best players that I used to watch on TV when I was in middle school and high school."
In January, Aguilar was named to the 2017 USA Softball Women's National Team along with teammate, Sis Bates, who was named to the Junior Women's National Team.
"I was nervous at first but I was trying not to be too high or too low about it, which is just my personality anyways but I was excited for sure," said Aguilar in regards to her reaction when she found out she made the 2017 Team USA roster.
"We are so proud of her for officially making the women's team this year," said Head Coach Heather Tarr. "This really shows her growth and maturity. There's so much talent on that team and anybody at the tryout could have been selected. Her drive is probably what set her apart from the others and what really impressed the coaches, it definitely impresses us every single day."
The USA Women's National Team is set to compete in the World Cup of Softball XII July 4-9 in Oklahoma City, Okla. While excited to represent the red, white, and blue in Oklahoma City, Aguilar and the Huskies have their sights set on the "Softball Capital of the World" for a different reason, the Women's College World Series in June.
The Huskies, who also knocked off defending National Champions, Oklahoma, in their first weekend of play are off to a good start.
"Right now we just want to prove ourselves in the preseason. Most importantly, we want to win the Pac-12 and then we want to get a top eight seed so we can host Regionals and Super Regionals to ultimately go to the World Series and play for a National Championship," said Aguilar.
To get there, the Huskies will rely on the leadership of their two lone seniors, Aguilar and Casey Stangel.
"To have an unbreakable team, a unified team is the goal and that is what me and Casey Stangel have been trying to do," said Aguilar. "Casey has done a really good job of bringing us together, having team meetings and staying on top of our team unity to keep us together and be able to compete and work hard."
Aguilar and the Huskies have their work cut out for them but the vision is clear and they aim to leave no doubt along the way, which is the team's motto this season.
"We can compete and hang in there with the best, if not be there right alongside them," said Aguilar.
Graduating in June with a degree in Sociology and Communications, Aguilar does not have a clear picture of what the future will look like just yet but she has a hard time imagining her life without softball in it.
Regardless, Aguilar attributes her success to this point on and off of the field to the immeasurable impact that the Husky softball program and coaching staff has had on her throughout her career.
"It has honestly been life changing. Just the way I have developed as a person and a player. I do not think if I would not have come here that I would have been able to develop the way I have softball wise and in all other aspects of my life," reflected Aguilar.
"We are constantly pushed to be great people and do the right thing. All eyes are on you so if you slip up, you are going to be held accountable for it," she added. "That is the way I was raised but it was taken to a whole other level when I got here. I owe so much to this program for who I have become over the past four years."
However, it won't be until the final out of the season is in the books that Aguilar will be able to fully reflect on her career and come to terms with the fact that it is nearing an end.
"Sometimes I think about it here and there but honestly the season goes by so fast and there are so many games that if you try to think about it ending you are going to miss the entire thing," said Aguilar.
For now, Aguilar is taking it pitch-by-pitch and savoring each step of the way with her teammates but there is no question that a trip to the Women's College World Series and a chance to play for a National Championship would be the icing on the cake to an already phenomenal career.
With two outs in the top of the 10th, runner on third, in a tie ball game against No. 2 Auburn, senior Ali Aguilar stepped up to the plate and did what she does best. Dropping a single into left field to score Kirstyn Thomas from third, Aguilar drove in what would be the winning run in the Husky's 2-1 season opening victory over the 2016 World Series runner up.
While she is no stranger to executing in pressure situations, this one held a little extra weight for Aguilar who will be suiting up for the final time in purple and gold this season.
"I felt a little bit of pressure, but I just trusted everything that I had done to prepare and it happened to drop through. I met with Coach (Heather) Tarr right before I went up to bat and she said whatever is going to happen has already happened. You can't control that part so just go up there and do what you do," recalled the veteran infielder from Orangevale, Calif.
While this was just one at bat for Aguilar, she is approaching her final season in similar fashion, trusting the preparation and playing pitch-to-pitch
.
Aguilar has already collected a host of superlatives heading into her senior season but there is one thing missing from her resume and it has nothing to do with personal accolades.
"We have not been to a World Series while I have been at the University of Washington. We have gotten really close," said Aguilar. "Getting to the World Series and then winning a National Championship would be everything."
The two-time All-Pac-12 honoree, Top 25 Finalist for 2016 USA Softball Player of the Year, and 2016 NFCA All-American Second Team member proved to be one of the most talented hitters in the nation last season. She led the Huskies with 20 multi-hit games and 18 multi-RBI games. Of those included four games where she collected five or more RBI. Despite being one of the most individually decorated players in Husky history with plenty of opportunity to add more to the list this season, Aguilar's focus lies more in the team aspect of the game, which is not surprising given her humble demeanor.
"Recognizing the whole team effort, competing with my teammates, and helping the young ones and all my other teammates grow as players to ultimately help the team win is my focus," said Aguilar. "It is rewarding to get those awards and recognitions but at the same time there is something so special about working together as a team towards a common goal."
Aguilar, a potent threat at the plate, has not always been a power hitter to say the least. Out of high school, she was more a slap hitter with the ability to hit away but Coach Tarr saw the potential in her swing, which has led her to become one of the best hitters to ever suit up in purple and gold.
"I definitely did not hit home runs all the time in high school. I think that is what Coach Tarr would say she recruited me as, more of a fast slapper," commented Aguilar. "Then she wanted me to get more comfortable with my swing. She did not want me to rely on slapping all the time so I started doing that and I began hitting the ball farther and farther so then I just kept hitting. They didn't really want me to slap anymore because I could get doubles instead of singles."
As an integral part of the lineup since her freshman year, Aguilar's swing is not the only thing that has developed since she first arrived on campus.
"Freshman year I felt like I was just surviving. I was in the lineup almost every game but I felt like I was just trying to get by. I grew sophomore and junior year just by learning new things about how to face different pitching, playing defense, and knowing the plays. Now I feel like I am in control of the experience," said Aguilar who was named to the 2014 Pac-12 All-Freshman team in her first season as a Husky.
"At shortstop you have to be the leader on the field and I think I have grown into a more confident leadership role throughout my career," added Aguilar. "I am still not a loud person. I am kind of quiet so I lead more by example, but I have learned to be more confident and knowledgeable of the game at the next level. "
Aguilar, who spent this past summer playing for the USA Women's National Elite Team, made an impact for Team USA when she was called up during the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women's World Softball Championship in July. She went 2 for 3 and drove in the game's first run as Team USA jumped out to a 4-0 lead and downed Japan, 7-3, in the gold medal game. That experience helped Aguilar take her game to the next level heading into her senior season.
"It helped me to ignite my competitiveness and the deep-down drive to succeed because at Washington I have had the shortstop position the past three years but there I had to compete against other people again," said Aguilar. "It was also really cool to play with some of the best players that I used to watch on TV when I was in middle school and high school."
In January, Aguilar was named to the 2017 USA Softball Women's National Team along with teammate, Sis Bates, who was named to the Junior Women's National Team.
"I was nervous at first but I was trying not to be too high or too low about it, which is just my personality anyways but I was excited for sure," said Aguilar in regards to her reaction when she found out she made the 2017 Team USA roster.
"We are so proud of her for officially making the women's team this year," said Head Coach Heather Tarr. "This really shows her growth and maturity. There's so much talent on that team and anybody at the tryout could have been selected. Her drive is probably what set her apart from the others and what really impressed the coaches, it definitely impresses us every single day."
The USA Women's National Team is set to compete in the World Cup of Softball XII July 4-9 in Oklahoma City, Okla. While excited to represent the red, white, and blue in Oklahoma City, Aguilar and the Huskies have their sights set on the "Softball Capital of the World" for a different reason, the Women's College World Series in June.
The Huskies, who also knocked off defending National Champions, Oklahoma, in their first weekend of play are off to a good start.
"Right now we just want to prove ourselves in the preseason. Most importantly, we want to win the Pac-12 and then we want to get a top eight seed so we can host Regionals and Super Regionals to ultimately go to the World Series and play for a National Championship," said Aguilar.
To get there, the Huskies will rely on the leadership of their two lone seniors, Aguilar and Casey Stangel.
"To have an unbreakable team, a unified team is the goal and that is what me and Casey Stangel have been trying to do," said Aguilar. "Casey has done a really good job of bringing us together, having team meetings and staying on top of our team unity to keep us together and be able to compete and work hard."
Aguilar and the Huskies have their work cut out for them but the vision is clear and they aim to leave no doubt along the way, which is the team's motto this season.
"We can compete and hang in there with the best, if not be there right alongside them," said Aguilar.
Graduating in June with a degree in Sociology and Communications, Aguilar does not have a clear picture of what the future will look like just yet but she has a hard time imagining her life without softball in it.
Regardless, Aguilar attributes her success to this point on and off of the field to the immeasurable impact that the Husky softball program and coaching staff has had on her throughout her career.
"It has honestly been life changing. Just the way I have developed as a person and a player. I do not think if I would not have come here that I would have been able to develop the way I have softball wise and in all other aspects of my life," reflected Aguilar.
"We are constantly pushed to be great people and do the right thing. All eyes are on you so if you slip up, you are going to be held accountable for it," she added. "That is the way I was raised but it was taken to a whole other level when I got here. I owe so much to this program for who I have become over the past four years."
However, it won't be until the final out of the season is in the books that Aguilar will be able to fully reflect on her career and come to terms with the fact that it is nearing an end.
"Sometimes I think about it here and there but honestly the season goes by so fast and there are so many games that if you try to think about it ending you are going to miss the entire thing," said Aguilar.
For now, Aguilar is taking it pitch-by-pitch and savoring each step of the way with her teammates but there is no question that a trip to the Women's College World Series and a chance to play for a National Championship would be the icing on the cake to an already phenomenal career.
Players Mentioned
Saturday, May 16
Friday, May 15
Wednesday, May 06
Wednesday, May 06
