<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4744iE_0wDCQP5l00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4744iE_0wDCQP5l00" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>It’s been a long time coming. The last time Devyn Netz stepped into the circle or the batting box for Arizona softball was against UCLA in the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament. She sat out last season with an injury as her classmates finished their final season in Wildcat uniforms. On Friday evening, she was in the starting lineup for Arizona’s fall opener against Arizona Western College.“Oh my gosh,” Netz said. “I mean, I looked at my uniform a little bit too long today, but I missed it. I miss this environment. I miss my team. And I just came to play with these girls this year, and it’s gonna be for them, and just kind of pull the enjoyment of the game. But it was awesome.”The “them” she’s playing for is a different group. The group of players in her class when she entered Arizona finished their playing careers last season. Gone are stalwarts Allie Skaggs, Carlie Scupin, and Jasmine Perezchica. Three-year teammate Blaise Biringer has also moved on in her softball career.They’re not completely disconnected from the program, though. Perezchica is serving as a graduate assistant for Arizona this year. She coached first base during the game.Netz and the other upperclassmen are filling the leadership void. The underclassmen and transfers are doing their part, as well.“To be a senior vet, it means a lot, and it has a lot of responsibility with it, as well,” Netz said. But so far, I’ve just kind of been taking what’s given to me and kind of just running with it and having fun with it. But it’s weird not having them here, for sure, but it’s a new culture that we’re building. We always had that solid class, but we have a lot of solid girls on this team one through 23.”The Wildcats won the game 22-0 in five innings, but the score and end result aren’t the focus of fall softball. Getting ready for spring is the point. It was one more step in Netz’s fight to do that. That fight has been going on for over a year.“A lot of physical therapy, that’s for sure,” Netz said. “I had to stick with it. I had to have a good head on my shoulders, a good mentality. But I did a lot of strength training, all that physical therapy, movement stuff, and just kind of had to focus on the way my body moved, and kind of to change a little bit of things just to get out here again. But I’ll do anything to get back out on this field.”She even decided to forego the team’s trip to Italy over the summer. She stayed home both to continue rehabbing and to finish classes she needed.“I saw that they had a lot of fun,” Netz said. “I’m glad they did but I had some things to get done first.” Her return was a good outing for Netz. She pitched the first two innings, getting three strikeouts and three groundouts. She batted cleanup, ending with a sacrifice fly and an RBI double in three plate appearances. She also got some time at first base.All of Arizona’s available hitters got at least one at-bat, including recently added walk-on Camila Zepeda. The only hitter who didn’t appear was freshman Kate Vance, who has been trying to overcome an injury.The Wildcats hit a lot of doubles and long singles. They also tacked on two home runs, both from newcomers. Freshman third baseman Jenna Sniffen hit one out in the second. Transfer catcher/first baseman Sydney Stewart had a huge two-run shot over the batter’s eye in centerfield in the bottom of the third.After Netz finished her two innings of work, the Wildcats got work for other members of the staff. Second in was transfer Saya Swain, who gave up a walk and a hit but no runs in the third. She struck out two in her one inning of work.Freshman Sarah Wright relieved Swain. She struck out one, got a popup, and induced a flyout against the three batters she faced.The final pitcher was sophomore Brooke Mannon. Mannon also sat down her three batters. One of the outs was a popup to freshman catcher Emma Kavanagh, who relieved Stewart.A few players got time at new positions or played multiple positions during the game. Stewart was the starting catcher, but she also played first base. Miranda Stoddard started the game at first base. Netz did her usual switch from pitcher to first baseman.The Wildcats continue their fall practice season on Friday, Oct. 25. They will host Chandler-Gilbert Community College at 5 p.m. MST. At 7 p.m. that evening, UA takes on NAIA squad Benedictine University-Mesa. It’s the only opponent from a four-year school during the fall season.Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics</div></body>

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Devyn Netz makes return to the field in Arizona softball’s fall opener

It’s been a long time coming. The last time Devyn Netz stepped into the circle or the batting box for Arizona softball was against UCLA in the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament. She sat out last season with an injury as her classmates finished their final season in Wildcat uniforms. On Friday evening, she was in the starting lineup for Arizona’s fall opener against Arizona Western College.