Tag: Washington Huskies Softball

Lindsay Lopez signs with Sultanes Femenil

Washington Huskies alum Lindsay Lopez is heading to Mexico to play professional softball.

After transferring to Washington from Arizona State, Lindsay Lopez helped anchor coach Heather Tarr’s pitching staff for two seasons. In that time, she made 58 appearances and helped the Huskies reach the Women’s College World Series in 2023 before they were ousted in the NCAA Regionals in 2024.

A reliable No. 2 starter behind Ruby Meylan during her time in Seattle, Lopez now has an opportunity to continue her softball career on the professional level. On Wednesday, Sultanes Femenil, a professional softball team in Monterrey City, Mexico, announced her addition to the roster on social media.

During her two years at Washington, she was named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in both seasons while compiling a 24-6 record, a 3.22 ERA, and a 2.57 batting average against. Lopez also had 6 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 4 saves over 182 1/3 innings with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 158:55.

When factoring in her three years with the Sun Devils, the left-hander finished her five-year career with a 52-18 record, a 2.77 ERA, and 339 strikeouts across 434 2/3 innings pitched. Lopez has also spent time pitching with Team Mexico across various international tournaments over the last few years.

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Washington signee continues to dominate against international competition

Washington signee Morgan Reimer has been perfect at the WBSC U-18 World Cup.

Heather Tarr got a good one in 2024 signee Morgan Reimer. The winningest coach in Washington Huskies history added plenty of reinforcements to her pitching staff for the 2025 season, headlined by transfers Sophia Ramuno and Stevie Hansen, but if Reimer keeps up her current pace, the first-year should be an important piece of the starting rotation.

In the group stage of the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 World Cup, Reimer was nothing short of dominant for Team Canada. Over 14 2/3 innings, Reimer hasn’t allowed a run, striking out 29 batters and tossing a perfect game.

As her team moves on to the eight-team elimination round, Reimer displayed all the potential that led her to be such a high priority on the recruiting trail.

“We will look to Morgan right away to add depth to our pitching staff,” Tarr said when she signed. “She can throw the ball in the upper sixties with elite spin. We value her success at the travel ball level and the recent success she’s had with Team Canada…We will look to Morgan now and in the future to help us contend for a national championship. ”

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Baylee Klingler named MVP at Athletes Unlimited Game No. 23

Washington softball alum Baylee Klingler had an excellent day with Athletes Unlimited.

Former Washington Huskies softball star Baylee Klingler had an exceptional day for former Oklahoma State star Lexi Kilfoyl’s team with Athletes Unlimited.

Even though she got just one at bat on the day, the two-time First Team All-American made the most of her opportunity, driving a bases-clearing double off the wall in right field. She also made a spectacular diving play on a ball down the line at third base as Kilfoyl’s team prevailed 5-0 over former UCLA star Megan Faraimo’s team.

Her strong day on both sides of the ball earned her 60 points in Athletes Unlimited’s MVP voting, taking home first-place honors from Sunday’s game. She now holds 820 points for the season and ranks No. 40 in the league.

Across 12 games this season, the 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year and Triple Crown winner holds a .353 batting average and a .783 OPS with 12 hits and 7 RBI across 34 at bats. Despite hitting 57 home runs during her college career, Klingler has yet to go deep this year.

Sis Bates’ daily routine includes plenty of coffee

Sis Bates deserves a sponsorship from Starbucks.

As Washington Huskies softball legend Sis Bates continues her professional career with Athletes Unlimited, she deserves some sort of sponsorship deal with Starbucks. The three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time NFCA First Team All-American discussed her love of coffee in a profile with Athletes Unlimited.

“It used to be three [daily espresso shots], but then it turned into four, and now I live at a four,” Bates said in a video shared on social media as part of Athletes Unlimited’s Signature Series, which profiles some of the league’s top players.

But there’s a lot more than just coffee in Bates’ life, like her four-year-old Husky, Nala.

“Something I love doing off the field is hanging with my girl Nala,” Bates said. “Me and my partner got her during Covid, that was so silly of us, but she brings me so much joy and is just my little angel.”

During her time at Washington, Bates turned into a beloved star both on and off the field, and continues to work with coach Heather Tarr’s program as her director of player development.

Heather Tarr details her love for Washington softball

The Washington Huskies head coach detailed her love and passion for the UW athletics program and Seattle.

No coach in the history of Washington athletics has a resume like Heather Tarr.

She boasts a record of 820-313-1, the most wins of any coach in school history, and has coached 37 All-Americans, 109 All-Conference players, and 94 All-Region players. The native of Redmond, Washington, has also led the Huskies to be ranked for 246 consecutive weeks in the NFCA poll, along with 15 Super Regional berths and 8 appearances in the Women’s College World Series, including the 2009 national championship.

The head coach is also showing no signs of stepping down any time soon, and in an interview with Softball America’s Sydney Supple, she detailed her love for the Washington program and her hometown ahead of her 20th season at the helm.

“Sometimes the job can bring its fair share of stresses but I always remind myself, it’s like I won the lottery,” Tarr said. “I grew up here, I was a walk-on at UW, and now I’m the head coach. It’s the most amazing opportunity.”

After a very tumultuous offseason where Tarr had to replace 12 players on her roster, 4 graduating seniors and 8 that decided to enter the transfer portal, Tarr’s pride for the program is something that will continue to be a steadying force for as long as she’s in command.

Sis Bates describes her “Remember To Have Fun” mantra

Former Washington Huskies Sis Bates detailed her “Remember to have fun” mantra to Softball America.

Before Sis Bates steps on the field, the three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-American looks down her cleats, which have a message on them, which reads, “Remember to have fun.”

The always passionate Bates wears a big smile on her face, whether it be as an assistant coach on Heather Tarr’s staff at Washington, or during her time on the field with Team USA and Athletes Unlimited. However, Bates described some of her struggles to Sydney Supple, and Softball America that always reminded her to hold on to the joy of softball.

“I think back to a time in high school and a time in college where I went through some pretty rough times and [softball] wasn’t joyful for me anymore,” Bates said. “In high school, I went through a period where I wanted to quit after I committed to UW. I remember crying to my dad in the Georgia airport…and he told me, ‘I’m not going to let you quit now but at the end of the season it’s still this we can talk about it.'”

“At the end of the year I told him I never want to get to this point again and I remember going back home and doing all the little things that made the game joyful for me. I was playing wall ball with my brother and I played wiffle ball with all the boys in town, and the joy came back to me and I never want to lose it. It’s something that speaks to me and I hope it speaks to a lot of other little girls out there.”

With all the accolades that followed once she got to Montlake and into her professional career, she seems to have found a way to hold on to that joy every day.

Tarr, Bates take home silver medal at Women’s Softball World Cup

The Heather Tarr managed Team USA couldn’t bring home the gold medal at the Women’s Softball World Cup.

Team USA couldn’t finish the job at the Women’s Softball World Cup, as coach Heather Tarr’s team fell 6-1 to Team Japan in the gold medal game after beating them 2-0 earlier in the tournament.

Tarr and Washington Huskies director of player personnel Sis Bates, along with the star-studded Eagles roster, still took home silver medals but were hoping for more after coming into the game on a 28-inning scoreless inning streak in the tournament.

Bates, who batted .364 in the tournament still flashed the leather by turning a nifty double play, as the three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was known to do frequently during her career on Montlake. However, it wasn’t enough to aid former Oklahoma ace Kelly Maxwell, who allowed 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) over 2 innings.

Former UCLA star Megan Faraimo didn’t fare much better against Team Japan, letting up 4 hits, 4 earned runs, and 2 walks over 1 2/3 innings. Tarr’s squad was only able to muster 5 hits in the contest, with Utah’s Hannah Flippen and Florida State’s Jessie Warren contributing 2 each.

Miu Goto earned the win for Team Japan after 4 strong innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, and 2 walks against 4 strikeouts. Yukiko Keno worked the final 3 innings, letting up 3 walks to earn the save.

Bates lift Tarr, Team USA to gold medal game at Women’s Softball World Cup

Sis Bates had a stellar day to lift Team USA to the Women’s Softball World Cup final.

Team USA’s 7-0 five-inning victory over the Netherlands looked very familiar to a lot of wins that coach Heather Tarr has experienced during her time on Montlake with the Washington Huskies.

Shortstop Sis Bates had a great day out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 2 with a run batted in on a sacrifice fly and a run scored to help lead Team USA to the gold medal game, where they will face off with Team Japan.

Bates was driven in on a two-run home run off the bat of former Utah star Hannah Flippen who opened the scoring in the first inning and started the rout for Tarr’s team. Oklahoma Sooners ace Kelly Maxwell worked the final three innings to finish off a combined no-hitter for Team USA, letting up 2 walks but striking out 4 batters.

This will be the second time the US and Japan will face off in the eight-team tournament, after meeting in the super round on July 18. Tarr’s team won that game 2-0 behind a stellar complete game performance from former UCLA star Megan Faraimo, who allowed 2 hits and struck out 8 batters.

Faraimo’s younger brother, Madden, has a connection to Washington too as the four-star recruit in the 2025 class took an official visit to Seattle on May 31 and currently has the Huskies among the top 4 schools he’s considering ahead of his college commitment.

Boise State outfielder makes Washington transfer official

The Washington Huskies signed Boise State transfer Alycia Flores on Thursday.

The Washington Huskies added an experienced bat to their lineup on Thursday when former Boise State Broncos outfielder Alycia Flores signed with coach Heather Tarr’s team on Thursday.

Flores started her career with the Oklahoma Sooners and was successful with coach Patty Gasso’s team before transferring to Boise State prior to the 2022 season. The graduate student will have one year of eligibility remaining with the Huskies and brings a fair share of accolades with her after being named to the NFCA’s All-Pacific Region Third Team in 2022 and the All-Mountain West Second Team in both 2022 and 2024.

Over her three years with the Broncos, Flores posted a .325 batting average with 21 home runs, 108 runs batted in, and a .935 OPS. She also boasts a career .967 fielding percentage and could see some time as Tarr’s designated player while also playing the outfield.

Most importantly, Flores brings a lot of experience to Washington’s very young lineup following the mass exodus of eight players hitting the transfer portal. In her final season, she could prove to be a steadying presence around Tarr’s promising group of freshmen and transfers.

Junior college catcher Tia Durst signs with Washington

The Washington Huskies added a promising catcher to their 2024 roster.

Heather Tarr needed some reinforcements behind the plate and appears to have found what she was looking for in Tia Durst. The product of Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois has a chance to become Washington’s primary catcher in 2024 after being extremely productive at the junior college level last season.

Durst posted a .378 batting average with 18 home runs, 57 runs batted in, 28 stolen bases, and a whopping 1.268 OPS. She was also an incredibly versatile defender, playing all over the infield but should move strictly to catcher at Washington.

She’s also spending her summer playing in the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate league, and has accrued a .263 batting average with a home run and 10 runs batted in.

Tarr is replacing both NFCA All-Pacific Region honoree Sydney Stewart, who took her talents to Arizona, and Olivia Johnson, who returned to her home state to spend her at Texas A&M.

Washington’s only other catcher on the roster is former Bellevue College transfer Haley Winckler, who played in just two games last season. Winckler is an elite defender who could push Durst for playing time, as she won an NWAC Rawlings Gold Glove during the 2023 season at the junior college level.