What could have been.
Texas softball was off to a dominant start to the 2020 season. Most impressively, the Longhorns defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation on back-to-back nights.
Although ending with an overall 24-3 record, each of Texas’ three losses came by just one run. Not only was the pitching often fantastic, the bats were on fire.
Eight Longhorns who had over 30 at bats ended the season with a .324 batting average or higher. Second baseman Janae Jefferson led in batting average with an impressive .553.
Shortly after the season ended abruptly due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Softball America released their final rankings on Tuesday.
The Longhorns (24-3) finished the abbreviated 2020 campaign ranked No. 1⃣ in the final @SoftbalAmerica Top 25 announced on Tuesday. #OneTeamOneTexas 🤘
More info here: https://t.co/foxBaD2ShK pic.twitter.com/2r69oWTX96
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) March 24, 2020
It depends how you look at it. In a way, they were deserving of the No. 1 spot and had been ranked at this position prior to the cancellations. If they finished as the best team in the country in a season that was cut short, could they be considered as National Champions?
Regardless, it’s not the way you’d prefer to finish any season. Texas was unable to begin conference play or reach the postseason. The competitive spirits in athletes understandably want to fight for their accomplishments.
Texas softball can take comfort in knowing their hard work and dominant play did not go unnoticed.
Softball America’s Final Top 25 Rankings:
1. Texas
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. Arizona
5. Oklahoma
6. LSU
7. Florida
8. Oklahoma State
9. Louisiana
10. Florida State
11. Kentucky
12. Alabama
13. Oregon
14. Georgia
15. South Carolina
16. Arizona State
17. Missouri
18. Virginia Tech
19. Michigan
20. Arkansas
21. Minnesota
22. UCF
23. Fresno State
24. Baylor
25. Mississippi State