Arizona softball begins new chapter in dominating fashion

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Thursday, Feb. 10, was a historic night for the Arizona Wildcats softball program.

For the first time, new head coach Caitlin Lowe was calling the shots for her alma mater.

And she did so, leading the Wildcats to 22-1 over Southern Utah.

“I have full faith in her,” said Alexis Barber, a University of Arizona student.

Barber was one of many who came out to show their support for Lowe.

“We kind of knew it was coming the way she was being groomed for many years,” said David Stephenson, a long-time season ticket holder.

News of Lowe taking the reins of the program came as no surprise to many, including Stephenson and his wife, Jan.

Lowe played at Arizona under legendary head coach Mike Candrea and then spent years under him as an assistant coach. It was a natural passing of the torch when Candrea retired at the end of last season.

But despite all of that, Lowe is a legend in her own right. In-between her Arizona playing days and returning to coach she built a hall-of-fame professional career and had a successful stint with USA Softball, where she also took home a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic games.

“I shed tears. It was cool hearing about him retiring, I was sad,” Barber said. “But since Caitlin is doing the coaching, full faith.”

“Mike is a good coach, a good mentor. She learned from the best,” Stephenson said.

Lowe is calling the shots for the next wave of Wildcats and Barber couldn’t be prouder the program is being coached by one of their own.

“Once you’re part of the Wildcat family you know the values and traditions if you keep doing that’s how tradition keeps going,” Barber said.

Now that one of their own is at the helm, fans are excited to sit back and enjoy what they hope will be another legendary chapter for the already historic program.

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