FAYETTEVILLE -- Despite being an All-American catcher during her playing days at the University of California at Berkley, Courtney Deifel knows that being successful on the softball diamond begins and ends with pitching.
"The game starts in the circle," she says without hesitation.
So, when Deifel decided to leave the University of Maryland to take over a reeling Razorback program three years ago, she knew where the focus had to be.
"We knew to be successful we had to get this pitching staff together, to allow this program to propel forward," she said. "When we got here, pitching was our main focus."
Fortunately, the previous coaching staff already had a commitment from Autumn Storms, a 5-10 right-handed drop-ball specialist from Temecula, Calif.
"We got lucky because Autumn was already committed," Deifel said. "The previous staff did a tremendous job getting her, and she was such a huge factor for us last year."
Storms was the Arkansas workhorse on the mound as a freshman last season, tossing 172 innings with a 16-15 record and a slim 2.28 ERA.
"I don't really feel pressure, but I knew last year that I had to try and be perfect every game in order to give us a chance to win," Storms said.
To keep the program moving forward, Deifel and her staff set out to find the perfect pitching complement to Storms. They found a "diamond in the rough," with 5-10 rise-ball specialist Mary Haff, a two-time all-state hurler from Winter Haven, Fla.
Haff was a self-proclaimed "late bloomer" on the mound and did not garner much interest from Florida's powerhouse softball programs. She went 34-4 over her final two seasons at Class 7-A Lake Region High School with a 0.44 ERA. She once struck out 22 batters in an eight-inning game.
"I was surprised that Mary was still available, and I'm just glad she trusted us and our vision and wanted to be a part of this unbelievable athletic department," Deifel said. "I knew she was special from the very first time I saw her. She has such a consistent, mature approach to how she goes at every workout, how she goes at every game."
Haff and Storms have provided the No. 20 Razorbacks (31-8, 6-6 SEC) with one of the country's most formidable pitching combinations this season, and have provided Deifel with a 1-2 punch that is essential to compete in the Southeastern Conference.
"Mary and Autumn have just been so consistent for us," Deifel said. "What we ask of them every day is to just give us a chance to win, and they have both just done an incredible job with setting a great tone for this team -- really just being consistent with who they are and what they do best.
"There is just so much resiliency you have to have as a pitcher in this conference."
Haff (18-3, 1.03 ERA) has 172 strikeouts in 129.2 innings this season, with seven shutouts and one no-hitter. Her rise pitches have been the perfect complement for the drop pitches of Storms (12-5, 1.90 ERA), who has tossed three shutouts and one no-hitter.
Haff's 18 wins is the second most in the nation by a freshman this season, and the most for an Arkansas freshman since Heather Schlichtman won 26 in 2001. Schlichtman's freshman strikeout record of 203 may also be in jeopardy before season's end.
As a duo, Haff and Storms are also closing in on the Razorbacks' all-time season win total by a pair of pitchers -- 38 by Tammy Kincaid (22) and Rachel Talley (16) in 1999.
"I don't know how you prepare for a rise ball and a drop ball at the same time, so I think we complement each other perfectly," Haff said. "And I think we can really count on each other when things aren't going well. Autumn has been a big help this year."
For Storms, the tandem effort has allowed her to relax a little more while on the mound this season.
"Now, I know that I have Mary that we can go to, and with a defense that has really been solid all year, it has allowed me to pitch a little more loosely and confidently," Storms said. "When we switch up, the opposing lineup has to change their entire bat angle. So, it's amazing to have someone with her pitching style."
Deifel calls all of the pitches from the dugout, yet has enough confidence to allow her two aces to change the call if they feel a certain need, which is very rare.
"I just see what we need for certain hitters, in certain situations," Deifel said. "Both of these girls have a lot of confidence in all of their pitches, so that makes my job a little easier. I can call any one of their pitches in any count, and they have confidence in that."
The Razorbacks, 19-1 at Bogle Park this season, will now be tasked with hosting No. 15 Alabama this weekend, beginning with a 6 p.m. first pitch tonight. Saturday's contest will air nationally on ESPNU at 11 a.m., and Sunday's series finale is set for 1 p.m.
Another ranked opponent is becoming business as usual for Arkansas, as it tries to claw its way through the loaded SEC slate -- which means just one thing to Storms.
"Time to go to war," she said without hesitation. "We've got to go to war with every batter and battle every at-bat."
Sports on 04/13/2018