Alabama Softball Ace Montana Fouts Doing Better Than Expected

Regardless of the pitcher's availability, the Crimson Tide will open regional play on Friday evening at Rhoads Stadium.

They hoped. They prayed. They even got a huge surprise when the selection committee revealed the bracket for the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament on Sunday. 

And yes, Alabama softball pitcher Montana Fouts is doing better than expected. 

"It's a lot better than what I thought," Crimson Tide coach Patrick Murphy said "It's still day-to-day."

Although Murphy is keeping things close to the vest about her availability in the Tuscaloosa Regional in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, which gets under way Friday at Rhoads Stadium, the coach noted that in all the regionals his teams have played he's never used his ace in the opener: "Never."

Alabama will open regional play against Long Island, but could then play twice on both Saturday and Sunday, which means the other three pitchers on the roster will all likely play regardless. The Sharks are 32-24, and as the Northeast Conference champions received an automatic bid. Middle Tennessee and Central Arkansas also are at the regional, which has a double-elimination format. 

"You have to be smart about this because it could be one, two ... four, five games," he said. "You're going to need a staff to get you through. a tough regional.

"It's all strategy and matchups. With video and everyone's game on-line for 60 games, we have a lot of information. We'll make the decision of which pitcher works best with what opponent. Softball is also like six degrees of separation. Somebody knows somebody who knows somebody."

Fouts met with the team’s orthopedist for evaluation, Dr. Lyle Cain, on Monday, and is also working with a physical trainer. She'll have the final word on her availability but only after passing three specific physical tests with her hyperextended left knee. 

Fouts (23-9) leads the nation with 311 strikeouts and sports a 1.44 earned run average. She's thrown four no-hitters this season, the last of which, against Ole Miss, was also the fourth perfect game of her career. She's the only pitcher in Crimson Tide history to throw four perfect games, three of which have been solos, while the four no-hitters tied for the Alabama single-season record (last done by Kelsi Dunne in 2011). 

Fouts has also pitched for Team USA, helping win gold at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, and has been named to the USA Softball Women's National Team for the WBSC World Cup, which will be held July 11-15 in Dublin, Ireland.

Fouts left Alabama's SEC Tournament quarterfinal against host Arkansas with a left leg injury. She was in in obvious pain after completing a pitch in the seventh inning. The Crimson Tide eventually won 3-2 in nine innings. 

This story will be updated

See Also: Alabama Softball Earns No. 5 Seed for NCAA Tournament