Faith is the Foundation for Fouts, Prange as Alabama Softball Careers Conclude

"It was more than anything I could ever have dreamed of. It's every answered prayer I could have asked for."

OKLAHOMA CITY — With No. 5-seeded Alabama's season-ending 2-0 loss to the No. 9-seeded Stanford Cardinal, the emotions of reflection came to a head within the hallowed grounds of the USA Softball Hall of Fame complex for players and coaches alike.

For Crimson Tide ace Montana Fouts, she did all that she could — pitching seven innings of five-hit, four-strikeout ball while allowing two earned runs against a daunting Stanford lineup. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy approached Fouts in the circle with two outs and nobody on, offering her a chance at a curtain call.

Fouts vehemently refused; she wanted the ball.

While Cardinal third baseman Sydney Steele hit a solo home run on the next pitch, Fouts recorded the final out of the inning on a weak ground ball putout to utility player and fellow pitcher Lauren Esman, who was standing at first base. As Fouts walked to the dugout, the always well-traveled Crimson Tide contingency gave her a standing ovation. Fouts responded with a quick smile and wave before heading inside, knowing that she had likely thrown her last pitch as a collegiate athlete.

For Fouts, playing in the Women's College World Series meant everything. Doing it in an Alabama uniform always served as a personal reminder that she was playing for something bigger than herself. 

That, among many other polarizing characteristics, is why Fouts has become larger than life in the softball community. She always seemed to have an intimate understanding of the bigger picture. 

Now a four-time All-American selection, Fouts always made time for others — signing autographs for hours on end and never having too much on her plate to stop and chat with a fan, young or old.

Why? What compels a 22-year-old "rockstar," in the words of Murphy, to display such kindness and patience?

To Fouts, the answer is simple: Her faith.

"I mean, I feel like faith is us," Fouts said. "We have that. We are who we are because we have that. I've been blessed beyond measure, not just with opportunities or wins or anything like that. I've been blessed with the people. I have faith because these people make me have faith. They show me that there is a bigger picture and there are things outside of life than softball."

Fouts isn't the only player on the Crimson Tide roster to put her beliefs in the spotlight. For outgoing senior third baseman Ashley Prange, prayer has been a driving force behind her on-field success and positive outlook on future endeavors.

"I would say that even being here has been completely because of my faith, completely because of Jesus," Prange said. "I went into the portal with no ties really to anything and took a leap of faith in that moment to hope for something better. I just prayed, as I've said before, for a place that could give me a platform for something bigger than myself, a place where I could be welcomed for who I am, regardless of whatever I do on the softball field. I just had that trust from day one. It led me here to these people. Like I said, it was more than anything I could ever have dreamed of. It's every answered prayer I could have asked for."

For Murphy, the qualities that Fouts and Prange have displayed at a national level are integral to building a foundation for his players' next stage in life.

"I always say you must have the bigger picture in mind in athletics because there's only one team, one team out of 307 that gets to raise the trophy," Murphy said. "What do the other 306 hold their hats on? There has to be something else, right? It's the love for their teammates, the love for their coaches, the love for their staff, the love for the game. You're playing for something much bigger than yourself when you play for Alabama. They're now going to be lifelong friends of mine, whether they like it or not."

Make no mistake: Alabama softball may have seen the last of Montana Fouts and Ashley Prange, but the world hasn't seen the last of their kind-hearted nature and glowing positivity, even in the face of disappointment. 

See also:

Gritty Effort from Montana Fouts Not Enough as Alabama Eliminated From WCWS

Everything Montana Fouts, Ashley Prange Said After Careers Ending at WCWS

Everything Patrick Murphy Said After Alabama Softball Got Eliminated in WCWS