Arizona Wins Again and Tennessee's Four Year Dynasty

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- Usually I pay attention to the Women's College World Series. It's not like it's that exciting, but sometimes they have a good game or two, but for the most part it's the usual suspects playing once again. Women's sports have very little parity at all. The cream rises to the top and it foams in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona knocked off Tennessee for the second consecutive day to win another title. There's so many trophies on Arizona's mantle, it's ready to fall. UCLA used to be the national power, but ever since Jennie Finch, the Wildcats have taken the top seed in the Pac-10 and nation.

The worst part is, softball is so pitching dominated that one good freshman pitcher can create a four-year dynasty. However, when she is gone, usually the team goes with it. Without great media coverage and several publications, it's a "What have you done for me lately?" world and mid-majors usually get shuffled to the back.

Monica Abbott, the 6-foot-something giant that occupied the mound for Tennessee took the lost in blowout fashion as Arizona won 5-0. Abbott was just two days removed from winning a game in which she struck out 17 batters. Evidently, Arizona's batters can adjust rather well.

I think they should have a new rule in college where the same pitcher cannot throw consecutive days or games. That would make the game a lot more interesting.

Who knows how good Tennessee will be next year? I saw Abbott get in trouble earlier in the tournament and the cameras panned to the bullpen where Megan Rhodes was warming up. I don't know if Rhodes logged any innings during the NCAA Tournament, and I'm sure that will help out down the road a lot. In fact, when she got the call to warm up, she had this, "What the f---?" look on her face.

It was kind of like Texas this year, who dropped off significantly after Cat Osterman graduated. They were decent. They had a good pitcher and made regionals. But a 2-0 win over Stetson, a first year regional team to write home about? Come on?

Let's face it, dynasties in softball are created by one recruit for four years. There has to be some other way to make this sport one where everyone can compete on some level and playing for Arizona or one of seven other teams isn't the only way to go home with a ring.