Softball Assistant Excelling at Professional Ranks
July 18, 2004 | Softball
The opportunity to play sports professionally is something that many people dream about but aren't lucky enough to experience. For UW assistant softball coach Brandee McArthur, another chance to get paid to play the sport she loves was one she couldn 't pass up.
The pitching coach for the Badgers, McArthur has been playing professionally this summer for the Akron Racers of the newly formed National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league.
Despite being three years removed from competing as a pro, McArthur has been excelling in the pitcher's circle for the Racers. The former University of Pacific standout has posted a 5-5 record along with a very respectable 1.77 ERA for the Racers, who entered this week's all-star break in first place in the six-team NPF with a 20-8 record.
'I think the experience has gone really well so far, ' said McArthur, who spent the midseason break back in Madison working at the Badgers' summer camps. 'Our team is working a lot with children in the community trying to get softball in the state of Ohio better. I think it's really important to get out in the community and get kids involved with the game.
'It's been awesome to get back out and play ball again. As someone who has played their entire life, there's nothing better than to get out and play the game you love.'
Following graduating from college in 1999, McArthur was a member of the Ohio Pride of the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL) for two seasons. After being named to the all-star team in 1999 and leading the league in strikeouts in 2000, McArthur was forced to look elsewhere to continue playing after the WPSL disbanded following the 2000 season. She competed for the Crocetta Italian softball team in 2001 before turning her attention to coaching, and was hired as an assistant coach at Kentucky.
McArthur then came to Wisconsin after her one-year stint with the Wildcats and recently finished her second season tutoring the Badger pitchers. When the NPF was formed in 2003, she jumped at the chance of getting the opportunity to play again, signing a free agent contract with the Racers. She got plenty of training and preparation in during the collegiate season as she worked her way back into competitive shape by pitching to UW batters.
'I was a little nervous at first,' McArthur said of competing professionally again. 'It took getting out there and throwing to live batters, but it's nice to know that you still have it. It's tough knowing that a lot of the players are coming right out of college, but I think being older and having that experience and maturity have helped me.'
McArthur said that she has also been able to take a great deal away from playing competitively again, something she hopes she is able to translate into her job at the UW.
'I think any time when you get out and play with other people, you are able to learn a lot of things,' she said. 'I'll take that away from this experience. There are so many talented players in the league and they all have so much to offer.'
A fierce competitor by her own admission, McArthur said that being on a winning team that has great chemistry has made the experience that much more enjoyable.
'It makes it a lot more fun, considering I hate to lose, ' she said. 'One thing about our team is, I don't know if we 're the most talented team in the league but we all get along so well and have come together as a team. I think that has gone a long way in helping to keep us winning. '
