Cougar eager to start career as a Wolverine

By BOB PUTNAM
Published July 6, 2005

Alleigh Kidman stayed glued to the television at home as she watched Michigan play UCLA in the NCAA Softball World Series final June 8.

Kidman, an outfielder who recently graduated from Countryside, was decked out in Wolverine attire. She squirmed with every strikeout and bent with every bunt.

It wasn't until Samantha Findlay hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning to lift Michigan to a 4-1 victory that Kidman relaxed.

"It was so tense watching them play," Kidman said of the Wolverines. "I had butterflies. I felt like I was there on the field with them."

Next season, she will be.

Kidman took advantage of the early signing period, committing to Michigan in November. She has gone through orientation and will head to school in August.

"This was where I wanted to go all along," Kidman said. "It's pretty much a dream come true."

The Wolverines were at the top of Kidman's wish list since she attended a softball camp in Ann Arbor when she was 10. Michigan knew that and pulled out all the stops to sign the centerfielder, who was one of the top recruits in the state.

Kidman was invited to attend the Wolverine's Homecoming football game against Minnesota during her official recruiting visit in October. Before the game, she stood in front of more than 100,000 fans at the Big House as the team ran onto the field.

By halftime, Kidman was hooked.

"I committed right there in the stadium," Kidman said. "I just knew this was the place for me."

She will be playing for a program that became the first team east of the Mississippi River to win the national championship. Oklahoma (2000) had been the easternmost team to win it all.

Kidman also will have plenty of opportunities to play in front of friends and family. After all, Michigan (65-7) scheduled its first 33 games on the road this season because of cold weather in Ann Arbor. But that didn't stop the Wolverines from winning the title that had been dominated by West Coast teams since its inception in 1982.

UCLA (40-20) has won 10 titles and had another one stripped by the NCAA because of rules infractions. Arizona has won six. Fresno State, California and Cal-State Fullerton also have won titles. Only Texas A&M, which won two titles in the first six years of the tournament, and Oklahoma had broken the stranglehold before.

Michigan lost its season opener to Baylor before winning 32 straight to climb to the top spot in both major softball polls. The Wolverines, one of only five teams in NCAA history to hit 100 home runs in a season, combined a potent offense with Jennie Ritter's dominant pitching.

Kidman will add more punch to Michigan's offense. She hit .520 as a senior and was a first-team selection to the Times' all-county and all-Suncoast teams.

Her leadership helped the Cougars advance to the Class 5A region final, where they lost to defending state champion Palm Harbor University and ace Dani Hofer for the second year in a row.

Kidman said Michigan coach Carol Hutchins will give her the chance to play right away.

"(Hutchins) is all about who gives the best effort," Kidman said. "All I know is I need to work as hard as I possibly can. It's all about how I handle myself."

If she does get on the field next season, Kidman could face her nemesis, Hofer.

Hofer, the national player of the year, signed with Louisiana State. Two years ago, LSU beat Michigan before losing to UCLA in the final.

[Last modified July 6, 2005, 04:44:44]