Ruby Meylan says Washington's future is 'really bright'

It was a tough Sunday for the Washington Huskies softball team as their dreams of winning to Women’s College World Series came to an end against their Pac-12 rival Stanford. The Huskies were shut out by the Cardinal 1-0 and eliminated from the tournament. After the loss, the Washington players had to face members of the media with the emotions of the game still heavy on their minds and hearts. Starting pitcher Ruby Meylan did her best to look past the results of Sunday and give her assessment of the Huskies’ future.

“Sorry, this is really hard (crying). This rookie class, I’m just so grateful I get to be with these three, and we came in together, and we’re going to stay here for the next three together,” said Meylan.

“The future is really, really bright. We have some amazing, amazing girls, and I know we have a really good class coming in. Yeah, I’m just really grateful to be a Dog.”

Against Stanford, Meylan pitched six innings, facing a total of 23 batters. She would finish the game with five strikeouts, allowing four hits, one walk, and the lone run that would be the difference in the game.

It was indeed a tough way for Washington to end the season. But given the amount of young talent they have on their roster, the Huskies will be a favorite to make it to the Women’s College World Series tournament again in 2024.

Heather Tarr ‘proud’ of Washington after season-ending loss

Despite how the season ended, head coach Heather Tarr was proud of her squad and how hard they fought in the loss to Stanford. It took a lot out of Tarr, who couldn’t envision herself anywhere else in college softball. She said her players left a lasting legacy.

Washington and Tarr go hand in hand, and so do the players under her watch that stuck it out through all ups and downs.

“I’m just super proud to be a Husky,” Tarr said postgame. “I’m proud of these guys for the legacy that many of them are leaving our program, having left behind them. I talked to them just a little bit ago, and everybody’s gone through it, but to get to college, have a lot of momentum, get to the college World Series as a freshman, and then the pandemic hits. Transfer portal everywhere, all kinds of crazy stuff. Everybody moving everywhere.

“For the ones in our program that stayed and really led our program, I’m just proud of them. I’m proud of them leaving the program better than when they found it, which was a really hard thing because these guys came in when we were on our third college World Series appearance.”