Coming into her first collegiate season, Letty Olivarez didn't anticipate that her workload would be too heavy. After all, the pitchers who would be returning to Wisconsin for 2007 accounted for all but 9 2/3 innings during the 2006 campaign. Senior Eden Brock led the way with nearly 200 innings pitched and looked poised to etch her name into UW record books, sophomore Leah Vanevenhoven was eager to improve upon a promising rookie season in which she started 13 games in the circle, and Olivarez was expecting some serious time riding the pine.
"Coming in as a freshman, I was just trying to work hard to actually get a starting spot," Olivarez said. "I saw myself coming in to back up Eden."
But the freshman from Newark, Calif., wouldn't fly under the radar for long. Olivarez impressed during winter practices and made her first start in UW's second game of the season. She allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings of work in UW's win over Long Beach State and hasn't looked back since.
Olivarez has been the "yin" to Eden Brock's "yang" all season long, serving as a solid No. 2 starter and an effective change of pace during multiple-game series. Instead of seeing Brock for the majority of a two- or three-game set, opponents this season have been forced to adjust to Olivarez's different approach in the circle. Before a team becomes too comfortable reacting to Brock's drop ball, it has to start all over when facing Olivarez's riser.
Keeping hitters off-balance has paid dividends for both Wisconsin starters this spring, as Brock's 2.04 ERA is the lowest it's been since 2004, and Olivarez's is right behind her at 2.18. Olivarez has also racked up more than 120 innings on the hill this season, far more than she could have envisioned just a few months ago.
"I actually thought I was going to sit a lot more," Olivarez said. "But I've adjusted pretty well, so I'm happy with the amount of time they gave me."
Throughout Olivarez's first and Eden Brock's final season with the Badgers, Brock has essentially served as an additional coach, teaching Olivarez the ins and outs of Big Ten pitching. During Olivarez's starts, Brock can always be found keeping a watchful eye on her eventual successor.
"Eden gave me a lot of advice when I would have bad games," Olivarez said. "She's there for me when I have trouble with a pitch, and she can always tell what I'm doing wrong. I'm going to miss her a lot."
With the departure of the senior staff ace after this season, Olivarez is next in line to take over the reins of Brock's vacated No. 1 spot, and that's a position that Olivarez says she will be ready for.
"I look forward to it," Olivarez said of the transition. "But I'm going to have to step up and be ready to pitch a lot more and just come out with a winning attitude."