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Danielle O’Toole dominates Japan in 1 hit Shutout for Team USA

By Eric Brown

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 18: The University of Arizona softball team pose for a photo before the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-9 in 12 innings. (Photo by Darin Wallentine/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 18: The University of Arizona softball team pose for a photo before the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-9 in 12 innings. (Photo by Darin Wallentine/Getty Images) /
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Danielle O’Toole made her second start for Team USA on Friday, it went better than expected as she shut out number 1 ranked Japan.

After recently graduating from Arizona in May, Danielle O’Toole joined Team USA for the World Cup of Softball. In her first start, on Wednesday, she pitched 4 shutout innings to lead the team to a victory over Mexico.

After the game, O’Toole told John McKelvey of CNHI Sports Oklahoma, “Before today, I didn’t know I had the game. But I was preparing for them. Having bats and defense like that was why we did so well today.”

It’s hard for any pitcher to not know that they will be facing a team, then to go in and pitch a decent game, let alone a one-hit shutout against the No. 1 ranked team in the entire world.

Any Arizona softball fan will tell you that they saw this coming from O’Toole, as it was only a matter of time that she would show the rest of the world what comes with her and her repertoire. She finished the season with a 30-5 record, a 1.21 ERA, and an unbelievable 8.6 K’s/9.

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I spoke with Danielle on her stunning pitching, what she will miss most about The University of Arizona Softball, and who she still talks to the most on the team.

When asked about her pitching performance against Japan, O’Tolle was as unselfish as she has ever been,

“It was a team effort,” said O’Toole, “We had stellar defense and a lot of quality at bats. No pitcher is successful without the players behind them.”

As always, an Arizona Softball alumni speaking to the meaning of a team effort, it seems as if head coach Mike Candrea continues to build winners over at Arizona, whether on or off the field.

O’Toole also said that she will always miss her Wildcats team, no matter what happens. She also communicates still with some members of the team, “I talk to Mo and Eva a lot, just had a conversation with Lex. Occasionally we all want to talk to each other, because what is life if you don’t have people like that to talk to.”

Friendships is what playing sports is all about, and it appears that O’Toole has made plenty of life-long friends during her time playing Softball for Arizona. The fact that the team is so close, also shows up on the field, as they can be seen constantly talking to each other and laughing on the field.

Just now beginning her professional career, we here at ZonaZealots, along with the rest of the Arizona community wish her the best in whatever her endeavors are in life.

Must Read: More on Daniel O'Toole on ZZ......

Follow Danielle on Twitter @Oh_Tooly3

UPDATE: As I was writing this post, word broke that Danielle signed with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league. She will join the team once her duties with Team USA are complete. The Bandits chose her with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft.

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