In her first season in the Pac-12, Danielle O'Toole led the conference in wins (26) and finished third in ERA (2.17) and strikeouts (192) while helping the Wildcats to their 27th regional championship, 28th 40-win season and within one game of the Women's College World Series. What do she and the Wildcats have in store for an encore? It all starts in fall ball, which gets going this Saturday at Hillenbrand Stadium.

During the season, ArizonaWildcats.com will sit down with O'Toole for a weekly feature: Toole Time. Today, in a fall ball edition, O'Toole talks about her summer and previews fall, spring and beyond.

A few weeks into fall, how are you feeling about the team and how are things progressing?
Well, we just started full team practice and it was really comforting. I enjoy the freshmen vibe and we feed off of their new energy. They feed off of us upper classmen as well and I like it. I feel like it's going to be a great year.
 
The freshman class was rated as the No. 3 recruiting class, what are your thoughts on the newcomers so far?
They're incredible. They hit the ground running and I am proud of them already.
 
If you look at the 2016 team compared to this upcoming year, where do you think the biggest improvement will come?
With the freshman coming in and Alyssa (Palomino) coming back, and the returners getting another year of experience, we are going to be a power force.
 
After coming so close to the Women's College World Series last year, how hungry are you to get there this year?
I had tears in my eyes the first meeting of the year talking about how we were so close. And I know I'm not the only one. So close doesn't count. I am ready and I know everyone's goal is to make every rep as perfect as possible.
Side Note: I asked Caitlin (Lowe) the difference between her national championship teams and our team… and she told me something that has changed our team mentality immediately. She said "If you had to pick one rep to take you to the world series, if I picked rep #67… would you do it to take you there?" YES.
 
Stepping off the field, how was your summer? Did you do anything fun?
My summer was more eventful that usual. I went to Tahoe with my family and took a break from life. I went to the beach every day and played the summer fad Pokemon GO!
 
Now that you're closing in on your degree, what's next for Danielle O'Toole?
I want to be a coach. I want to go into coaching and be a pitching coach, I want to have some degree of my own facility and raise the best pitchers and best people. The plan B to that is to get my teaching credentials and mold the minds of young children to be the people we hope that all of us are.
 
You're now in your third year at Arizona, how do you feel that the Tucson community and Wildcat fans everywhere have embraced you?
I feel like three years in a Wildcat uniform isn't enough. I think that Tucson is all about Arizona and if you are any part of it… they want to be a part of you. I couldn't have asked for a better life. I have met some of the best people and they will stay with me forever.