OT: Holly Warlick has competition for clueless coach at UTenn

[Rixxx]

Knightbridge, Oklahoma is a fun team to watch. Players 1-9 are up there hacking, with no slapping IIRC. (This year's team). They have a player who has 27 homers this year.

 

[Centerstream]

Oklahoma has gotten really good the last 5+ years or so as well, I think a couple Titles for them and usually in the hunt. They squashed Arkansas in their Super Regional this week.

Yup, the Sooners are really good, the two time defending champions and 3 out of the last 4. Reminds me of another great Women's team.
But I have to admit, I do like how different teams usually win the championship every year and this year may be no different, with a lot of really great walk off wins and come backs so far! Down to the Elite Eight, with the Top 8 seeds all reaching. Even the Top 16 reached the Sweet Sixteen.
And I am glad to see a thread on college softball even though it's soooooo OT!!!

 

[stamfordhusky]

Slappers used to be a HUGE part of college softball, but there was a recent rule change where you are automatically called out if your feet leave the batters box before you make contact with the ball. Slappers were on the move well before the ball got to the plate. You just don't see it as much as you used to.

Hitting home runs is nice, but if you can get runners on base and advance them and push runs across the plate, a whole bunch of singles works just fine.

Before this year, it was legal as long as the any part of the batter's foot was touching any part of the lines of the batter's box. Now the entire foot must stay completely within the batter's box at the moment the ball is hit. That makes it much tougher on the batter.

The umpiring on that call has been inconsistent. It is almost impossible for the home plate umpire to properly call balls and strikes while at the same time looking at the batter's foot.

 

[Centerstream]

Before this year, it was legal as long as the any part of the batter's foot was touching any part of the lines of the batter's box. Now the entire foot must stay completely within the batter's box at the moment the ball is hit. That makes it much tougher on the batter.

The umpiring on that call has been inconsistent. It is almost impossible for the home plate umpire to properly call balls and strikes while at the same time looking at the batter's foot.

Another inconsistent call that rears it's ugly head at Tournament time is the notorious illegal pitch. These kids pitch with the same process all season, then get to the Tournament where they see all new umpires and get called all over the place. One team had like 11 calls against them...in one game! I guess that's why they changed the penalty finally.

 

[Ozimoto]

Speaking from personal experience as a softball umpire, yes it is extremely difficult to call the pitch and watch the batter's feet at the same time, especially in fast pitch when you have a girl throwing in the mid to high 60's with good movement on the ball.

The whole illegal pitch issue is quite another problem. Does the pitcher drag her foot? Well, it depends. If the mound has had a trench dug in it by the pitcher, she might not drag but is the pitch really illegal if her motion and landing point are the same as they were at the start of the game?

Is she hopping and not dragging the toe (legal in international play)? Is she leaping and getting a second push off her back foot before delivering the ball which is definitely illegal and gives the pitcher and unfair advantage (Kelly Barnhill anyone?).

The rule seems to be called differently from conference to conference which adds to the confusion. Seems like the NCAA is tweaking the pitching rules every season.

 

[DallasBUFan]

You truly have some great programs in the field at the WCWS.

UCLA - A history of excellence current leader of National Championships with 12
OU- Looking to become the 2nd team to 3- peat. 4 National Championships total, currently.
Florida- 2 National Championships and always a contender.
UW- 1 National Championship been to WCWS over a dozen times.
FSU- Looking to claim first Championship but has been there 10 times.
Oregon- Looking to claim first and if they do not win this year, I expect one will happen soon.
Georgia- Not new to WCWS, but looking for it's first Championship
Arizona St- Has one and is back in the field after a few years.

Everyone was all about the SEC, but the OG conference took over this year. I may have to put my Green and Gold aside and cheer the Sooners on!

Also, Tenn coaches are not bad imo.

 

[Charliebball]

after looking at the brackets it seems set up for an Oklahoma - UCLA final but these teams are all so good that anything can happen.........it all comes down to pitching and most of these teams have at least two really good starters.........

 

[DallasBUFan]

after looking at the brackets it seems set up for an Oklahoma - UCLA final but these teams are all so good that anything can happen....it all comes down to pitching and most of these teams have at least two really good starters....

Oregon, OU, Florida each have at least two pitchers that could carry other teams on their own. UCLA rely's heavily on Garcia, but still have a good staff behind her. I think we will see some great performances and some deep balls.

 

[Charliebball]

Oregon, OU, Florida each have at least two pitchers that could carry other teams on their own. UCLA rely's heavily on Garcia, but still have a good staff behind her. I think we will see some great performances and some deep balls.

I've had two kids to root for this season........the daughter of my kid's long time pitching coach has had a really good freshman season as a starting pitcher for South Carolina (Kelsey Oh).......she started against Arizona State the other day and gave up a couple of runs before being replaced and another freshman who played with my daughter in high school who plays for UCLA (Julie Rodriguez)............to show you how good UCLA is, this kid was the number seven high school player in the country, hit like four home runs in preseason and maybe had twenty at bats this year mostly as a pinch hitter.........they are just stacked at every position.........pretty good for two kids from New Jersey which isn't really known as a prolific softball state

 

[DallasBUFan]

I've had two kids to root for this season...the daughter of my kid's long time pitching coach has had a really good freshman season as a starting pitcher for South Carolina (Kelsey Oh)..she started against Arizona State the other day and gave up a couple of runs before being replaced and another freshman who played with my daughter in high school who plays for UCLA (Julie Rodriguez)..to show you how good UCLA is, this kid was the number seven high school player in the country, hit like four home runs in preseason and maybe had twenty at bats this year mostly as a pinch hitter....they are just stacked at every position....pretty good for two kids from New Jersey which isn't really known as a prolific softball state

I mean she is playing behind a Sophomore pitcher who just won player of the year and hits very well too. She must be good to be on that squad and she has one of the current best pitchers in the game and one of the GOATs to learn from.

I love coach Gasso from OU. Love her mentality and how coaches the game. Also, don't mind Georgia they always are scrappy no matter what season.

 

[Centerstream]

I know that due to all SEC teams making the tournament that there was no way that it could be prevented, but it seemed like there were an awful lot of SEC vs. SEC in the Regionals and Super Regionals, thus ensuring that most would not reach the World Series.
But on the other hand, I had no problem with the seedings except for just one team.

 

[DallasBUFan]

I know that due to all SEC teams making the tournament that there was no way that it could be prevented, but it seemed like there were an awful lot of SEC vs. SEC in the Regionals and Super Regionals, thus ensuring that most would not reach the World Series.
But on the other hand, I had no problem with the seedings except for just one team.

Whom would that be? I was sad BU didn't get seeded, since they were an RPI top 16 team. However, I knew they didn't have the pitching staff to make it to supers this year so I wasn't but butt hurt because I am a fan that is level headed. I mean SEC could have had 4 teams make it. KU, Bama, SC, and Arkansas. All played others this year and just got beat by the PAC 12 and OU. So the SEC could have had up to 6 teams in the WCWS.

 

[Centerstream]

Whom would that be? I was sad BU didn't get seeded, since they were an RPI top 16 team. However, I knew they didn't have the pitching staff to make it to supers this year so I wasn't but butt hurt because I am a fan that is level headed. I mean SEC could have had 4 teams make it. KU, Bama, SC, and Arkansas. All played others this year and just got beat by the PAC 12 and OU. So the SEC could have had up to 6 teams in the WCWS.

I thought that Pitt, as regular season division champion and tournament runner up, should have been picked instead of ND.

 

[DallasBUFan]

I thought that Pitt, as regular season division champion and tournament runner up, should have been picked instead of ND.

I actually agree and thought the same thing. Other than that I thought they did well with the seeding of teams. It obviously showed since all the seeds made it to supers and top 8 all in WCWS.

 

[Charliebball]

I mean she is playing behind a Sophomore pitcher who just won player of the year and hits very well too. She must be good to be on that squad and she has one of the current best pitchers in the game and one of the GOATs to learn from.

I love coach Gasso from OU. Love her mentality and how coaches the game. Also, don't mind Georgia they always are scrappy no matter what season.

the funny thing is she originally was going to play for Boston College but she had a great junior season and all of a sudden was getting recruited by a bunch of SEC schools.........which is a bit unusual ...........we have another pitcher who has a verbal with Tennessee named Ryleigh White so I guess the SEC is looking north for a change

 

[nwhoopfan]

I know that due to all SEC teams making the tournament that there was no way that it could be prevented, but it seemed like there were an awful lot of SEC vs. SEC in the Regionals and Super Regionals, thus ensuring that most would not reach the World Series.

Pac 12 schools knocked out at least 5 SEC teams.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Oregon, OU, Florida each have at least two pitchers that could carry other teams on their own.

Alvelo and Plain from UW are a potent combination as well. Alvelo looked to be back in top form in her last outing after struggling w/ an injury for several weeks. They have the pitching, but their offense has gone dormant at times down the stretch.

 

[Charliebball]

I mean she is playing behind a Sophomore pitcher who just won player of the year and hits very well too. She must be good to be on that squad and she has one of the current best pitchers in the game and one of the GOATs to learn from.

I love coach Gasso from OU. Love her mentality and how coaches the game. Also, don't mind Georgia they always are scrappy no matter what season.

yes Oh has surpassed expectations this season.......I hope her great play continues.........Gasso is a cool customer, she obviously know how to coach and how to recruit........I enjoy watching SEC softball.......the quality of play and the parity between many of the teams makes for exciting play.......

 

[Charliebball]

Alvelo and Plain from UW are a potent combination as well. Alvelo looked to be back in top form in her last outing after struggling w/ an injury for several weeks. They have the pitching, but their offense has gone dormant at times down the stretch.

how the Oregon and Washington teams can even compete against the warm weather PAC12 teams amazes me considering the weather......I assume they train in California or Arizona but even so they don't get outside every day like the other teams do and indoor play is just not the same.......

 

[nwhoopfan]

how the Oregon and Washington teams can even compete against the warm weather PAC12 teams amazes me considering the weather.I assume they train in California or Arizona but even so they don't get outside every day like the other teams do and indoor play is just not the same..

It does put them at a disadvantage, but they seem to overcome it. Oregon St. has an excellent baseball program, possibly the best in the conference if you look back over the last decade or so.

Now sand volleyball, that's kind of comical to even think about doing that in the spring in the NW. I don't think all of the Pac 12 schools participate but I know UW does. It's mostly their indoor players on the team but they have a few players that are strictly sand players.

 

[Charliebball]

It does put them at a disadvantage, but they seem to overcome it. Oregon St. has an excellent baseball program, possibly the best in the conference if you look back over the last decade or so.

Now sand volleyball, that's kind of comical to even think about doing that in the spring in the NW. I don't think all of the Pac 12 schools participate but I know UW does. It's mostly their indoor players on the team but they have a few players that are strictly sand players.

interesting that you brought up beach volleyball..........there were recently twin sisters in the area that were clearly DI softball players but decided that they'd rather play beach volleyball.............so they're both at the University of New Orleans of all places playing in the sand for a pretty crummy team but enjoying it a whole lot any way........

 

[DallasBUFan]

Alvelo and Plain from UW are a potent combination as well. Alvelo looked to be back in top form in her last outing after struggling w/ an injury for several weeks. They have the pitching, but their offense has gone dormant at times down the stretch.

She is a great assest and only a sophomore? If so she and Garcia will keep battling for years to come.

All Americans came out today. OU has 3 first team and Freshman of the Year.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Plain and Alvelo just combined to shut out Oklahoma 2-0. The Huskies infield defenders are good!

Oregon rocked Arizona St. 11-6 in game 1, Ducks and Huskies will meet in winners bracket, OU and ASU in loser out game.

 

[Charliebball]

Plain and Alvelo just combined to shut out Oklahoma 2-0. The Huskies infield defenders are good!

Oregon rocked Arizona St. 11-6 in game 1, Ducks and Huskies will meet in winners bracket, OU and ASU in loser out game.

saw that.......Oklahoma looked stifled by the Washington pitching....I wonder if Gasso regrets making that pitching change?

 

[nwhoopfan]

I was really worried it was going to come back to bite UW when they had the bases loaded w/ no outs and got nothing out of that inning.

Plain is interesting. She's not overpowering, not a lot of strike outs, but the ball just doesn't get out of the infield. It's death by ground out when you are going up against her. I was a bit surprised she started today but it shows how much confidence the coach has in her, and now Alvelo is going to be fresh going up against Oregon.

The announcers kept mentioning it, that was either the first or second time Oklahoma has ever been shut out in the World Series. Also first career loss in a World Series game for their pitcher. Broke a team 16 game winning streak in World Series games or something close to that. While not impossible, very few teams have come back from losing their first game to get to the Championship series.

 

[Charliebball]

I was really worried it was going to come back to bite UW when they had the bases loaded w/ no outs and got nothing out of that inning.

Plain is interesting. She's not overpowering, not a lot of strike outs, but the ball just doesn't get out of the infield. It's death by ground out when you are going up against her. I was a bit surprised she started today but it shows how much confidence the coach has in her, and now Alvelo is going to be fresh going up against Oregon.

The announcers kept mentioning it, that was either the first or second time Oklahoma has ever been shut out in the World Series. Also first career loss in a World Series game for their pitcher. Broke a team 16 game winning streak in World Series games or something close to that. While not impossible, very few teams have come back from losing their first game to get to the Championship series.

I wouldn't count out Oklahoma totally just yet..........do you think Washington knows anything about the team their playing next?.......

 

[nwhoopfan]

do you think Washington knows anything about the team their playing next?..

There might be a little bit of familiarity.

 

[Charliebball]

Big UCLA comeback versus Florida State........our hometown kid actually pinch hit and drove in a run with a sac fly in the comeback..........

 

[nwhoopfan]

UW gets some revenge after getting swept during the regular season by Oregon, wins 6-2. Now sitting pretty waiting for the carnage from elimination Saturday.

 

[Charliebball]

UW gets some revenge after getting swept during the regular season by Oregon, wins 6-2. Now sitting pretty waiting for the carnage from elimination Saturday.

great win for Washington..........UCLA-Florida is a real toss up.......