Game Thread Lady Vols in the SEC Tournament

#401
#401
Happy Mother's Day to all the lady vol moms out there! I enjoyed watching this tournament very much. I hope the gals keep their heads high cause I'm really proud of them. Time to get ready for okc. Go lady vols!
 
#402
#402
KBVol said:
And how exactly do you know who and who hadn't been watching Lady Vol softball games all year? Certainly wouldn't apply to me...I actually enjoy watching them more than the baseball team. They've had an outstanding season and I hope they keep it going....and I'll continue watching like I have all season.
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whobethis16 said:
And some of us don't have cable, live outside of Knoxville, and work 14+ hours a day. Doesn't mean I don't follow them as much as I possibly can.
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I'm talking about the posters who bash the weekly's about their coaching or the players....come on now...If you follow the team you know just how good this team is and how great the weekly's are as people and coaches
 
#403
#403
We didn't get the title this time but you have to be excited about next season and beyond. Freshmen and sophomores becomes sophomores and juniors plus we add a lot of pitching. I think the Lady Vols will be the favorites to win the SEC next season. This season we are 8 and 7 versus top ten teams which would be second or third in the nation. I expect we want get a Super Regional if we make it out of the Regional but this team was far better than predicted.
 
#404
#404
Vols4life said:
I'm talking about the posters who bash the weekly's about their coaching or the players....come on now...If you follow the team you know just how good this team is and how great the weekly's are as people and coaches
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Ah, misunderstood. Apologies. Agree that the Weeklys are doing a fine job.
 
#405
#405
Here are the pre-season predictions, regular season finish, and tournament finish:
Clearly the overachievers were Auburn and Tennessee. The underachiever was Kentucky.
Congratulations to all the teams particularly Auburn and Tennessee.

PRESEASON..........SEASON............TOURNAMENT
1. Florida..............Florida...............Auburn
2. Alabama...........Auburn (+5).......Tennessee
3. Kentucky..........Alabama (-1).......Alabama, Florida
4. LSU.................LSU....................Missouri, Georgia, South Car, LSU
5. Georgia............Tennessee (+3)....MSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Kentucky
6. Missouri............Georgia (-1)
7. Auburn..............Missouri (-1)
8. Tennessee.........Texas A&M (+1)
9. Texas A&M.........South Car (+1)
10. South Car.........MSU (+1)
11. MSU................Ole Miss (+2)
12. Arkansas..........Kentucky (-9)
13. Ole Miss............Arkansas (-1)
 
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#406
#406
It's brutal to play four great games against excellent competition and then blow the title in the 7th inning of game four because a player inexplicably drops a ball. That's not on the Weeklys, that's on the player. The Vols need to learn to finish. We couldn't close against Arizona in the college world series with Abbott on the mound and pitching brilliantly; had multiple chances to score the winning run in the first game. Eventually lost it and then the next game to blow our best chance at a national title. Couldn't hold a 3-run lead in the 11th inning against Oklahoma (I think it was the 11th) in the first game of national title series--couldn't believe it. When Oklahoma scored 3 to tie it, that series was over. And then last night--good grief. Team really came together in the tournament--Gregg has become a big part of this team, Gabriel is getting better and better--but need to learn to finish.
 
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#407
#407
The selection show is tonight at 10 pm on ESPNU.

I look forward to the LV's hosting a regional and whether they host a super-regional or not I hope they get a favorable matchup. (Please don't put Kentucky in our super-regional).

I hope for Gabriel to get stronger and the team to show it's resilient nature once again.
 
#408
#408
508mikey said:
First off, the CF always takes charge on those - Lewis should have been more aggressive and yelled her off, that ball in RF should have been caught also to begin with. And finally, its a softball not a baseball -- use both hands catching those and as any coach would say 'keep your eye on the ball, not the runner' -- all 3 OFs had a role in the bad inning. If, If, If ---- team loss --- move on
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I only saw a brief replay last night and looked like more of a pop-up, but I won't comment on that specifically. But, I grew up playing baseball, including in the outfield. I then played adult softball after college, and I found that it was tougher to pick up the spin on a well hit softball. I had several that I misjudged over the years.
 
#409
#409
armchair said:
It's brutal to play four great games against excellent competition and then blow the title in the 7th inning of game four because a player inexplicably drops a ball. That's not on the Weeklys, that's on the player. The Vols need to learn to finish. We couldn't close against Arizona in the college world series with Abbott on the mound and pitching brilliantly; had multiple chances to score the winning run in the first game. Eventually lost it and then the next game to blow our best chance at a national title. Couldn't hold a 3-run lead in the 11th inning against Oklahoma (I think it was the 11th) in the first game of national title series--couldn't believe it. When Oklahoma scored 3 to tie it, that series was over. And then last night--good grief. Team really came together in the tournament--Gregg has become a big part of this team, Gabriel is getting better and better--but need to learn to finish.
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Excellent write up. I am curious on how you feel about the coaching decisions during those games.
 
#410
#410
All-Tournament Team
MVP: Emily Carosone, Auburn
Kasey Cooper, Auburn
Haley F agan, Auburn
Erin Gabriel, Tennessee
Megan Geer, Tennessee
Meghan Gregg, Tennessee
Marcy Harper, Auburn
Kirsti Merritt, Florida
Alexis Osorio, Alabama
Marisa Runyon, Alabama
Kelsey Stewart, Florida
 
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#413
#413
I think you are probably right but there's not guarantee they don't make a run for it. 2 out bottom of the 7th situations are notoriously difficult to get hits on if you look at the percentages (of course this team over the last 10 games has made a mockery of that statistic hahaha). So again there's another decision playing the stat game. Do you like your batter to get a hit under pressure or force the defense to execute under pressure with the tying run.

Id love to go back and look at the tape and see if you can make out any type of communication between the runner and 3rd base coach that would indicate tagging up.
 
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#414
#414
Maybe it's because our other programs have been lackluster or worse for some time, but softball has been the university's best sports program the last decade. We, all SEC schools, should have a national title, so it's galling that we've come up short in that regard while bama and florida, of all schools, have won the big taco. Even so, I give the Weeklys full credit for building a powerhouse--and I respect them greatly as coaches. The managed our shaky pitching beautifully down the stretch and in the tournament. Baseball/softball coaches have been making defensive substitutions for decades, so I can't question that decision. I do think players should warm up their bodies before coming in a game, but they do that pre-game and not really once the game starts. It's always been that way, and if it was a catchable ball then the player has to catch it. I wouldn't put a player in late unless she was /demonstrably/ better defensively. I assume the Weekly feel that is the case. That might reconsider that going forward, who knows. It is frustrating to come so close and let it slip away.
 
#415
#415
I can't imagine what this team will be like next year. The Weeklys have got about 12 players coming in--many of whom are blue-chip prospects. At least two, maybe three are pitchers, but good grief: we've got every starter but one coming back and they've all had a good year! And only four juniors. Talk about loaded.
 
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#416
#416
The ball that was dropped was Cjs ball . She dropped it ..... It was an error .. It happens !
But for u guys to say it was a routine fly ball that a little leaguer could catch clearly prove my point that some of you never have played the game at this level !!
The ball was very high and Cj came a very long distance ... Not to mention the wind was insane !
She makes that play a million times in practice ... Again it won't define her or this team !
 
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#417
#417
ladyvols2010 said:
The ball that was dropped was Cjs ball . She dropped it ..... It was an error .. It happens !
But for u guys to say it was a routine fly ball that a little leaguer could catch clearly prove my point that some of you never have played the game at this level !!
The ball was very high and Cj came a very long distance ... Not to mention the wind was insane !
She makes that play a million times in practice ... Again it won't define her or this team !
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I've never once said it will define her, unless she lets it. She had time to camp under it. I don't care how far you have to run, if you can camp under it, there's no excuse to drop it. None. Do I think she'll become better? Yeah, I do. But to completely disregard it is just as ridiculous as placing all the blame on her. Something I've not done. I am just as mad at two 3rd basemen for their errors too.
 
#418
#418
Lewis should have taken that ball and she herself said so. Don't leave that catch up to a scared freshman.....
 
#420
#420
No...I gotta disagree. It was left fields all the way. Runner at 2nd looking to tag up, or runner at 3d looking to tag up. The left fielder has a much better chance to make the throw as opposed to the CF. CJ was correct in calling off CF, she just didnt make the play. Mendoza said the same thing...I will take the word of an All American Outfielder. Could CF called off LF?? Yes but NORMALLY....thats the LF ball. They stuck to logic...plus many many many freshman LF's have made much tougher catches under pressure as well (National Championship game 2013). It was the right call, she just didnt make the play it happens. If we continue to say someone should have called off certain plays then Gibson shouldnt have called off Brown with the pop fly near first base in the 2013 national championship game. Brown was a very experienced outfielder right under the ball...Gibson called her off. The rest is history.

gule said:
Lewis should have taken that ball and she herself said so. Don't leave that catch up to a scared freshman.....
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#421
#421
If you watch the replay you'll see the Auburn 3rd base coach put a hex on CJ. That's what it was. :p
 
#423
#423
ladyvols2010 said:
The ball that was dropped was Cjs ball . She dropped it ..... It was an error .. It happens !
But for u guys to say it was a routine fly ball that a little leaguer could catch clearly prove my point that some of you never have played the game at this level !!
The ball was very high and Cj came a very long distance ... Not to mention the wind was insane !
She makes that play a million times in practice ... Again it won't define her or this team !
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Stop it. She had to come in a decent distance but that was an easy popup and she has to make that catch 10 times out of 10. It was a lazy popup 15-20 feet behind short, not deep fly hit on a rope somewhere. When she got to the ball her fundamentals broke down because she was likely nervous and also worrying about the runner on third.
 
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#424
#424
I could'a caught with my bad hand and blinded by pigpoop! but, them's the breaks and it ain't changing! :(

onward!
 
#425
#425
There was some talk on the selection show about Auburn and Tennessee being so young. Well, Auburn isn't that young although it's somewhat comparable. Here is a breakdown of the players for each team in the title game. I counted all players except pinch runners. AU played 3 underclassmen and Tenn played 7. The SEC will be even tougher next season believe it or not.

Auburn:
Freshman - 1
Sophomore - 2
RS Sophomore - 1
Junior - 5
Senior - 1
RS Senior - 1

Tenn:
Freshman - 3
Sophomore - 4
Junior - 4
Senior - 1
 
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