Game Thread Lady Vols Softball Team NCAA Regionals

#576
#576
Just losing 4 seniors so we should be pretty good next year. Gotta find another pitcher and work on the D for crying out loud!!
 
#578
#578
The most disappointing loss of the season for sure. After being able to get a 3-run HR off O'Toole to take the lead & blow it. That's just very disappointing. I don't think we would have had a chance beating them another game anyhow. Oh well. I expected more from this team no doubt but losing Gaffin really hurt us.

I still expected us to get to the super regionals without her. Arizona's one best pitcher pretty much beat us herself. Our bats failed us as well in this regional. We had 2 good hitting games & 2 bad hitting games.

I think it was more due to the pitcher we faced though than our bats failing us. She was just too tough. We tried our best. Geer & others did not step up for us offensively in this regional either. Gabriel & Moss didn't pitch bad at all.

It's just their #1 pitcher is better than both our top 2 pitchers. Arizona will give Auburn all they want & possibly more. I wouldn't be surprised if Arizona knocks Auburn out just because of O'Toole alone.
 
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#579
#579
It would have been tough to win a third game, but I would have liked to see them show the grit to get there. It was so disappointing to see all the missed opps and the errors at the end.

Not the right send-off for Erin, Lexi and Rainey-- for the LVs give it up in the regionals to an unranked opponent on our home field.
 
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#580
#580
Personally, I felt Overstreet was playing out of position all season...had a great year at the plate, but she never demonstrated any level of experience as a catcher, many passed balls and poor fundamentals stopping pitches in the dirt. She looked great at 3rd base, was truly impressive in the games she played there defensively! Lockman has been taught to block balls and looks good at that position, if only she could learn to hit! Overstreet gave this team a chance today with her bat...will be missed...
 
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#581
#581
LA Vol said:
It would have been tough to win a third game, but I would have liked to see them show the grit to get there. It was so disappointing to see all the missed opps and the errors at the end.

Not the right send-off for Erin, Lexi and Rainey-- for the LVs give it up in the regionals to an unranked opponent on our home field.
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Unranked true. But, Arizona has been a powerhouse for years. I knew once we had them in our region we could be in trouble. I don't see how this team could not be ranked & have been a better team during the regular season. O'Toole is unbelievable.

They have some pretty solid hitters as well. Especially in the middle of their lineup. They will play Auburn tough & may even beat them to get back to another WCWS for them. They haven't been back there since 2007 I believe. I'm telling you. O'Toole at her best can beat any team in the country including UF.
 
#583
#583
First and third with no outs--we choked the game away by not scoring there. As someone said, we should have tried to steal second and put some pressure on them after the first out. Gregg didn't get it done. We lost the game there.

Did not see the error by Overstreet in the 8th--was it a short pop in front of the plate? A catcher should almost never be allowed to catch a ball; the pitcher, first or third baseman should catch it unless none of them can get to it, which would mean a very shot pop.

Tough loss after taking the lead--good grief. Should have won it in the 7th and then we could have seen how much steam O'Toole had left.
 
#584
#584
armchair said:
First and third with no outs--we choked the game away by not scoring there. As someone said, we should have tried to steal second and put some pressure on them after the first out. Gregg didn't get it done. We lost the game there.

Did not see the error by Overstreet in the 8th--was it a short pop in front of the plate? A catcher should almost never be allowed to catch a ball; the pitcher, first or third baseman should catch it unless none of them can get to it, which would mean a very shot pop.

Tough loss after taking the lead--good grief. Should have won it in the 7th and then we could have seen how much steam O'Toole had left.
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It was a medium height pop up in front of the plate but it drifted from foul territory into fair territory. The 3B had a better play on the ball if you ask me but Overstreet followed the ball the whole time. It was tough because the ball was drifting like I said.

It started out at least a few feet foul & ended up a few feet fair in front of the plate but more towards the 3B side. That's why I say the 3B would had the better play on it. Overstreet still should have made the play. They did give her an error & should have too.
 
#585
#585
tonybologna said:
It was a medium height pop up in front of the plate but it drifted from foul territory into fair territory. The 3B had a better play on the ball if you ask me but Overstreet followed the ball the whole time. It was tough because the ball was drifting like I said.

It started out at least a few feet foul & ended up a few feet fair in front of the plate but more towards the 3B side. That's why I say the 3B would had the better play on it. Overstreet still should have made the play. They did give her an error & should have too.
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You NEVER let a catcher try to make that play. If the third baseman, Geer, could have got to it--and it sounds like she could have--she should have taken it. It's a cardinal rule in baseball/softball. The pitcher would be another alternative. It is an easier play for pitcher or third baseman.
 
#586
#586
hokievol12 said:
I saw routine fly balls dropped by the left fielder today, a double play ball booted by the shortstop, a routine popup dropped by the catcher...pitching worked hard, hats off to Gabriel and Moss. The rest of the team needs to practice catching beach balls in a bushel basket during the off season. Erratic defense all season put pressure on the pitching staff. I have to believe Gaffin would have made a difference...both defensively and offensively.
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Hokie I did not get to see the whole game. What innings did the left fielder drop routine fly balls. The only thing I saw Vines do less that spectacular today was make an attempt for the final line drive that got down in front of her in the last at bat. The runner at second was going to score regardless unless she dove for the ball. Canada was going to send her regardless as I had said in a earlier post on this thread.
Thanks in advance!
 
#587
#587
The most disappointing player this post season was by far Geer. Never got a clutch hit win we needed it. No leadership. She just faded. I thought Overstreet had a great post season. Hate to see her go.
 
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#588
#588
Hopefully McSwain can figure something out next year. Her freshman year she was pretty good at the plate and fielded pretty well.
 
#589
#589
sccshortstop said:
Hokie I did not get to see the whole game. What innings did the left fielder drop routine fly balls. The only thing I saw Vines do less that spectacular today was make an attempt for the final line drive that got down in front of her in the last at bat. The runner at second was going to score regardless unless she dove for the ball. Canada was going to send her regardless as I had said in a earlier post on this thread.
Thanks in advance!
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That was in the Ohio State game...the dropped fly in left. Our gals just didn't make plays today...3 of the 4 runs in the last game were unearned, right? I just thought pitching was good enough...defense just has to make plays! Vines is a quality player...not picking on her...but she should focus on improving defensively...great speed on the bases and a really good hitter.
 
#590
#590
We need to find a couple of dependable right-hand hitter to complement Geer, and a couple of dependable pitchers to join Moss. The latter may be harder than the former.
 
#592
#592
Sandvol said:
The most disappointing player this post season was by far Geer. Never got a clutch hit win we needed it. No leadership. She just faded. I thought Overstreet had a great post season. Hate to see her go.
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Gregg or the rest of the team didn't exactly tear it up either...4-40 at one point against the Arizona lefty!
 
#593
#593
armchair said:
You NEVER let a catcher try to make that play. If the third baseman, Geer, could have got to it--and it sounds like she could have--she should have taken it. It's a cardinal rule in baseball/softball. The pitcher would be another alternative. It is an easier play for pitcher or third baseman.
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I agree with you. Geer was close enough to have called Overstreet off to make the play. As a matter of fact, when Overstreet dropped it Geer almost caught it before it hit the ground. I don't think Gabriel could have gotten to it. Geer was closer.

I just know Overstreet tracked it the entire way & must have called everybody off. It wasn't a high pop up to give clear ample time to call somebody off. She was no doubt the closest player to it originally but the drifting is what got her. You're right. These plays should not be forced into the catchers hands. The 3B should be 1st choice & pitcher 2nd choice ahead of the catcher.

If it was behind the plate back near the cage/stands then it's the catcher's play without a doubt but not where the ball landed from the dropped ball by Overstreet. I don't know why Geer didn't take over the play. I bet she wished she had now but she just didn't come through for us offensively or defensively.

She's not all to blame but she's our key player. That play certainly probably cost us the game but we had our chance in the top of the 7th to win the game. 1st & 3rd no out & we couldn't score. That was it.
 
#594
#594
Nobody out in the 7th and to fail to advance a runner was poor fundamentals by our squad....Got to get the ball out of the infield....

Looking back the loss of Gaffin was to big for the squad to overcome, but they gave it a hell of a try...Keep your heads high girls.

Lot of talent coming and the Maryville pitcher will be just what we need.
 
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#596
#596
What's the status with Rowland? Did she have a knee injury? Is she on the mend? Anybody know? We will be counting on her and Lockman next year, as well as at least two of the freshmen, I believe. Overstreet's production will be hard to replace.
 
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#600
#600
I know that I'm a bigger proponent of replay in college baseball and softball than ever before...at least at CWS level...getting vacleft...talk amonst yourselves...:)
PS. In one game we got a clinic for the whole freakin' season...future coaches...take notes...:)

GO LADY VOLS!
 
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