Game Thread Lady Vols Softball Team NCAA Regionals

[sccshortstop]

I see it differently. Gregg and Geer along with (Overstreet and Gaffin) were the team's best players. I think it unfair and unreasonable to expect them to do much more. If they do, fine. But the players that need to step up are those who didn't perform well this season - McSwain and Lockman in particular. Leach needs to step up her fielding. Moss performed well but she has to really step it up or the team is in some trouble. Geathers, McClain, and Vines played well enough but clearly need to do better. Players that didn't play such as Morrison and Lilley, wouldn't it be great if they stepped up? I think so.

Jeff you and I can agree to disagree. You are right about the 4 mentioned as the best all round players. I will start with Geer, she would tell us this but she has got to hit more than.369 her senior year and field much better. Greeg as a junior should at least hit as good or better but her fielding was not as sharp as needed at the critical up the middle position. Vines and Leach will do much better unless the sophomore jinx gets them. In order to get to play every day Geathers and McClain must come out of the funk they were in and I don't know if Scarlett will get much playing time with the freshmen we have coming in. Lockman really did not get back on track after the concussion at home plate caused her to miss some games, but she has got to hit, catch and throw again strong up the middle. Matty will be Matty which will improve with age. Morrison I hope comes around and Rowland needs to play somewhere. The other players you mentioned will not see enough playing time to hang around after next year ( I am surprised they are coming back). I think we will have at least 2 maybe 3 freshmen starting as well other than a pitcher.

 

[sccshortstop]

Here is my thinking for last night. I know Paige was worn out or so it appeared. If she and/or her parents did not want her to pitch this blows up my thinking. When OU took a 7 run lead no doubt in my mind I would have brought her in and tried to get through as many inning as possible. I would venture to say Awbarn will not score over 7 runs tonight with her pitching.If she was unavailable then Gasso ( in hindsight which is 20/20) should have gotten her some rest during the tournament. I still pick OU but who knows the way both teams has thrown the ball around on defense. Should be a great game.

As I said above Awbarn will not score 7 runs off Paige tonight.
I had rather Awbarn but I have picked OU since the regionals was announced.

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

At the end of the day I'm happy for Patty Gasso and OU softball. Very classy coach and program. Usually, Gasso has nothing but good things to say when it comes to Tennessee, and she and the Weeklys have an enormous genuine mutual respect for each other. I really like her.

Well, I had decided to pull for Auburn just because I wanted an SEC team to win, but I was mightily struggling these past few days. LOL. But I believe that a better team has won when all the dust has settled, and as many experts are predicting this Sooner team is not done yet! That's a bad news for the rest of college softball world.

I feel bad for Emily Carasone; she's one person who embodies what Auburn softball is all about -- extremely confident and self-assured bordering on arrogance-- and she had a terrible game tonight. That confident arrogance exuding from Auburn players/coaches has rubbed me up the wrong way.

During the euphoric moments in the aftermath of hitting a walk-off grand slam last night to force the deciding game 3, she understandably predicted that Auburn batters would be ready to face Paige Parker, and proceeded to boldly tell the astounded tv viewers that they would get to Parker early in the game #3 unlike the game #1.

As we all know Carosone struck out at that critical at-bat in the third inning, bases loaded with no outs, and the next batter Carley Wallace, another Tiger player who also sounds much like Carasone hit into an inning-ending threat-extinguishing double play. How about the two unexplainable errors Carasone committed earlier in the first inning which gave the Sooners 2 run lead which they would not relinquish? Poetic justice? Softball is not a mental game?

If they could hear I've so desperately wanted to yell at the entire Auburn nation since the WCWS started that it's not supposed to be this easy; you have to suffer through some heart-breaking gut-wrenching (sometimes rain-interrupted, past midnight) (12th-inning) losses in OKC, on multiple visits, much like we have (and Florida and Alabama had in the past), before you can call yourselves a national champion. Surely it couldn't have been this easy. It wasn't meant to be this simple...

I'm not sure if a softball goddess was at work or not watching over tonight's game, but in the minds of casual fans a little humility and genuine respect for your opponent would go a long way in turning the unpredictable whim of a softball goddess to your favor and ensuring the orderly working of your cosmic destiny.

I sheepishly pronounce, "Let's Go Sooners! Job well-done."

#85DaysUntilFootball #WeAren'tLosing12StraightToGators

 

[gule]

guess I'll just be watching old westerns and Rehab Addict until football time in Tn.

You couldn't get me to watch the NBA finals...

 

[Sandvol]

Yeah, that's not completely accurate.

I have no doubt that Myers has said something to that effect and there's no doubt that he and his staff improved some existing players, but a look at the lineup from game 2 shows it's just not true:

Players in bold are those Myers inherited from the previous staff

LF- Howard, Sr. - Highly recruited out of high school and was a star as a freshman for Tina Deese, starting 48 games with a .310 average.

3B - Cooper, Jr. - Also a prized recruit and the star of Myers' first recruiting class. Had already committed to play for Deese and has been an absolute star.

2B - Carosone, Sr. - Deese got her to sign with Auburn over a couple of Florida schools by giving her more scholarship money than they were offering, so I know she's not one he's talking about. She was Auburn's best player in her only season under Deese, starting all 53 games with a team-leading .389 average, 14 doubles and 35 RBI.

C - Wallace, So. - She was one of the top catching prospects in the country two years ago.

1B - Rhodes, Sr. - She was not a good overall player when she came in, but her power bat had schools after her in the recruiting process. She has slowly improved her consistency at the plate to be a full-on star this year. Still, this is the first season of her four years where she has hit over .300.

DP - Fagan, Jr. - Transferred in from South Alabama after being the Jaguars' best player as a freshman. USA has been a feeder program for D1 programs with connections to the Fagan family (see: Mizzou).

RF - Gipson, So. - Perfect player for D1 softball. She's in-state and was the top student in her high school and had an academic ride to anywhere she wanted to go. Every program has to have a player like this on the roster as a "walk-on" to make the scholarship dollars go farther. Good player, saw extensive action as a freshman before redshirting last year. Alabama was after her hard as well, so were a couple of other out-of-state schools that lined up academic money for her.

SS - Jordan, So. - Third-string SS after Bogards and Fagan tore their ACLs. Almost certainly a walk-on that had to contribute because of injury. But make no mistake, if Fagan or Bogards could play short, she would be a pinch runner.

CF - Draper, Jr. - Walk-on that they taught to slap well enough that she has developed into a solid 8-9 spot hitter.


Now, coaches are notoriously secretive about who is actually getting scholarship money to prevent other schools from poaching kids that are walk-ons. Now, I know Gipson is an academic scholarship, and from what I've been told, Cooper is as well. Both of those being in-state really helped. Courtney Shea, who split C/DP time with Wallace before Fagan came back, is a walk-on because, well, her family flies to her games on their private plane.

The only two players in their starting lineup that fit the narrative of "non-recruited walk-on we developed" would be Jordan and Draper. I give them complete props on Draper, though they were the ones that brought her in. Again, Jordan is a pinch runner if both SS ahead of her aren't injured.

I'm not taking anything away from Myers, clearly he has done an amazing job turning Auburn around and both recruiting and developing players. But for him to say that he's done it relying on barely-recruited walk-ons is disingenuous on his part.

Not really any of those players were as highly regarded except maybe Cooper as Tennessee's top recruits who are often top 50 nationally. It will be interesting to watch Meyer's recruiting strategy going forward as I'm sure he'll land some of those top 50 recruits especially getting higher regarded pitchers. However, some coaches are better at developing players than coaching "stars."

 

[DeerPark12]

Not really any of those players were as highly regarded except maybe Cooper as Tennessee's top recruits who are often top 50 nationally. It will be interesting to watch Meyer's recruiting strategy going forward as I'm sure he'll land some of those top 50 recruits especially getting higher regarded pitchers. However, some coaches are better at developing players than coaching "stars."

Tennessee recruited Howard, Cooper, Carsone and Wallace, so they may not have been as high as some players, but they were certainly good enough to get an offer from UT.

But, hey, who needs facts when you have the opportunity to take yet another thinly-veiled shot at our own coaching staff!

 

[WVU05UT09]

At the end of the day I'm happy for Patty Gasso and OU softball. Very classy coach and program. Usually, Gasso has nothing but good things to say when it comes to Tennessee, and she and the Weeklys have an enormous genuine mutual respect for each other. I really like her.

Well, I had decided to pull for Auburn just because I wanted an SEC team to win, but I was mightily struggling these past few days. LOL. But I believe that a better team has won when all the dust has settled, and as many experts are predicting this Sooner team is not done yet! That's a bad news for the rest of college softball world.

I feel bad for Emily Carasone; she's one person who embodies what Auburn softball is all about -- extremely confident and self-assured bordering on arrogance-- and she had a terrible game tonight. That confident arrogance exuding from Auburn players/coaches has rubbed me up the wrong way.

During the euphoric moments in the aftermath of hitting a walk-off grand slam last night to force the deciding game 3, she understandably predicted that Auburn batters would be ready to face Paige Parker, and proceeded to boldly tell the astounded tv viewers that they would get to Parker early in the game #3 unlike the game #1.

As we all know Carosone struck out at that critical at-bat in the third inning, bases loaded with no outs, and the next batter Carley Wallace, another Tiger player who also sounds much like Carasone hit into an inning-ending threat-extinguishing double play. How about the two unexplainable errors Carasone committed earlier in the first inning which gave the Sooners 2 run lead which they would not relinquish? Poetic justice? Softball is not a mental game?

If they could hear I've so desperately wanted to yell at the entire Auburn nation since the WCWS started that it's not supposed to be this easy; you have to suffer through some heart-breaking gut-wrenching (sometimes rain-interrupted, past midnight) (12th-inning) losses in OKC, on multiple visits, much like we have (and Florida and Alabama had in the past), before you can call yourselves a national champion. Surely it couldn't have been this easy. It wasn't meant to be this simple...

I'm not sure if a softball goddess was at work or not watching over tonight's game, but in the minds of casual fans a little humility and genuine respect for your opponent would go a long way in turning the unpredictable whim of a softball goddess to your favor and ensuring the orderly working of your cosmic destiny.

I sheepishly pronounce, "Let's Go Sooners! Job well-done."

#85DaysUntilFootball #WeAren'tLosing12StraightToGators

What are the odds that interview was shown to the Oklahoma team at some point before yesterday's game? lol. Carosone just rubs me the wrong way. Very smug. Regardless she got her a double s handed back to her at the plate and in the field yesterday so karma is still alive and well.

In many ways she's the exact opposite of Patty Gasso who is the top coach in the game right now but extremely humble and very quick to not take credit for these wins.

 

[sccshortstop]

What are the odds that interview was shown to the Oklahoma team at some point before yesterday's game? lol. Carosone just rubs me the wrong way. Very smug. Regardless she got her a double s handed back to her at the plate and in the field yesterday so karma is still alive and well.

In many ways she's the exact opposite of Patty Gasso who is the top coach in the game right now but extremely humble and very quick to not take credit for these wins.

As I have said many times I do not like Myers or his son. They both come across as arrogant and mouthy. Several of their players are just like them. I prefer a attitude of Gasso and her team. I am sure the bulletin board was full of Carosone blabber. I think Gasso is maybe the best coach in the country as well and a hell of a recruiter. Whole staff seem worthy and she has a son and daughter in law coaching with her and they are class all the way.
I have never been a fan of OU ( see bob stoops) but they have one heck of a AD.

Best team won this year and that is ok with me.epper:

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

What are the odds that interview was shown to the Oklahoma team at some point before yesterday's game? lol. Carosone just rubs me the wrong way. Very smug. Regardless she got her a double s handed back to her at the plate and in the field yesterday so karma is still alive and well.

In many ways she's the exact opposite of Patty Gasso who is the top coach in the game right now but extremely humble and very quick to not take credit for these wins.

Did you watch the postgame press conference? The more I watch & listen to Gasso the more I become a fan of hers. She's one outstanding coach/person. Humility, intelligence, determination, and great sense of humor all exhibited in that presser. Her players sound just like her too. Paige Parker has a great head on her shoulders. She's one fantastic kid. She deserved everything she got. I'm not just saying this b/c they've won a national championship, but I've been envious of OU fans for some time now. (Gasso said that at the start of the season she decided to not use "youth" as an excuse for this team, but was determined to fight and get the most out of her young team. Ralph Weekly, were you listening? )

Well, it was revealed that in game #1 Parker was at her 50%. Gas tank half-empty. After the game #1, Parker told Gasso that her gas tank was at about 1/3 full. After a full day's rest, her gas tank was about 3/4 full. That's why they rested her, and Parker came back with a vengeance in game #3.

Obviously, Auburn players were subdued, and gave a full credit to OU including Carasone, but they still sounded like a feisty bunch which they are. Tiffany Howard is one quality kid. I really like her personality. Pre-Vet major. That's awesome!!

 

[Sandvol]

Tennessee recruited Howard, Cooper, Carsone and Wallace, so they may not have been as high as some players, but they were certainly good enough to get an offer from UT.

But, hey, who needs facts when you have the opportunity to take yet another thinly-veiled shot at our own coaching staff!

You can't seriously argue that Auburn's caliber of recruits have been anywhere near Tennessee's across the board in the last 5 to 10 years. And, what thinly veiled attack are you talking about? I was just wondering if Meyer will go after higher recruited players or just recruit regionally? I mean I don't know his recruiting philosophy. I know he signed a big time pitcher out of Jasper Alabama.

 

[Sandvol]

I personally think the Weekly's will step up their game. I think they're very competitive and do whatever it takes to meet the challenge Meyer is presenting at Auburn as well as challenges from Florida, Alabama, LSU and the other strong SEC programs. I like the Weekly's. Glad we have them.

 

[Sandvol]

We had a very good team this year--but we were deficient in two areas. First, we really didn't have a real stud on the mound. Gabriel and Moss were good/solid, but neither really had the stamina to pitch well for long stretches. One reason might be that the Weeklys pull pitchers too quickly nowadays, IMO. Somebody starts to struggle--and out they come. You have to let your pitchers pitch through difficult spots and start developing the mental toughness and confidence that they can pitch a complete game. There are benefits to pitching two or more pitchers in a game--you give teams different looks--but I'd also like to see coaches stick with the starter a bit longer. You don't want pitchers to think they are coming out every time they give up a walk and a hit.

The second problem is that we have too many left-handed hitters. The lineup is dominated by lefties, we had only one really dependable right-handed hitter, and this caught up with us against Arizona. And the Vols will have the same problem next year. The coaches need to find a couple of lefty practice pitchers and let them work against the lineup quite a bit. Maybe they do this now.

I don't think those are the only two problems. Fielding was a problem too. But, I somewhat agree with your point about being quick to yank a pitcher. There is the other side who could say it did help Gaffin develop as a reliever. She was very effective. However, when she got hurt there was a major team let down because I think they were psychologically dependent on her.

 

[sccshortstop]

Right. I think when Ralph was saying when it was obvious Bush and Aucoin both were unreliable he used the term ; pitching by committee;. That meant to them I guess at the first sign of trouble go get them and try someone else. Even with that phrase the blame if there is any falls squarely on their shoulders for us getting in that shape in the first place. Need to recruit at least 1 pitcher every year and really 3 every 2 years in my opinion. Having said all that I too love the Weeklys and what they mean to UT and want them to stay as look as they want to. Let Madison handle hitting and fielding would also make most all of happy as well!!!

 

[WVU05UT09]

Did you watch the postgame press conference? The more I watch & listen to Gasso the more I become a fan of hers. She's one outstanding coach/person. Humility, intelligence, determination, and great sense of humor all exhibited in that presser. Her players sound just like her too. Paige Parker has a great head on her shoulders. She's one fantastic kid. She deserved everything she got. I'm not just saying this b/c they've won a national championship, but I've been envious of OU fans for some time now. (Gasso said that at the start of the season she decided to not use "youth" as an excuse for this team, but was determined to fight and get the most out of her young team. Ralph Weekly, were you listening? )

Well, it was revealed that in game #1 Parker was at her 50%. Gas tank half-empty. After the game #1, Parker told Gasso that her gas tank was at about 1/3 full. After a full day's rest, her gas tank was about 3/4 full. That's why they rested her, and Parker came back with a vengeance in game #3.

Obviously, Auburn players were subdued, and gave a full credit to OU including Carasone, but they still sounded like a feisty bunch which they are. Tiffany Howard is one quality kid. I really like her personality. Pre-Vet major. That's awesome!!

Have been an admirer of Gasso for a while. Aside from being humble, a great X-O coach, she has a great mindset towards leadership and knowing when to push and when to step back. I like the one lined she used about at one point in the season she decided she had to let up and the only thing should would ride them about was effort. As long as she got that she'd let them figure out the rest on their own. Most coaches, including myself in my prior stints have failed at that, and with female players is can be a trickier proposition. From a X-O perspective her instruction videos (especially around hitting) are phenomenal teaching tools.

Lombardi is a secret weapon on that staff as well and her staying there is a testament to the chemistry and relationships that exist on that staff because she could definitely have her own gig by now if she wanted it.

I don't know if most people here realize it but Tim Walton of Florida is a OU graduate and was an assistant to Patty for a while. So technically the last four national titles have went to Patty or someone in her coaching tree.

 

[Sandvol]

Have been an admirer of Gasso for a while. Aside from being humble, a great X-O coach, she has a great mindset towards leadership and knowing when to push and when to step back. I like the one lined she used about at one point in the season she decided she had to let up and the only thing should would ride them about was effort. As long as she got that she'd let them figure out the rest on their own. Most coaches, including myself in my prior stints have failed at that, and with female players is can be a trickier proposition. From a X-O perspective her instruction videos (especially around hitting) are phenomenal teaching tools.

Lombardi is a secret weapon on that staff as well and her staying there is a testament to the chemistry and relationships that exist on that staff because she could definitely have her own gig by now if she wanted it.

I don't know if most people here realize it but Tim Walton of Florida is a OU graduate and was an assistant to Patty for a while. So technically the last four national titles have went to Patty or someone in her coaching tree.

She's had a pretty good pipeline from Southern California to Norman.

 

[armchair]

We need to keep the Southern California pipeline going--it's very competitive out there and the talent we've gotten from there over the years has been consistently strong.