some very good softball news

#1
kamoshika

kamoshika

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#1
Brooke Vines, the No. 7 prospect in the class of '15 per StudentSports.com, recently switched her commitment from Stanford to the Lady Vols. Vines sat out last season to focus on academics. Here's a brief write-up on her:

#7... Brooke Vines (OF, So Cal Athletics)
If you need just one run, the best player in the country to manufacture offense could be Brooke, who has all the tools as a lefty slapper to get on base and move around to score. One of the best athletes in her class, Brooke can flat out run and has great bat control with emerging power. She's the sparkplug of any team she's on and doesn't hit away too often, but can be effective when needed.
Hot 100 2015′s (#10-1) | Student Sports Softball

In addition, Bearden's Alaeni Ray has committed to the LVs, making her the 12th(!) commit for the class of '15. As of today we have 11 additional commits over the next 3 classes ('16-18).

New profile of signee Jessica Adell: All-American Candidate
 
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#3
#3
I guess she was supposed to be the left-hand pitcher. Great get for 2015 but it would have been nice to have a pitcher next year's class. The class after should be outstanding.
 
#4
#4
Sandvol said:
I guess she was supposed to be the left-hand pitcher. Great get for 2015 but it would have been nice to have a pitcher next year's class. The class after should be outstanding.
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When I saw the post head I thought the coaches had found a pitcher for next year, but these prospects sound great. Isn't slap hitting becoming a bit passe in softball, for everyone but perhaps the leadoff hitter?
 
#5
#5
The team is going to have some serious speed next season.....
Pitching may be a problem though, unless the science lab is working to unveil a lab created pitcher of dominance.
 
#6
#6
We score enough runs we want need the pitching to be that great. If you look at the stats Gaffin could be a great pitcher she has the speed needs to develop some pitches other than a fastball.
 
#7
#7
Volfan2012 said:
We score enough runs we want need the pitching to be that great. If you look at the stats Gaffin could be a great pitcher she has the speed needs to develop some pitches other than a fastball.
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That formula hasn't yet worked for anyone in softball. All the great teams have had the great pitcher. You're right she does have the velocity. She needs to work on her spins.
 
#8
#8
armchair said:
When I saw the post head I thought the coaches had found a pitcher for next year, but these prospects sound great. Isn't slap hitting becoming a bit passe in softball, for everyone but perhaps the leadoff hitter?
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Raven was a slap hitter just last year and both Florida and Alabama had slap hitters. It you have someone with Raven's speed and they can bunt and slap hit it is almost impossible to keep them off the base. Raven developed some power too which was really nice.
 
#9
#9
Whaen Abbott was playing the whole team was a bunch of slap hitters -- reason they didnt win the NC
 
#10
#10
Volfan2012 said:
We score enough runs we want need the pitching to be that great. If you look at the stats Gaffin could be a great pitcher she has the speed needs to develop some pitches other than a fastball.
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Gaffin's best pitch is her hard dropball. There is really no such thing as a fastball in softball. And her velocity isn't really that great.
 
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#11
#11
volcrazy89 said:
Gaffin's best pitch is her hard dropball. There is really no such thing as a fastball in softball. And her velocity isn't really that great.
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The radar on ESPN was clocking her at 65mph during the tournament. It's just right down the middle.
 
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#12
#12
508mikey said:
Whaen Abbott was playing the whole team was a bunch of slap hitters -- reason they didnt win the NC
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It seemed that way but the whole team weren't slap hitters. They won that first game against Arizona and lost the second 1-0 which they could have won and set up the last game that Arizona squeaked out. Arizona had a great pitcher in her own right. She spun the ball very well. We had some power hitters too. It's just Arizona had the better team during that final. It seems it took the rest of the NCAA awhile to psychologically get over the hump and start beating the PAC 12. I think that was more a psychological win than just because we had slap hitters. If you've been watching women's college softball a lot of teams through the years have won with slap hitters.
 
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#14
#14
PineyBluff Vol said:
65 softball equals 98 baseball. That is bringing it from 35 feet! (35 feet is the release point)
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65 is not that fast when the top teams are throwing 72 to 75. We need someone who throws at least 70 and the ball needs to move. Without that, e ill not win the NACCT.
 
#15
#15
I wonder if the Weekly's have done everything possible to get Kelly Barnhill. We NEED her!
Maybe they should explain the Derrick Henry method of car purchasing or something?:unsure:
 
#16
#16
volcrazy89 said:
Gaffin's best pitch is her hard dropball. There is really no such thing as a fastball in softball. And her velocity isn't really that great.
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You really have not played the game if you think there is really no such thing as a fastball in softball.
 
#17
#17
VolUpInCumming said:
I wonder if the Weekly's have done everything possible to get Kelly Barnhill. We NEED her!
Maybe they should explain the Derrick Henry method of car purchasing or something?:unsure:
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I attend the same high school as Kelly Barnhill and according to her softball teammates it is between Florida and Stanford with Florida looking like the leader after her dad said he did not want her to go to Stanford.
 
#18
#18
VOLINVONORE said:
65 is not that fast when the top teams are throwing 72 to 75. We need someone who throws at least 70 and the ball needs to move. Without that, e ill not win the NACCT.
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There hasn't been a pitcher that consistently throws over 70 since Monica Abbott. The closest was Ricketts who threw 67-70 pretty consistently. Ivy threw that hard pretty regularly, too, as did Chelsea Thomas at Missouri.
 
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#19
#19
volforlife15 said:
I attend the same high school as Kelly Barnhill and according to her softball teammates it is between Florida and Stanford with Florida looking like the leader after her dad said he did not want her to go to Stanford.
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I was told Barnhill is a sure get for Florida. Stanford's coach was also just fired. That's why we just got this new commit from Stanford.
 
#20
#20
VC I looked at the Barnhill stats.....She looks great...

Not sure our pitchers will be enough next season to make us a contender....
 
#21
#21
volcrazy89 said:
I was told Barnhill is a sure get for Florida. Stanford's coach was also just fired. That's why we just got this new commit from Stanford.
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You are exactly right and maybe that is why her dad didn't want her to go to Stanford. Stanford was her favorite though
 
#24
#24
Let's hope Gabriel is able to develop like Wilkinson did down at Georgia. She was very average at best her freshman year. Then she learned how to pitch her sophomore year and had a great season. But, she didn't have an injury. She has about the same velocity as Gabriel.

P.S.-On other thing. If she can develop a change up and I believe any good pitching athlete can do that then she can be very effective. Then the hitters can't just sit on that fastball. None of Gabriel's pitches were working and I've got to believe it was her hip.
 
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#25
#25
I am sure UT has another freshman class "ranked high", but losing Haley Tobler is not good news.
 
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