Tennessee Softball

[kregman]

Ok been traveling off and on just watched. Thank you Georgia for getting us to second. Caylan pitched well just rode her too long was Matty sick in the end? Here is what I hate about this game - started out aggressive at the plate jump out to early lead then phrase right back to small ball with small results. Did hit into some bad luck at times. When Leach Holcomb and Hannon swing away and not slap it is a beautiful thing otherwise a number of at bats with no ball in play.

 

[kregman]

As others have noted our ceiling is probably the regional unless we produce more runs. Swing away. The strange thing is a win and certainly two this week and we will probably be up for a home super regional I don’t know how you could deny the second place team in our league by far and away the best conference in softball. Side note freshman year almost done in Knoxville to move daughter out of the dorm after freshman year.

 

[Volfan2012]

Were the number two seed in the tourney even with losing yesterday. LSU is three and Kentucky four. We'll play the 8 and 9 winner would say we'll win that one but our team is inept offensively right now and has been for several weeks. Yesterday was the ultimate.

 

[Hoosier]

frosh bats have generally gone quiet the last month --- they need to wake up

 

[sccshortstop]

As others have noted our ceiling is probably the regional unless we produce more runs. Swing away. The strange thing is a win and certainly two this week and we will probably be up for a home super regional I don’t know how you could deny the second place team in our league by far and away the best conference in softball. Side note freshman year almost done in Knoxville to move daughter out of the dorm after freshman year.

I really don't see a super regional host this year unless we at least play for the title game in the tourney. I don't think but hope we get that far but we have lost to which ever team we play already in the first round. Just dont pitch or hit enough to win it I don't believe. We will host a regional I think but other conferences upsets etc. may hurt or help us. JMHO as always!

 

[kregman]

frosh bats have generally gone quiet the last month --- they need to wake up

Phillips has shown signs of coming out of it let’s hope that continues better swings as of late.

 

[Volfan2012]

I really don't see a super regional host this year unless we at least play for the title game in the tourney. I don't think but hope we get that far but we have lost to which ever team we play already in the first round. Just dont pitch or hit enough to win it I don't believe. We will host a regional I think but other conferences upsets etc. may hurt or help us. JMHO as always!

I agree a lot of work would have to be done like winning the SEC Tourney.

 

[sccshortstop]

There was a recent post on here about the fact that Phillips is more or less a poor example for us as a catcher. The statement was made to the fact that she could not catch the ball and had to practically throw down to first to get a strikeout victim about every time. The 2 games she caught this weekend I did not see a single time that this had to be done. She not only caught everything she was expected to catch. Earlier in the year she and Osbron had issues with the ball popping out of the mitt and I as well as some others said she needed to break the mitt in or get another. They did something because that is a non factor now I think. Phillips and Osbron is going to be fine as backups for three more years. Both she and Osbron has to hit to play and being RH hitters is not a priority for Ralph as well all know.Yes Phillips throwing motion which is like a girl will negate many if any throwouts at second. Osbron who throws like a boy has a pretty good gun. JMHO as always!

 

[kregman]

Anyone notice Holcomb hits better in the 9 spot vs 2 spot it almost like center vs left. One of the few and maybe first times this year Leach stood in there on the first at bat and pulled that first pitch with authority there is no reason she should not do that at least once every game talk about ruining scouting reports.

 

[sccshortstop]

Anyone notice Holcomb hits better in the 9 spot vs 2 spot it almost like center vs left. One of the few and maybe first times this year Leach stood in there on the first at bat and pulled that first pitch with authority there is no reason she should not do that at least once every game talk about ruining scouting reports.

I did not that she reversed herself somewhat by stepping to far out of box again. The umps have let her slide until yesterday but she still get a toe out every time. Parsons has the best looking footwork of any of the slappers. Watch where she sets up closer to the middle of the box where she can come forward pretty much in a straight path. Holcomb sets up near the back outside corner of the box and has to come toward the opposite corner to swing the bat. Ralph has tried to get Holcombs attention by riding the bench and did for a while. She knows we need her defense in left so she needs to play. Even Batts steps out often as well going for the slap.

 

[kregman]

I agree a lot of work would have to be done like winning the SEC Tourney.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not overly optimistic about our postseason chances and we have earned whatever we get with our less than stellar play the last five weeks or so. But I sometimes forget when playing through the sec even aTm would do a lot of damage to the majority of teams in other conferences even the PAC 12 and most certainly the “big” ten.

 

[kregman]

The pressure seem to get to Holcomb batting yesterday but if we are going to play anyone for d she has to be in left saves us a minimum of one to two runs a game.

 

[Volfan2012]

SEC Softball Bracket

The Missouri vs Auburn winner is a must win for Tennessee. A loss there kills any and all slim chance we have to host a Super regional. The second game semi-finals why do I think it will be Florida they have looked terrible at times this season but I still think if we win they will be there in the semi-finals.

 

[sccshortstop]

SEC Softball Bracket

The Missouri vs Auburn winner is a must win for Tennessee. A loss there kills any and all slim chance we have to host a Super regional. The second game semi-finals why do I think it will be Florida they have looked terrible at times this season but I still think if we win they will be there in the semi-finals.

yep I agree on winning the first game. Florida will be tough anytime Barnhill is throwing. We will have to outhit them and I don't know if we will but need to get to that game!

 

[Volfan2012]

The pressure seem to get to Holcomb batting yesterday but if we are going to play anyone for d she has to be in left saves us a minimum of one to two runs a game.

She is stepping out of the box on every at bat. If she had been called for it as much as she has done it this year would be hitting .200. She is an offensive threat if the rule didn't exist it really killed her offensive game. She really needs to work with Parson same type hitter that has a style never steps out of the box.

 

[Volfan2012]

yep I agree on winning the first game. Florida will be tough anytime Barnhill is throwing. We will have to outhit them and I don't know if we will but need to get to that game!

Of course LSU or even the first team they play might beat them but our main concern is winning that first game and were 3 and 3 against those two teams this season.

 

[sccshortstop]

Of course LSU or even the first team they play might beat them but our main concern is winning that first game and were 3 and 3 against those two teams this season.

Yep to even have a smell got to win the first one and I don't desire one over the other!

 

[kregman]

I know it is hard to change something you have done your whole life but if I was working with Holcomb in this last off season I would have stacked up one or two boards right on the outside line of the batters box and make her hit it would be instant feedback and repeat repeat repeat.

 

[Volfaninfl2]

I really don't see a super regional host this year unless we at least play for the title game in the tourney. I don't think but hope we get that far but we have lost to which ever team we play already in the first round. Just dont pitch or hit enough to win it I don't believe. We will host a regional I think but other conferences upsets etc. may hurt or help us. JMHO as always!

We’ve also beaten whichever team we’ll play in first round, on the positive side.

 

[Volfan2012]

I know it is hard to change something you have done your whole life but if I was working with Holcomb in this last off season I would have stacked up one or two boards right on the outside line of the batters box and make her hit it would be instant feedback and repeat repeat repeat.

I think we got a some coaches that don't work with players as much as they used to. I figure all Ralph does these days is make out the lineup give the players a failed pep talk when we have runners on and hold runners at third base or like yesterday bat the slowest runner on the team for Parsons when we had first and second and no one out. I don't see her doing anything different than she did the first day of the season. When she gets certain Umpires they never call it on anyone and a few others like yesterday do. I think it is a terrible rule. I think if any part of your foot is in the box that should be ok. She has some full steps out of the box but most of hers are partials.

 

[LA Vol]

UF and LSU are gamer programs. They step up big on the big stage. The past few years, the LVs have tended to be the opposite, with players fading when we need them most. Even Auburn brings it when the stakes are high or when playing a team like UT.

IDT we'll have a single easy game in the SECT and if we don't play with urgency and execution, we could lose to any opponent. All year, other teams have seemed hungrier and more determined while the LVs have shown inconsistency and had difficulty closing out some games. From here on out, if we cruise, we'll lose.

 

[Volfan2012]

There was a recent post on here about the fact that Phillips is more or less a poor example for us as a catcher. The statement was made to the fact that she could not catch the ball and had to practically throw down to first to get a strikeout victim about every time. The 2 games she caught this weekend I did not see a single time that this had to be done. She not only caught everything she was expected to catch. Earlier in the year she and Osbron had issues with the ball popping out of the mitt and I as well as some others said she needed to break the mitt in or get another. They did something because that is a non factor now I think. Phillips and Osbron is going to be fine as backups for three more years. Both she and Osbron has to hit to play and being RH hitters is not a priority for Ralph as well all know.Yes Phillips throwing motion which is like a girl will negate many if any throwouts at second. Osbron who throws like a boy has a pretty good gun. JMHO as always!

Hopefully both will be improved next season and expect Osborn to be the SS. Parsons looks like a great candidate for second and Seggern will be back at third. With Shipman back to be a fulltime player catching Phillips will either take on the DH role or possibly RF for Bearden. Two players from the next class that are almost certain to get a lot of playing time are Milloy and Webber. Morgan is a solid defensive first baseman but she is going to definitely need to improve offensively to keep Webber from taking the first base job. Milloy will pitch a lot but she is also and awesome outfielder and hitter she will be in the lineup from day one. We may see some transfer outs for next season with some of these number one rated class players coming in and Milloy rated number 2 player in the nation and Webber number 27 look like certain top contributors with a lot of playing time next season. We really look like a top five team next year if Milloy and Turner live up to their rankings as pitchers. Sometimes that doesn't happen as we saw with a pitcher last year but these two look like can't miss prospects only time will tell.

 

[kregman]

UF and LSU are gamer programs. They step up big on the big stage. The past few years, the LVs have tended to be the opposite, with players fading when we need them most. Even Auburn brings it when the stakes are high or when playing a team like UT.

IDT we'll have a single easy game in the SECT and if we don't play with urgency and execution, we could lose to any opponent. All year, other teams have seemed hungrier and more determined while the LVs have shown inconsistency and had difficulty closing out some games. From here on out, if we cruise, we'll lose.

I wish i could not agree with this but truth is truth. One of the big problems only one of our coaches seems to show any fire in a game and her name starts with K. In the big games we might as well have a turtle at third and at least the turtle would not throw up a stop sign.

 

[larjoranj]

I'd be interested to see some stats on how often they call stepping out on a per game basis across the NCAA.

Holcomb has by far the highest batting average on the team in SEC play, even with the few step outs called, so I wouldn't try to change a thing at this point in the season. Just hope they don't make it more of an emphasis in post season play than it has been during the regular season.

They had last off season to work on it and whatever they tried didn't work. If the umps don't call it at a higher rate next year then it's probably something you just live with, like another player's inability to hit a rise ball, or lay off a change, etc.

If they do make it an emphasis this off season to call it more next year, and she can't learn to stay in the box without affecting her average too much, then maybe she should just become a straight up hitter? She has great bat control, even on the move, and has the fewest strikeouts on the team. I'm sure teams keep all kinds of stats that we never get to see. I'd be interested to see what percentage of each slapper's hits were close enough plays that they only reached safely because they were moving on the swing, and how many of their hits would have been hits anyway. Balls that got through the infield or were so deep in the hole that a fast left handed batter would have reached anyway. And what is the difference in home to 1st times for a fast lefty when slapping as opposed to not slapping?

 

[larjoranj]

She is stepping out of the box on every at bat. If she had been called for it as much as she has done it this year would be hitting .200. She is an offensive threat if the rule didn't exist it really killed her offensive game. She really needs to work with Parson same type hitter that has a style never steps out of the box.

If she had been called for it as much as she did it she'd probably be hitting .000. She does it on every swing doesn't she? But it didn't really kill her offensive game did it? She still lead the team in batting average in SEC games. She and Leach led the team with 22 hits in SEC play. Only Bearden, Seggern and Hannon had more extra base hits.