Thank you again for the reporting during the game and for the outstanding after-action observations. Those of us who cannot attend the games have only observations and comments of those who do. Especially during the Fall games when there is no telly or radio coverage or even live stats. We really, really appreciate it !!
We 'should' get a lot of hits vs a JUCO team. Even one that is really good in their division. The 2-1 win vs McLennan CC was disappointing even though they have recently played in the JUCO World Series (won it recently, too) but glad we got out of that slump. Although these are 'just scrimmages' they ARE 'real' games with crowds, umps, uniforms, etc. and all of the girls are going after it like a real 'real' game. They are trying just as hard to hit the ball as a regular season game. Recall that Blinn won it all in 2024 and we pounded them last year in the Fall.
Note that I never disrespect small teams. D1, D2, DIII, JUCO. Those girls try just as hard and play just as hard as any other girls. I say we 'should' beat most of them but I never talk them down. And now, I can always mention one team when someone does - Liberty. I do not think any Aggie softball fan will forget that name - but many will STILL disrespect small teams on a regular basis. Sad but true and a fact of softball life.
I smiled when you wrote "crooked". In quotation marks. I do not think I heard the term until Coach Ford used it a couple of years ago. Now I hear and read it quite frequently around Aggie softball. Even in the press releases. Personally, I think it sounds weird but what the heck. I actually looked it up on the Internet last season. Means anything other than a 1 in any inning. So, technically, a 0 or 2+ is a 'crooked inning'. A 0 or a 2 is certainly not a 'big inning'. I even looked up press releases for games before the Ford era. Phrase never mentioned. Even when we scored big numbers in an inning. I am slowly getting used to it but will always laugh when I see it or hear it. Always. Just like a homerun. Used to be called simply a homerun. Now there are a ton of different names for hitting the ball out of the park. And new names for it every year !!
ANYWAY, back to the game !! I think aggressive base running is a hallmark of our coaches and we will continue doing it. It is successful more times than not. I like it. There have been some failures at really bad times but those are few and far between. Thanks for mentioning DeeDee. A 6'3" catcher is so darn unusual that I quickly became a fan of hers last year !! Also because I was a C and 3B in my day !! So much so that I created the 'unofficial DeeDee Fan Club'. Still the only member, though !!
I have read many comments this Fall about Annsley being really quick on the basepaths. She was a track star in HS. The 100m sprint. Imagine her range in the OF with that speed !! Her junior year HS stats were .625 BA, .683 OBP and 55 SB. I hope we get a lot of chances to see her out there this year and in the future. However, I have mentioned several times that we have three very highly-rated OF'ers coming in next year, meaning 9 of them on the roster. For three spots. Competition will be fierce. Most say that is good. Might mean a few transfers in the future because everyone wants to start.
Coach Ford mentioned several times since Fall last year that KK is our SS of the future. It seems to be working out well. AND, a great bat to go along with her glove and range !!
Maya P 'broke out' last year after a sub-par Freshman year. I agree with you - she will 'break out' again this coming Spring.
I noted during the game it was a surprise to me to see Piper at 2B. She is listed as an OF but also as Utility. And I have learned not to be TOO surprised at where our coaches put the players on the field !!
Kelsey showed a lot of ability both in OF and at the plate at the end of last season. A star in the making? I think she might end up being one of our all-time greats. We have had some great ones in the OF over the years !!
What did Taylor B look like? Did she have a lot of control? I have had my eye on her, too, really looking forward to seeing her get some innings this season. Fantastic numbers in HS. Really fantastic. Both pitching and hitting but I doubt if she will get chances at the plate. I really wish she could but I do not think Ford allows her pitchers to hit or play in the field, even as a DP, regardless of how well they did in HS. I disagree with this but she is the coach and I am not.
Have seen many glowing comments on Lessentine this Fall. Will she be our Friday night starter next Spring? She or Sidne? From her HS bio she "finished top five in the state for strikeouts and ERA each season".
Thanks AGAIN for the comments during the game and the observations afterwards !!
Reminder - signing day in a couple of weeks !!
