2017 Softball

[VULB#62]

We get an NJCAA All-American pitcher from Illinois.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17444/packard-named-njcaa-all-american/#.WTGFA8aZMo8

The program she's coming from is in my hometown. This college softball program was dead for so long, and the current coach came in six years ago, changed the culture of the program the freshmen and sophomores that year bought into his system, and they've now won 4 consecutive national championships at the D-III level of NJCAA softball. The team Packard was on this season was 52-3, and dominated the national championship tournament. In the championship series, they scored 41 runs in 4 games, and in those same 4 games, they gave up an astonishing ZERO runs, including a championship drubbing of 20-0 in 7 innings. Packard will come in with a great attitude, and ready to play championship softball!

The other way to look at it is how much better a D-III JUCO All-American is than a typical well skilled All-State HS senior who we would be recruiting.  Obviously, she has probably not been recruited by B1G schools, but still those are impressive stats against women, not girls.

So how does D3 NJCAA softball equate to D1 softball?  Not sure Valpo would be interested in a D3 NJCAA basketball player even if they were an All American at that level.

[valporun]

Maturity and readiness for a higher level college game, instead of needing time to develop and mature as a true freshman, plus if the transfer can be an immediate help for a younger team, in being a leader on the court or the diamond. It's a risk worth taking because that JUCO transfer comes in with an idea of how to win college games, and how to handle themselves under pressure.