The softball team started the season with a sweep this weekend at the N.C. A&T softball tournament. Good going ladies!
http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/16135/crusaders-close-out-perfect-opening-weekend-sunday/#.WKsblRiZMo8
They seem to have improved on the pitching front, which bodes well for the season
Nadler followed Stevens to North Dakota, if that hasn't been established yet.
Interesting. I don't believe that she is the one that was the reason that Stevens had to 'quit.'
We are now 10-4. Our pitching is fantastic this year, so it will be a fun season.
really looking good with plenty of power!!
While it didn't result in a win, the team's 1-0 loss midweek at top-10 Alabama was maybe the most impressive result of the season - softball is much like women's basketball, where it's very top-heavy - the top-25 are many steps above the rest of the nation and the top-10 or so are even further elevated. It's not unusual to look through Horizon League results and see teams get run-ruled by 10+ runs in five-inning games against top-25 teams. For us to stand in down at Alabama and only lose 1-0 is pretty darn good.
Fast forward to April 6. With their 4-0 shutout of UWGB, the softball team is now 19-10. The ladies are doing some good things.
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 08:41:24 AMFat
Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. ;D
Quote from: bbtds on April 06, 2017, 02:46:39 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 08:41:24 AMFat forward to April 6.
Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. ;D
Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours :( . To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend aa strike through and entry of the correct word :).
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 04:39:43 PM
Quote from: bbtds on April 06, 2017, 02:46:39 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 08:41:24 AMFat Fast forward to April 6.
Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. ;D
Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours :( . To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend (a)a strike through and entry of the correct word :).
Fixed, but now it's memorialized in your post :( Let's see, how could you fix it? :)
It looks like it will come down to UIC and Valpo, with our current pace. We have some solid pitchers, and some power in our lineup, so we can do some damage.
Quote from: bbtds on April 07, 2017, 05:57:28 AM
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 04:39:43 PM
Quote from: bbtds on April 06, 2017, 02:46:39 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 08:41:24 AMFat Fast forward to April 6.
Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. ;D
Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours :( . To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend (a)a strike through and entry of the correct word :).
Fixed, but now it's memorialized in your post :( Let's see, how could you fix it? :)
Not gonna. Hell, no body pulls the string on a post ;D
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 07, 2017, 07:57:31 AM
Quote from: bbtds on April 07, 2017, 05:57:28 AM
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 04:39:43 PM
Quote from: bbtds on April 06, 2017, 02:46:39 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on April 06, 2017, 08:41:24 AMFat Fast forward to April 6.
Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. ;D
Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours :( . To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend (a)a strike through and entry of the correct word :).
Fixed, but now it's memorialized in your post :( Let's see, how could you fix it? :)
No gonna. Hell, no body pulls the string on a post ;D
This guy did.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1ouMDZeMC4
Curious what happened to Lawton. She had started every game at CF for 2 seasons, the first nine this year and then.....did she get hurt?
Same question about Moreno at SS...
Perhaps lost in the MVC buzz is softball's success, especially over the past week:
- A three-game sweep of Wright State in the final home weekend to finish in third place
- Sam Stewart gets named Horizon League Player of the Year and was National Player of the Week this past week
- Jorgi Calombaris gets First Team as well, and Carly Trepanier gets Second Team
- Team starts the league tournament with a 1-0 win over Oakland, who swept them during the regular season
Here's to a repeat this weekend!
Indy: Taylor Lawson got hurt down at Alabama and is expected to apply for a medical redshirt. Steph Moreno was hurt the first part of the year, Jaymee Lawton earned the starting SS job, and Moreno has pinch-hit and occasionally played DP since.
1st loss. Gotta run the table now.
http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17416/softball-falls-to-youngstown-state-thursday/#.WRWl21KZMo8
Doesn't look good for the Crusaders in this win-or-go-home game... UDM just slammed, in the 5th to make it 8-0. Valpo with 2 hits on the day.
Hate to see a good season come to an end.... they need to score or the game ends.
Samantha Stewart was ridiculously good. She was intentionally walked around 10 times in the last week. Good season gals, and on to the MVC!
Lifetime results for VU vs. MVC teams in Softball...
Loyola 24-37
Missouri State 1-1 (SwMOSt we were 0-1)
Southern Illinois 0-1
Indiana State 2-8
Illinois State 0-2
Evansville 3-12
Drake 1-5
Bradley 1-4
... Northern Iowa? Never Played 'em
We haven't played a Valley team since a 3-game sweep by Loyola in April 2013.
Conference Overall
Team W L T Pct W L T Pct
UNI................. 20 6 0 .769 32 18 0 .640
Illinois State...... 20 6 0 .769 30 20 0 .600
Southern Illinois... 17 8 0 .680 30 22 0 .577
Wichita State....... 16 9 0 .640 31 19 0 .620
Drake............... 11 15 0 .423 28 27 0 .509
Evansville.......... 11 15 0 .423 20 33 0 .377
Missouri State...... 10 16 0 .385 23 25 0 .479
Loyola.............. 9 17 0 .346 27 25 0 .519
Indiana State....... 8 18 0 .308 24 29 0 .453
Bradley............. 7 19 0 .269 21 32 0 .396
...other than the 4-3 loss in 8 innings at Loyola this season
We get an NJCAA All-American pitcher from Illinois.
http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17444/packard-named-njcaa-all-american/#.WTGFA8aZMo8
I know nothing about the competitiveness of JC Softball, but those stats are very impressive. Let's hope they come close to holding up in the MVC, if they do then watch out!
Quote from: VULB#62 on June 02, 2017, 10:33:46 AM
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!
Quote from: valporun on June 03, 2017, 12:22:31 AM
Quote from: VULB#62 on June 02, 2017, 10:33:46 AM
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!
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.
Quote from: vu72 on June 03, 2017, 11:03:13 AM
Quote from: valporun on June 03, 2017, 12:22:31 AM
Quote from: VULB#62 on June 02, 2017, 10:33:46 AM
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.
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.