If you think our basketball programs need help, consider baseball and softball, which have both been picked to finish last in the Valley. Dr. Small has his hands full. :(
There are 4 seniors, 12 juniors, 5 R-So. on the roster. That's 2/3 of the roster most of which have been playing a few years now. Last place finish not acceptable idc what the preseason poll says.
Baseball is in a top 8 RPI conference. It is a bit different comparison versus Basketball.
Quote from: valpotx on February 08, 2023, 04:13:16 AM
Baseball is in a top 8 RPI conference. It is a bit different comparison versus Basketball.
Is this suppose to be some sort of excuse for finishing last or second last over the last 5 years and being picked for last again?
Quote from: vu72 on February 08, 2023, 08:17:47 AM
Quote from: valpotx on February 08, 2023, 04:13:16 AM
Baseball is in a top 8 RPI conference. It is a bit different comparison versus Basketball.
Is this suppose to be some sort of excuse for finishing last or second last over the last 5 years and being picked for last again?
With the money allocated to Baseball against the rest of the conference and how they compete nationally, yes. How do you expect to compete in a multiple bid top 8 conference? We can't speak to a strong history in Baseball, outside of the 1970s, we have to play our first 20+ games on the road each year, due to weather, and only end up with 14-15 home games each season. It just isn't the same comparison to what we should expect in Basketball
Quote from: valpotx on February 09, 2023, 05:45:23 AMwe have to play our first 20+ games on the road each year, due to weather,
Well, Evansville, indiana State and Bradley are picked 3,4 and 5 in the pre-conference rankings. Heck, even UIC is higher than us. There must be something more to it than weather. I didn't know the DBU had left our conference. This might make being a multi-bid league a little more challenging.
Interesting, I knew that DBU was a flight risk eventually, due to their consistent top 25 success and ability to play Baseball in any D-1 conference without worrying about the effect on all of their other programs that are D-2. I just didn't know that they had already left for this season. That makes the path to an NCAA bid a bit more likely, as we mainly have to get through traditional powers Indiana State and Missouri State. We can compete day-in and day-out with everyone else.
Softball will struggle big time. Stake had winning seasons in 2017 and 2018. By the time she left we were down to 6 wins. Last years coach won 13 and had 9 recruits when she bolted for ND. Only 4 recruits stayed. One of the losses was a COVID senior from DePauw who was 24-2 with a 1.14 ERA. Honestly if we win in double digits it will be a surprise.
Great looking uniforms in the baseball team picture but I wish a little more of gold trim was used.
No Valpo baseball thread yet, thought for sure tx would have one going. Anyway baseball crushed Kanas yesterday, time to take the series.
Quote from: NotBryceDrew on February 19, 2023, 12:24:27 PM
No Valpo baseball thread yet, thought for sure tx would have one going. Anyway baseball crushed Kanas yesterday, time to take the series.
Kasas takes Valpo down 6-4 at Whataburger Field in Corpos Christi to win the rubber game of the 3 game set. Jayshawk redemption baseball outshines the Beacons.
Valpo baseball takes on the Tennessee Martin Skyhawks this Friday at Skyhawk Baseball
Stadium in, you guessed it, Martin, TNValparaiso at UT Martin (statbroadcast.com) (https://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=447966)
1111 Skyhawk Pkwy - Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.342308,-88.8723075,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFOHW8mAlhX24yJuCUBp7zA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Skyhawk Baseball Field - Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Skyhawk+Baseball+Field/@36.3423692,-88.8724153,18z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x887966a90ab8568f:0x1890e67c6a371658!8m2!3d36.3423692!4d-88.871321)
3 Pat Head Summitt Dr - Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.3417335,-88.87072,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1slyHgUozWORGM4-w9S2W1Dg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
120 Pat Head Summitt Dr - Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.341783,-88.8705957,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sl0XOSD1ut196x5a3oAHvBQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Was glad to see Valpo finally hitting for some power. I think we were dead last in home runs last season. So far, six home runs in three games!
Yay, 6 HRs, but hitting below the Mendoza Line so far :). I had a friendly bet with one of my HS teammates on this series, who ended up pitching at Kansas. Unfortunately, I owe him, but well played by Valpo!
Quote from: valpotx on February 21, 2023, 05:06:12 PM
Yay, 6 HRs, but hitting below the Mendoza Line so far :) . I had a friendly bet with one of my HS teammates on this series, who ended up pitching at Kansas. Unfortunately, I owe him, but well paid by Valpo!
You do know that VU is strapped for cash. Why is Valpo paying your gambling debts? :-)
Quote from: historyman on February 21, 2023, 09:18:25 PM
Quote from: valpotx on February 21, 2023, 05:06:12 PM
Yay, 6 HRs, but hitting below the Mendoza Line so far :) . I had a friendly bet with one of my HS teammates on this series, who ended up pitching at Kansas. Unfortunately, I owe him, but well paid by Valpo!
You do know that VU is strapped for cash. Why is Valpo paying your gambling debts? :-)
Touche and corrected!
Two good wins to start the UT-Martin series, so Baseball is now 3-2!
Quote from: valpotx on February 25, 2023, 05:57:24 PM
Two good wins to start the UT-Martin series, so Baseball is now 3-2!
Yes, good start. When does it go south?
I mean into Georgia & Florida, of course :-)
Quote from: vu72 on February 20, 2023, 10:21:04 AM
Was glad to see Valpo finally hitting for some power. I think we were dead last in home runs last season. So far, six home runs in three games!
VALPO 5th Tucker homered to right field, RBI (1-1 BK). 2 1
First game of series
1
VALPO 6th Tucker homered to right center, 2 RBI (1-1 BK); Hannahs scored. 7 1
VALPO 7th Schmack homered to left field, 2 RBI (2-0 BB); Hannahs scored. 10 1
Total so far = 9 HRs
Do I have this right? Valpo 17, UT-Martin 4. 3 game sweep with authority? 4-2 to start?
Quote from: VULB#62 on February 26, 2023, 07:13:02 PM
Do I have this right? Valpo 17, UT-Martin 4. 3 game sweep with authority? 4-2 to start?
Yes, and
13 HRs Total
The BASEBALL team's RPI is #58 (out of 303 teams)
MVC RPI rankings
VALPARAISO 58
Illinois State 69
Missouri State 83
Indiana State 86
UIC 103
Southern Illinois 126
Bradley 135
Evansville 155
Belmont 195
Murray State 270
This weekend... 3 games at UALR - RPI 266; Then games at #24 Mississippi State and three games at #40 Southern Miss.
Quote from: talksalot on February 28, 2023, 08:24:16 AM
The BASEBALL team's RPI is #58 (out of 303 teams)
MVC RPI rankings
VALPARAISO 58
Illinois State 69
Missouri State 83
Indiana State 86
UIC 103
Southern Illinois 126
Bradley 135
Evansville 155
Belmont 195
Murray State 270
This weekend... 3 games at UALR - RPI 266; Then games at #24 Mississippi State and three games at #40 Southern Miss.
Great job Beacons!
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I feel bad for our softball team who seem to get drilled every game--losing again today, 9-0 in 5 inning mercy rule. UNI did the job. I then realized the tough spot our new coach was placed in, coming on board so late.
We only have 16 players on the team while UNI has 25. UNI has two assistant coaches while we have one. I would hope things get a little better after having a full cycle to recruit.
I pay no attention to the softball program but does anyone know what the twitter complaints this morning were all about. Seemed at least a few current a former players were not happy with the program over the past few years in a mentally draining way.
One of the, I think, former players was a woman named Addi who is now a professional. Her mom as well. Easton Seib as a current player was involved and the father of a current player was on the other side.
Just seemed weird that it was all in public. Don't they know they could come to this board and get just as little satisfaction with their complaints? ;D
Quote from: JD24 on May 11, 2023, 12:47:53 PM
I pay no attention to the softball program but does anyone know what the twitter complaints this morning were all about. Seemed at least a few current a former players were not happy with the program over the past few years in a mentally draining way.
One of the, I think, former players was a woman named Addi who is now a professional. Her mom as well. Easton Seib as a current player was involved and the father of a current player was on the other side.
Just seemed weird that it was all in public. Don't they know they could come to this board and get just as little satisfaction with their complaints? ;D
Well, it was a total train wreck and a player like Sieb went through three different head coaches in four years and five different pitching coaches. Couple that with the mess the last coach left us by a late departure and the new coach being hired in September of 2022. Add to that the fact that the team only had 16 players on the roster versus 20 the year before and was made up of many players who apparently weren't up to D1 playing ability (the team batting average was .191 versus .342 for opponents and the team hit a combined 4 home runs in 49 games) I'd be a little frustrated as well.
Going from what we had as one of our more successful programs a few seasons ago to 8-41, it is going to cause a lot of angst. I can't speak for the current coach after 1 season, but it is obviously a rebuilding project.
Valpo softball just announced 9 new recruits for next season, so perhaps a turnaround has begun.