Still Alive Comment Count

Seth

6/2/2015 – Michigan 1, Florida 0 – 60-7, Championship Series tied 1-1 (best of 3) 

I will get to what the ump called this later; it is up top for the visual: One of the two greatest Michigan softball teams in the history of a very good program is an inch away from something, and Florida, themselves one of the best teams ever assembled, huge, athletic, merciless, focused, defensive, is literally blocking Michigan's path.

Bullets

This was a triumph. Everyone knew after Florida in the first game used Aleshia Ocasio, and relieved her with Delanie Gourley, that Player of the Year Lauren Haeger would get the melon—which looks more like an apple in her hands—in Game 2. Haeger throws as hard as anyone and has a kind of curve-change that complements it, but her primary weapon is that fastball has so much late life it's impossible to square, and even solidly hit balls die from that spin. It doesn't help that Florida's mechanical infielders are the best in the game at turning those goofy grounders into outs.

I'm making a note here: Huge Success. Sierra Lawrence welcomed Haeger by slapping a leadoff single through a left side playing tight on an 0-2 count, then beat out Florida's double-play attempt on Romero's grounder. Michigan then scored her on a single by Susalla. The rest of the night would be an all-out assault on that run. Sierra's nickname is "The Silent Assassin" because she steals third; last night her speed squeezed out a run when it seemed neither pitcher was going to give up any.

It's hard to overstate my satisfaction. Haylie Wagner staged her own assault. In the course of this season, which early on suffered the loss of fellow senior Sara Driesenga, the younger Megan Betsa has been Ace A and Wagner Ace B. Both have shone most brilliantly in relief of one another. Betsa pitched Game 1 of this series and as Ace mentioned yesterday, she was tentative. All day the Florida hitters (who drew over 100 hit-by-pitches this season) crowded the plate and Betsa threw away from them.

As she had in relief in Game 1, Wagner went right after them. Every once in awhile, usually whenever Haeger got to bat again, Florida would put a runner in scoring position and Haylie would pitch out of the jam.

Capture
Untouchable.

These points of data make a beautiful line. The last such came in the 6th, when Florida got on with a bunt single with 1 out and Haeger coming up to bat. After two fouls (one to deep left, the other behind the catcher) fell just out of reach, Haeger connected and off the bat there was a sickening moment when you thought this was going to bloop over the infield. Instead it floated harmlessly into Romero's glove.

One more inning and two strikeouts later, Wagner had bought the Wolverines another 7 innings by adding 7 shutout frames to a current total of 0.00 runs in 20 innings in these WCWS.

That stat is downright insane considering over half of those innings have come against this lineup—Florida averaged 6 runs per game this year in the ur-pitcher conference, and was never shut out until Wagner did so last night. The rest of those innings were against the just-as-scary LSU, and UCLA. To put this in perspective, the football equivalent would be a defense going up against Oregon, Baylor, Ohio State, then Ohio State again, and giving up just a handful of missed field goals. If there's a better offense the lefty hasn't mowed down the last two weeks, it's only because it's on her side.

[Highlights from MGoBlue's janky video.]

------------------------------------------

We do what we must because we can. It was the third time these two teams played a dramatic 1-run game this year, and the first bears mention. It was Michigan's first game, Florida's second. Ocasio struck out 10 in that game, but Wagner kept #1 Florida to one run—off the bat of Lauren Haeger of course.

In the top half of the final inning, down to their last strike, Michigan tied it on a Christner double into right-centerfield gap. Wagner pinch-hit and, eerily similar to game 1 of this series, hit a deep fly ball that missed the foul pole by inches before getting out. In the bottom, Wagner walked the first two batters, and Florida bunted them over. Florida brought in a pinch-hitter who knocked what appeared to be a game-winning 3-run homer, except the Gators didn't properly inform the umpires she was being reinserted (they'd taken her out for a  defensive replacement in the 6th). The home run was removed on the technicality. Then Wagner threw a wild pitch that ended both the game and the controversy.

At the time the Florida loss was the reason Michigan couldn't claim #1 even after romping through the rest of that month. A softball season at Michigan is kind of like a Wichita State basketball or Boise State football one: they play the first six weeks on the road in tournaments the southern teams schedule earlier and earlier (this game was on February 7th) because they can. Michigan tries to cram as many big wins as possible into that because the Big Ten season is mostly a "don't screw this up" marathon before the postseason.

------------------------------------------

For the good of all of us (except the ones who are dead). Was everybody kind of annoyed that Florida's players got a cut-video on ESPN doing a Gator chompy version of our "It's great… to be…" cheer? On one hand and 4/5 of the remaining fingers, the cheer doesn't have anything particularly applicable to Michigan except an arrogant tone, and the meter's just a liiiiitle not quite right for the lyrics, and we apparently stole it from Auburn in the 1980s, and certainly lately even when it's correct it's really not:

As long as we keep screaming we don't have to talk about how we nearly botched that two-minute drill.

On the last finger, they played that cheer with zero acknowledgement that Florida was appropriating the other team's thing. I guess anyone who would get the joke got it, and anyone who wouldn't probably thinks the Florida Gators have an arrogant cheer they're a syllable too short to be using.

[UPDATE: A guy in the comments claims Florida has been doing it since the 1960s. I'm not sure I'd trust half of what any Gator says,  but the hand in favor of this cheer is down to a pinky nub].

------------------------------------------

I'm not even angry. On the blown call, I think John U. Bacon nailed the problem:

Other than some Florida/SEC partisans who'd believe in whatever cake serves their interests, the public was in pretty strong agreement that obstruction call, the difference between a runner on 3rd with Christner coming to bat and going into the 6th up 1-0 with Haeger due up, was blown.

I was a softball IM umpire, which is about as relevant to the Championship Series as a little league ump's experience would be to MLB, but two things I'm pretty certain are universal across the sport are 1) how obstruction is called, and 2) you never tell a fellow umpire they blew the call unless you're certain. If you're told you blew something you respect that—this is your chance to not look like a fool or become part of the game.

The umps were mic'ed so we got to hear the field umpire come in and advise the plate ump she had obstruction, and the plate umpire respond harshly "I didn't have obstruction." I bet you a delicious chocolate cake if the country isn't listening in on the huddle that ump takes the get out of jail free card. Instead he sticks with his call so he's not the guy getting corrected on ESPN. Fortunately it didn't affect the outcome.

Other than that, and kind of a muddy outside corner both teams have been taking advantage of, the umpiring has been excellent so I'm willing to give him a mulligan on this.

------------------------------------------

Anyway this cake is great; it's so delicious and moist. Florida didn't take a loss until 26 games after the close brush with Michigan; in that loss then-#2 LSU put up 9 runs in the 1st inning and the Gators came back to tie it 10-10 before losing 14-10.

As you've seen the last two evenings, Michigan and Florida are pretty evenly matched, which is incredible if you've spent the last several years hearing how Florida is the kind of softball team a scientific testing facility would assemble if given unlimited time and resources to manipulate human bodies for maximum softball output. The prevailing wisdom had them winning the national championship this year even before they did last year.

Michigan may be frustrating to them, but it's not plucky upset frustration so much as why do these teams both have to exist the same season!? As a fan you're terrified of everything but to the softball world Michigan is nearly as much a juggernaut, the Brady to their Manning, the Ali to their Frazier, the Nadal the world was crying for since the moment Federer ascended to the top of it. The season until now was hardly preliminary, but exactly nobody is surprised it will end in a game between the Gators and Wolverines.

And end it will. By the time the Earth has spun half-way around today Wagner's streak and Haeger being allowed to play against college students, and the careers of Wagner and Lauren Sweet (we'll wait and see if Driesenga gets a medshirt), and Romero's record-obliterating season will be something to remember instead of live. The expectation was for this year to come down to these colossi, and all promises were kept.

Next game:

What: Michigan vs. Florida Game 3 for the National Championship
When: Tonight, 8 ET
Where to watch: ESPN
Line: Florida –1.5
 10761482

(via MGoBlue.com)

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING
IN THIS
ENRICHMENT CENTER ACTIVITY!!

Comments

BlueBarron

June 3rd, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^

"Even though you broke my heart and killed me. And chopped me to pieces. And threw every piece into a fire" could also be applicable bullet points from that song for other sports. Well done.

gwrock

June 3rd, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^

Obstruction:  As a former baseball player, this is one of the reasons I'd tell players to always slide feet (i.e. spikes) first.

Michigan Arrogance

June 3rd, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^

I played in the wooden bat hardball Rex league in a2 for years and I'll never forget one young kids at 1st would literally stand between the bag and the runner with a man on 1st. It was really awkward and just weird. If the pitcher three over you had to avoid his whole body- ??? Obstruction much???




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

raleighwood

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^

I'm a little surprised with the rationale for sliding head first.  I don't think that it's any faster and as a runner, you pose a greater threat to the defense with your feet (it's also easier to "pop up" after an overthrow).

I watched a fair amount of softball over the weekend (not Michigan) and saw a couple of slides where the runner tried to slide past the defender and grab the base with her hands.  Each one ended poorly.  In the first one (a steal of second), the runner ended up sliding past the bag and was tagged out.  She would have been safe if she had gone feet first into the bag.

In the second one, the runner tried to slide past the catcher to avoid a tag at the plate.  She ended up getting tagged way up high (in the face).  If she had gone directly to the plate, her feet would have beaten the throw.

I'm sure that these coaches know more than I do......but it seems like some fundamentals are lacking. 

 

 

gwrock

June 3rd, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^

It's also easier to get injured sliding face first.  Fingers, wrists, shoulders (remember Derek Jeter separating his shoulder?), neck -- lots of important moving body parts.  When I played shortstop, I loved when guys slid head first -- it was safer for me, especially when I got my knee down to block the bag.

funkywolve

June 3rd, 2015 at 3:32 PM ^

I would think that sliding head first for a girl could be painful to the chest area due to their breasts and that the breasts might add extra friction to slow them down on a head first slide.

gwkrlghl

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:57 PM ^

ESPN happily mentioned that Michigan's last 2 OT games were 2-2 and ended with us winning 3-2 in OT in a hint hint nudge nudge sort of way. This feels the same way. Just feels like a jinx instead of a cause for optimism

gwkrlghl

June 3rd, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^

Just the fact that ESPN mentioned it feels like someone saying in the 8th inning of a perfect game "Hey he almost has a perfect game!". Its like "SHHHHH!!!!!......SHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

JeffDC

June 3rd, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^

I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but Florida has been doing that cheer way before us.  My in-laws are Gators and they remember it from the 60's.  I think it's really more of an SEC thing.

I went to Michigan from 91-95, and we never did this.  I think the band may have, but it was not done by fans.  The first time I heard it at Michigan, having been with my wife to some Gator games, I thought it was pretty weak because I was used to it being a four syllable cheer (Flor(i) - da Ga - tor, Geor-gia Bull-Dog, Au-burn Ti-ger).  It's grown on me. 

But please stop saying anyone stole it from us.  We've been doing it as a fanbase from maybe the mid-90's at the earliest.  WE'RE the thieves.  

JeffDC

June 3rd, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^

I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but Florida has been doing that cheer way before us.  My in-laws are Gators and they remember it from the 60's.  I think it's really more of an SEC thing.

I went to Michigan from 91-95, and we never did this.  I think the band may have, but it was not done by fans.  The first time I heard it at Michigan, having been with my wife to some Gator games, I thought it was pretty weak because I was used to it being a four syllable cheer (Flor(i) - da Ga - tor, Geor-gia Bull-Dog, Au-burn Ti-ger).  It's grown on me. 

But please stop saying anyone stole it from us.  We've been doing it as a fanbase from maybe the mid-90's at the earliest.  WE'RE the thieves.  

Blue In NC

June 3rd, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^

You are likely right and yet that seems strange.  When the Gators did it, the words seemed so awkward and not fitting the chant.  I was left wondering if they just made it up on the spot.  So I guess UM might be the late-comer but I will submit that our version is far superior.  Suck it SEC.

WFNY_DP

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^

What (if any) are the rules governing pitchers pitching two games in a row? Is Wagner allowed to pitch again tonight? As a reliever only?

Cali Wolverine

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:12 PM ^

anticipating a softball game and anxious to leave work early to go watch it (I barely like baseball), I would have slapped you upside the head. But damn...these ladies are some ridiculously talented athletes and are such a pleasure to watch. I can't wait to sit down tonight with my 4 and 7 year old daughters over a pizza to watch Michigan softball. I don't have boys, but hopefully this will inspire my little ladies to play softball...or at least continue to support the Maize and Blue!

Go Blue!

tee wrecks

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^

I understood the mic'd ump conversation to be something along the lines of:

Third base up who made the call:  "Hutch was asking for obstruction, but I did not have obstruction.  Did you have obstruction?"

Home plate ump:  "I did not have obstruction."

First base ump:  "I did not have obstruction."

I didn't hear any of the umps indicate they saw it as obstruction (all wrong, but all in agreement).  Did I miss that or is the summary in the post off?  I've already erased it from the DVR.

On the "Its great. . . to be. . ." chant, I was an undergrad from '89-'93 and the first time I heard it at M was after the '97 OSU football game.  

   

mgobaran

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^

Wow, who thought I would get teary eyed in the last paragraph about a softball team I just started watching in the last two weeks. 

Great writing Seth.

RDDGoblue

June 3rd, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^

So I umpire a bit of Softball. I'm not sure about the ncaa rule book but from the umpires discussion it would seem that the ncaa rules mirror the ASA rules that I call.

The fielder is allowed to be in the runner's way as long as the fielder is holding the ball. It looks to me that the 3b caught the ball just before the runner got to the fielder. JUST before, but at the very least it was a bang bang play. If the 3b had the ball before the runner was "obstructed" then by definition there is no obstruction.

I don't see how this is an obviously blown call. At worst its a very close call that the ump got wrong. But to me it does look like the 3b had the ball a split second before the runner made contact with the fielder.

What makes this an obviously blown call?