Hello: Megan Betsa (SB)

Submitted by MGoSoftball on

As I mentioned yesterday, Coach Hutch landed 3 outstanding players in this year's recruitment.  One of those players is Megan Betsa, a pitcher from the Union Grove Wolverines located in McDonough Ga.

Megan is a 5-8 pitcher.  Not much is available about Megan because the Wolverines are not your typical State PowerHouse softball team.  As a matter of fact, the Wolverines won their first Georgia State Championship primarily due to Megan's arm.

I was able to garner some data on Megan.  She has an over-powering fastball (A-la Traina) and an off speed pitch that drops off the table (A-la Ricketts).  This is a wonderful combination to have. Stephanie Spierman graduates this spring so we certainly need a third pitcher for 2014.

The Mothership says, "She led McDonough to the state championship this fall, marking the first title in school history.  A three-time all-state and all-region selection, Betsa set a single-season record with 464 strikeouts as a senior. She finished her career with 1,349 strikeouts and nabbed Pitcher of the Year honors for the state of Georgia as a freshman and a junior."

Megan has a real good stick as well.  She had some big knocks in the State Championship tourney.

Welcome Megan to the family.  It will be an easy transformation from high school named Wolverines to us.  Good luck in your collegiate career.  Please make sure you bring snow boots and a snow shovel.  You are welcome to visit us on the blog anytime and I hope you like football and basketball because we have World Class teams.

Again, welcome Megan.  We are a better team with you on the team and Go Blue!!!

 

 

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carol hutchins

Blazefire

December 5th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^

Thank you for the update. I'm sorry to say I don't pay much attention to softball, but if it weren't for your posts, I probably wouldn't pay any at all. So good deal!

Joined: 04/17/2009

MGoPoints: 25038

MGoSoftball

December 5th, 2012 at 3:01 PM ^

to have such a wonderful Coach and committment from the AD.  Coach was the first to win a NC east of the Mississippi.  Think about that, this is beyond six sigma.  This is World Class.

I know that we are a football and basketball loving fan base and that the non-revenue sports are not as important to many.  But M softball team is truely a rare commodity that deserves praise and attention. Like I said yesterday, I believe that the Softball team will be the next NC that we win.

Joined: 10/18/2010

MGoPoints: 8892

Alton

December 5th, 2012 at 1:10 PM ^

Interesting--two players from Georgia in the last two years.  I don't think we had ever recruited a southern player before this season (unless you count Missouri as the south).  Amazing to see how quickly the game has spread through that part of the country--believe it or not, most SEC schools didn't even have softball 20 years ago.

Good to see Hutch has found a new recruiting ground.

Joined: 07/05/2008

MGoPoints: 13273

jdib

December 5th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^

that this board contributes to U of M sports as a whole, both women and men.  Big part of the reason why I come here everyday.  Honoring our favorite school's athletes.

 

That being said.. Big welcome Megan Betsa!

 

#GO BLUE!!

Joined: 10/31/2012

MGoPoints: 13905

South Bend Wolverine

December 5th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^

Great news - certainly looks like our pitching is in good hands for a while now, with Wagner, Driesenga, and now Betsa as well.  With pitching like we'll have in the years to come, there's no limit to what this team can accomplish.

Joined: 09/11/2009

MGoPoints: 7918

justingoblue

December 5th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^

I'd say a decent analogy is MBB, where a top high school player can realisticly expect to start unless there's an established star already in that slot.

Sometimes pitchers are the exception to this (maybe catchers as well, depending on the coaches expectations for the catcher spot). To start as a pitcher as a freshman on a non-decimated, fairly talented roster, you need traits that freshman usually haven't developed enough to be successful at the D1 level. Long story short, most coaches would rather not start freshman pitchers.

Joined: 11/16/2010

MGoPoints: 29741

MGoSoftball

December 5th, 2012 at 2:36 PM ^

the D1 game is faster than most Freshman have been exposed to.  In some rare circumstances, Freshman will ignite.  We had two Freshmen pitchers catch fire for us last year.

We are a top 10 program so a Freshman has to be a monster to step in and contribute.  Most HS players do not train 7 days a week like D1 players do.  There is just too many things to do in an 18 year old's life: prom, graduation, work, hanging out with friends, boyfriends, family committments etc.

Joined: 10/18/2010

MGoPoints: 8892

Cockholio

December 5th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^

I'm a softball dad and just wanted to add that most warm-climate softball players play year-round for the most part, so it wouldn't surprise me if she is ready go from day one.  Most schools only use 1-2 pitchers during the season, so if you're stacked at that position, she likely will not see the field her 1st season, unless she's thrown in there to pinch hit. We follow recruiting a good bit, and it appears you guys got a good one in Megan Betsa.

Joined: 12/05/2012

MGoPoints: 4