Live Thread: Michigan Softball vs. Alabama, WCWS - 6:00pm CDT, ESPN2

Submitted by Wolverine In Iowa on

2-0 against 'Bama early in the season.  Let's Go Blue!!!!

MGoBoard

ಠ_ಠ

May 28th, 2015 at 8:40 PM ^

Romo has been at two all season. Last season the two leadoff hitters were slappers (Doyle and Sappingfield, both graduated), but this year Hutch moved the one slapper (Abby Ramirez) down to 9, so she still sets up the top of the order, and moved Romo to two to get as many plate appearances as possible. The whole lineup is dangerous, so Romo's on base sort of sets up Christner and the rest of the lineup.

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BornSinner

May 28th, 2015 at 8:46 PM ^

Question: 

How did underhand throwing become a thing? Can girls not throw overhand at the same velocity? 

Seems awkward and uncomfortable... 

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justingoblue

May 28th, 2015 at 9:32 PM ^

The ball is ~20% heavier than a baseball, and I'm pretty sure getting movement on the bigger surface would be really awkward overhand, but I've never really tried/can barely throw a pitch with good technique anyway.

The simplist answer would be to throw a few balls underhand when you get a chance and see what you think.

 

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bklein09

May 28th, 2015 at 8:50 PM ^

I'm sure some of you know way more about this that I do, but I believe it's far more natural to throw underhand. That's why softball players can throw so many pitches and innings without rest. Throwing overhand may produce more velocity, but it also puts tons of strain on the shoulder and elbow. Hence all the tommy john and rotator cuff injuries in baseball.



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Wolverine Devotee

May 28th, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^

College baseball used to pitch underhand in the 1860s.

In 1865, Michigan beat the Jackson Baseball Club by a score of 61-41.

The ladies are much better at pitching underhand, I'd say...

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tlo2485

May 28th, 2015 at 9:00 PM ^

pretty sure oregon's head coach is a guy and is considered a top pitching coach for underhand .. I recall seeing him demonstrating before, and I know oregon has a history of stellar pitching including someone we could see in our next game

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FieldingBLUE

May 28th, 2015 at 9:06 PM ^

Base ball was a gentlemens game then. Pitching was just that...trying to pitch it so that it was hit. And you pitched it where the batter wanted it. The goal was to hit the ball and field and run. Plus the players didn't use gloves. I play by 1858 rules. It's pretty damn fun.



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ShadowStorm33

May 28th, 2015 at 9:02 PM ^

Is it just me or does Betsa look a little off tonight? Maybe her command? Obviously she isn't getting the strikeouts, but it seems like the defense has been bailing her out a bit.

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UNCWolverine

May 28th, 2015 at 9:08 PM ^

Ha, Alabama's coach is the Izzo of college softball. Riding the homeplate ump as they went to commercial about a pitch that was high but was shown to be a strike. Then he just had to dump on the umpire during his 15 seconds of fame interview. fuck that asshole.

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ckersh74

May 28th, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^

Romo is hitting about .480 and they're second-guessing her decision to bunt? What's next, telling Richard Petty how to drive a race car?

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