M Softball is Red Hot, now 15-0
The University of Michigan Softball team is Red Hot. They mercied Maine 9-0 in 6 innings in a game that was not close from the start. Hutch did some juggling of the line-up today. Hillary Payne (Jr from Canton Mi) was in the circle today. He pitched 6 innings, giving up 0 runs on 2 hits while walking 0, striking out 5 and 1 HBP. She took a perfect game into the 5th inning before giving up a single to LF. Hillary played for Loyola Illinois for 2 years before transfering back home. She is from Canton, Mi. Welcome home Hillary!!!
Maine started a Freshman pitcher, Beth Spoehr, so this allowed Hutch to play some new players as well. Michigan newcomers to see action was Mandy Gardner (Fr from Mission Viejo, California) who replaced Dorian Shaw at 1B, and Taylor Hasselbach (Fr from Clarkston, MI) who started at 3B, Brandi Virgil (Fr from Houston Tx), and Lindsay Doyle (Fr from Channahon Illinois). Welcome to the University of Michigan ladies. We hope you enjoy your stay.
The offense was led by my pre-season All-American Ashley Lane. Hutch moved her to the the #4 slot today, which is a difficult hitting slot. It did not seem to affect her much as she went 3 for 3, with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. She also recorded a stolen base and a double.
Dorian Shaw went 2 for 2, with 1 Home Run before getting a break from Fr. Mandy Gardner. Marley Powers went 2 for 2 with 1 run and 2 RBIs. She also had a double and 2 base on balls.
The Wolverines play Tuesday at 2pm against Valparaiso in Clearwater Florida.
It was a great opportunity for Hutch to get some of the Freshemen some reps, including Jr. Hillary Payne. The old addagge, "you can never have too many pitchers" holds true here. We scored early (2 in the top of the first) and often. Hutch is dialing the line-up in very well. I think she already knows what she will take into conference play but she wants to give the Freshmen an opportunity to play. Hutch is under-rated in my opinion.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:10 PM ^
OK, wins are always good, but it sounds like Maine is terribly since we could play our back-ups and still destroy them.
Question MGoSoftball - of the teams we've beaten so far, some (most?) of them are teams we should beat up on. What are our more impressive wins so far, in your opinion?
February 27th, 2011 at 1:34 PM ^
[patiently waits with shared interest]
February 27th, 2011 at 2:07 PM ^
Maine did the same thing we did. They played their Freshmen players and started a Freshman pitcher for the first time. This is not uncommon for coaches to have a "hand-shake" deal. I am not saying there was any collusion here but it is often a "gentlemen's agreement" to juggle the line-ups in some of these tourneys. Its a coaches version of " I will show you mine, if you show me yours" FTR: We are talking about Fresheman ball players here, not body parts.
Todays game was meaningless to both teams. I suppose one could argue that a team in the Top 10 should never risk a loss if they can help it. Because a loss would drop them in the polls. But Hutch would never allow that to happen when she has JT.
I have to say the Tulsa game was the most difficult, thus the most impressive. It was the most hard fought game thus far. UMass was the highest ranked team we played. They were #25 and we beat them twice quite easily. So one could argue that this is significant.
The Tulsa coach threw 3 different pitchers at us for 1-2 innings each. That was a good strategy because it did not allow us to get any real timing down. I was not at the game but I would bet that each pitcher had a different release, speed and pitch selection. Against Tulsa, Stephanie got into some trouble and JT had to come in to save the day. It was a learning experience for Hutch and the team, thats for sure.
Softball is not baseball. The strategy is different as its all about small-ball, and speed.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
February 27th, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
The addition of southpaw Hilary Payne to the pitching rotation will keep Jordan Taylor and Stephanie Speierman stronger throughout the season into the playoffs.
It also gives Hutch the option of a lefty for relief this year as well as an experienced pitcher going into 2012 after Jordan Taylor graduates.
It's off for a day or two of spring break fun in the sun for the team until Valpo on Tuesday.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
Thanks for the updates. Keep em coming!
February 27th, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^
Michigan's opponents this year are weaker than in the past. Of the teams they've played this year so far only U Mass and Tulsa have the potential to be in the post-season. And, not surprisingly, we struggled at the plate, at least initially, against those two teams. Houston has had a reasonable team in the past and has made it to the post-season. UM struggled against them until all of Houston's errors caught up with them.
Lots of players are getting playing time this year; it isn't just because the weakish competition, but also to figure out who the starters will be. More shuffling underway as ss is injured.
February 27th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
and they play baby seal teams too. They have been to 1 tourney that has some top ranked talent. We will go to 1 tough tourney too in the Judi Garman Classic. We are not that different than other top schools.
#8 Tennessee lost to an unranked opponent UNLV and #18 Stanford. So just because a softball team plays a weaker opponent, they still have to play the game or they will lose.
So in the game of softball, every pitch is 100% effort.
February 27th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
"In the last half of that game, there was not one player on the field who had been on the field last year. That's really something. I'm not sure if I've ever seen that. It's good for us to get a chance to do that, because we need to get them time. These young kids need to play. They need experience. We need to get them at bats and time on the field competing. So, I was happy we were able to do that today."
February 27th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
What happened to the SS, Steph Kirkpatrick? She didn't play at all this weekend.
February 27th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
deserves a little Yakety Sax.
Thanks
February 27th, 2011 at 3:32 PM ^
We didn't miss you until you told us you had returned.
February 27th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^
is really, freaking impressive. She has ¡as many home runs as Dorian! so far, steals bases, and hits for good average. And she's a sophomore. 2 errors which, ehh. And 7 strike outs (which matches her HR total) to 6 walks which one doesn't like to see. But she's a sophomore.
Also, I really liked the quote on MGoBlue from FR OF Nicole Sappingfield, "Just because I'm a freshman, it doesn't mean I'm any less capable of performing like anyone else. In those instances when the upperclassmen don't perform like they want to, it's even more important for the underclassmen to step up and perform as they would." It's kinda cocky, but it really speaks towards all the underclassman's, in particular, confidence. I know they haven't really played anybody yet, but confidence is so important and it seems like Hutch has done a great job of instilling that in everybody. And of course it's a huge surprise whenever Hutch does something incredible. /s
February 27th, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^
I'm impressed that you had Lane picked as a preseason AA. Did you know her game from high school? I'm just curious because she's a sophomore, right -- but she never played (in a meaningful game) last year. Not even when KP got hurt and we had to switch the lineup around, which made us worse defensively and offensively.
Any idea why she didn't play more last year?
Also, speaking of KP: I'm wondering the same thing m1817 is -- she isn't hurt again, is she?
I love U-M softball, great to find someone so knowledgable about it here.
February 27th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
was destined to have a break out year. Just look at her. She exudes softball. Another key to look for is mom and dad. Her father was a college baseball player. So I would not be surprised if they surgically implanted a softball in the womb at about 6 month so she would get a head start. (just kidding of course).
She didnt play much last year because there was no place to put her. She could probably play any position because she is so athletic. Michigan was loaded last year. This probably helped her out by allowing her time to adjust.
As I posted previously, Michigan is a culture shock to her. She probably has never had a snow day. She probably doesnt know what snow tires are, she probably has never had her anti-lock brakes engage. So she needed time to adjust and watch the older girls play.
SouthBend Wolverine is another regular poster here that has a lot of knowledge. I have not seen him around recently. I cant wait until the girls come home, although it would be nice to take a trip down south to catch a game or two.
February 27th, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^
Grad school is chewing up a good chunk of my life, but I'm around here. I've been loving these updates, and of course the team's play! I really wish I were back in MI these days so I could catch some games.
Great eye on Ashley Lane, her emergence this year has been huge for our offensive production. I can't wait to see how things go against the higher level competition - we've certainly got the tools to compete.
February 27th, 2011 at 6:56 PM ^
are you in grad school at ND? It is good to see you around.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
Read the tagline of his posts. I think SBW moved to DC a couple of months ago.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
I do not have reading glasses yet. I swore I would never get them. I guess this is another reason why I should just accept that I am getting old.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:51 PM ^
Yep, got my Master's from Notre Dame, now I'm in DC going for a PhD. I do sometimes miss being the campus "bad guy" with all my Michigan gear. :)
February 27th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
thanks for the update. What is your PhD and what school (if you care to offer this data)?
February 27th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
I'm at Catholic U., studying early Church history (same thing I studied at ND). I've mostly done social history stuff thus far, but I'm trying to branch out into theology & philosophy as well.
I think I remember you mentioning you were in grad school as well? What is your field, if you don't mind my asking?
February 27th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^
That sounds tough, but interesting. Did you get your undergrad from M?
Yes I recently was accepted into Rackham. I will be studing engineering. One of the biggest thrills of my life, behind my wife and children. Going to schedule my campus visits that coinside with SB games this spring. I cant wait to get going on it. Whats another 12-15k worth of student loans right?
I just look on the bright side, I get student tickets and save a few hundred bucks. The wife does not understand my math, spednign 10k per year to save a few hundred, but I was not a math major anyway.
She is a good sport. She is an M fan since HS just like me.
February 27th, 2011 at 5:33 PM ^
Lane got the most PH opportunities of any of the bench last year. She showed a quick bat but was prone to striking out on the rise ball. It is good to see her hitting so well and with power. We'll know more about her hitting (and everyone's) when they face quality pitching in a few weeks.
February 27th, 2011 at 5:44 PM ^
Hutchins is absurdly good at her job. She's won more games than any other Michigan coach, in any sport, and doesn't seem to be slowing down any
February 27th, 2011 at 7:36 PM ^
Hutch is an incredible coach, as her record shows. But her win total is helped by the fact that she plays 50+ games a year. Bo could have coached for 27 years, won every game and not been anywhere close to Hutch's win total. Red's been here 27 years and "only" coached in 1,132 games, less than Hutch's career (I think?) 1,173 victories. Now, her winning percentage is also sky high (I wanna say >.800?) but wins is a horrible metric, given the vast difference in amount of games played.
That being said, I'm glad she has each one of those wins! Especially that one to end 2005.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
but a better metric would be the conference winning percentage, or the number of conference championships. Softball has many more tune up games that are out of conference.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^
Does UM Softball play Ohio State ? Can't wait to roll up the score on the suckeyes. !
February 27th, 2011 at 7:08 PM ^
is the date of osu game. It is a double header at Alumni Field. The first games starts at 5:30pm. We only play them home this year.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
Agreed, the competition we've played to date is nowhere near what we've been seeing during the pre-season road trips over the last couple of years. With the Big 10 down and no attractive in-season OOC matchups...well, I hope it doesn't come back to haunt us come tournament time. With the tournament featuring 64 teams and no real strong squads in the Midwest, we won't have much trouble advancing out the regional, but I'd like to see a few top flight games added to the schedule later on to get the girls a little more "battle tested".
Having said all of that...softball always comes down to who's in the circle, and as long as we have #7 out there we have a punchers chance against anybody.