Michigan Softball #15 Pre-season

Submitted by MGoSoftball on

The Michigan Softball Team is ranked #15 in the Pre-Season Polls just released.  The top three are:

1) ASU

2) Florida

3) Alabama

Only two Big Ten teams cracked the top 25:

15) Michigan

21) Nebraska

Softball is dominated by the PAC-12, Big-12 and to some extent SEC.

manchild56

February 2nd, 2012 at 11:53 PM ^

I am a little shocked we are that low. I Know we lost the best pitcher and power hitter but we still are a good if not great team. I see another big ten title regular and tourney, and hosting a reginal. But either way great to see the ladies getting the respect of a top tier program.

MGoSoftball

February 3rd, 2012 at 12:04 AM ^

not finish well, not to fault any player or coach.  When Colie went down, I knew we were in trouble.  However, Jordan fought through it.  She was convinced that she was going to win that last game eventhough we were down.  She is such a competitor.  She will be missed.

This ranking is not surprising.  We will creep up into the top ten because we will play some good OOC games.

MGoSoftball

February 3rd, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^

pitchers coming in.  One is Sara Driesenga who is a RHP from Hudsonville Michigan. The other is Haylie Wagner from Sonoma County California (Jordan Taylor, Ashley Lane)

Coach Hutch and team has done a very good job of mining Sonoma County.  You have to ask yourself, "Why would a SoCal Player want to come to A2 and play in the snow?"  It shows the power of UM and the Coaching Staff.

 

I have more information on these young ladies in previous posts.

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/hello-sara-driesenga-softball

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/hello-haylie-wagner-softball

 

UMDrumline

February 3rd, 2012 at 12:40 AM ^

Chidester will bat .800 and everything will be okay.  They will definitely creep up the rankings once the season starts, it is just the shock of losing Jordan Taylor.

South Bend Wolverine

February 3rd, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^

This seems like a good place for us to start.  We're replacing a lot, so it's reasonable not to put us in the top 5/10, but it's still a respectable ranking.  Gives us room to rise and keeps preseason expectations from being too silly.

MGoSoftball

February 3rd, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^

How is school going for you?  It is good to hear from you.

#15 is a perfect spot for us at this point.  We will play Ky, LSU, UCLA, Auburn, L'Ville, Okie, ASU (defending Champs) all before we start the B1G.  So if we suffer only a few losses then we will stay at #15 entering B1G play.  The Pac-12 and Big-12 will beat each other up while we clean up.  Then we sould be in the Top 10 at the start of the playoffs.

South Bend Wolverine

February 4th, 2012 at 12:12 AM ^

School's going well.  I'm in my final semester of coursework, which is very exciting indeed.  Can't wait for the change of pace that'll come with not having to sit in classrooms all day for awhile.  I've got comprehensive exams coming up after this, and then it'll be on to the dissertation if all goes well.  Things seem to be falling into place, bit by bit!

Hope things are going well for you also!

tlo2485

February 3rd, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^

They are definitely near the top of my list of Michigan teams I enjoy following..... they will creep up into the top 10 as usual... with a good mix of a somewhat easy schedule, compared to west coast teams, and their typical good showing against the top 10 teams on their non-conf schedule for the big tourneys... I feel like they get hurt by the b1g schedule because it puts them into a lull before the big games heat up again for regionals.... 

MGoSoftball

February 3rd, 2012 at 11:28 AM ^

here.  I dont think Coach Hutch allows them to take plays off.  However, the rankings are based on strength of schedule which hurts us.  Coach always plays a tough OOC schedule to try and make up for the weak B1G.  This year will be no different.

Nebraska will help bolster the B1G but not enough to do any real damage.