Michigan Softball: Year End Review
Now that the season is over and we are all disappointed with how it ended, let us review the season and maybe this will ease your broken heart. In the tournament, the lack of hitting was our downfall not the lack of pitching. We made a few errors but not enough to change the direction of the game. The UK pitcher was nothing special but we just could not seem to get the bats going.
The season started out well. We were on a roll. We beat Zona, ASU, and ND. It seemed like a trip to the WS was our destiny. Then the Big 10 schedule hit. We had a 4 or 5 game slump and hardly beat some bad teams. We lost to Indiana, at home, which we should have won. Hutch had the girls take extra BP for the entire week and that seemed to help because the rest of the Big 10 season was awesome. In particular, the double mercy rule wins over tosu and Lil’ sister made us proud. It looked like we peaked too early; because as soon as the tournament started, our bats went cold again.
The opening day roster was significantly differently than the final game roster. The two major changes were due to injury to Stephanie Kirkpatrick and Nicole Sappingfield. The season would have ended different had these injuries not occurred.
Overall the 2011 season was a success despite this year was a “rebuilding” year. We started the season out of the Top 10 and slowly climbed our way to the #1 ranking before losing the very next weekend. Here are my awards to the players:
My choice for “Wolverine of the Year (MVP)”: Jordan Taylor. JT became Michigan’s all-time leader in wins and strikeouts. This is remarkable considering Hutch uses the platoon system in the regular season. Had JT pitched in more of the Big 10 games, she would have shattered both records. JT finished with a 31-5 record with a 1.51 ERA.
My choice for “Leadership Award”: Amanda Chidester. Chiddy led the team in RBIs (75) and BA (.423). She was selected as the 2011 Big 10 Player of the Year. She was a beast since moving to 3rdbase after the injury to Stephanie. Chiddy was the most vocal person on the team. She never got down and was always the first one to lead the team in cheers.
My choice for “Power Award”: Ashley Lane. Ashley came out of nowhere to lead the team in just about every power-hitting category at one point or another during the season, including several grand slam home runs. She finished a team high 18 HRs, and Slugging % and second in RBIs (71). She was my selection for All-American but fell just short; probably due to her high strike out count. Usually high strikeouts are not a problem but Ashley took too many called 3rdstrikes.
My choice for “Golden Glove and Co-Spark Plug”: Bree Evans. Bree is a prototype lead off hitter. She led the team in hits (86) and also had a 19 game hit streak. She was awesome in Center Field as well posting a perfect 1.000 fielding % out of 37 tries.
My choice for “Co-Spark Plug”: Nicole Sappingfield. Colie is another prototype lead off hitter. She bats from the left side and has speed too. She broke the school record of a 20 game hit streak.
Other player notes:
Stephanie Spiereman is the number 2 pitcher and could be a number 1 on most pitching staffs. She does not have the speed nor control of JT but she is fun to watch nonetheless. Spidey is only a sophomore so she will get better with her control.
Dorian Shaw started the season with a bang. She was leading the team in HRs and RBIs. Then when the team hit a slump at the start of the Big 10 season, Dorian just could not get it going again. Hutch moved her down in the line-up to shake things up, and it did not seem to help much.
Amy Knapp stepped in to play SS when Kirkpatrick was injured. She did a wonderful job. Her fielding percentage was a team 3rdat .965.
Lyndsay Doyle was thrust into the #2 spot and playing LF when Colie twisted her knee. She did a very good job and had a hot bat the final 6 games, batting over .400. It sure was nice to see her step it up.
Sr. Alycia Ryan, Sr. Marley Powers and Fr. Caitlin Blanchard all played well. Caitlin was the DP until Kirkpatrick’s injury force Amy to SS and Chiddy from catcher to 3rdbase.
Next years line up:
- Bree Evans CF
- Colie Sappingfield LF
- Ashley Lane 2B
- Amanda Chidester 3B
- Stephanie Kirkpatrick SS
- Lyndsay Doyle RF
- Caitlin Blanchard C
- Mandy Gardner 1B
- Amy Knapp DP
I will be posting profiles of the incoming freshmen later in the week. We have an awesome recruiting class that should improve the team as compared to this year. I know it is difficult to lose a power pitcher in JT but next year will be better.
Thanks to all the Seniors for your dedication to the school we love.
4 straight Big Ten championships. 'Nuff said.
true. Next year should be even better.
What would you think of Knapp at 2B (she played 3 games there this spring) and Lane at DP? I thought Knapp's defense was very impressive this year; I would hate to lose her glove in the infield.
possibility. I think Lane has more experience though now that she has played almost the entire season at 2B.
I agree that Amy might have more range due to her speed.
Do you know if they will be playing in the Univeristy of Houston tournament next year?
I got a chance to see them while they were here and mingle with the parents, which was really quite fun. I also got a chance to take some photos as well, which I posted a while back.
seen the 2012 schedule yet but I would guess they will be there.
Would've loved to have watched us host a Super-Regional and maybe make the World Series, but we hung a conference championship banner and that is always good.
Thank you seniors!
A difficult way to end the year, but all in all you can never call a season in which you win a conference title a big disappointment.
The girls had an outstanding season! They ran into a very good Kentucky team that played hard. The left side of there infield was as solid as I have seen all year. Congrats to UM girls softball team on a graet season and a B10 championship! Thanks to you MGoSoftball on all your hard work and dedication.
The reality is the Big Ten Season crushed UM. It was too easy and too many cupcakes thrown in during the week. OK, UM played Western (a tourney team) but went 4-1 vs. tourney teams once hitting Ann Arbor in March. The worst part, those 3 tourney teams (Indiana, Penn State and Western) were not too good in the tourney as they were a combined 2-4.
ND had a similar fate as only 3 other Big East teams made the NCAAs. Kentucky showed what a middle of the pack SEC team could do. They were not scared of JT - they hit her hard in game #1 and their 2 pitchers kept UM off balance in both games (well until the 7th inning in game 1, but that proved to be long enough). UM pushed too hard.
I know Softball is non-revenue and money is important for them, but darn, how about some mid-week games vs. Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame (all tourney teams but not too far of a drive). Heck, how about a Big 10 vs. SEC showdown in April or May? Tennessee and Kentucky for example and UM and any other Big Ten team. They can meet up in Lexington or someplace and play a mid week game.
Bottom line, I think UM forgot at what high level of softball they had to play to win vs. the Big Guys. This showed as they barely beat bad big ten teams. Also, look at UM's RPI #10, but they had the best winning % in the country, only 4 losses before the NCAAs and were ranked #1 at one point, but their RPI was 10th!!
Hutch may have finally reached Bo Status where Big Ten Championships are great, but not good enough anymore.
Good year, let's hope next year is better!
Go Blue!
nothing wrong with what you say here. I like the idea of having a mid-week game vs SEC.
Or what about a dual round robin tourney in L'Ville. Play tosu and KY on sat, then tosu and Tn on sunday. It gets SEC and Big 10 games.
The only problem is that someone will have to surrender a home game. The Big 10 will not go for that.
is pitching...Spidey is not a dominant pitcher like Nemitz or Taylor and she walks alot of batters and can be wild..I dont see her as a go to pitcher..Does anyone know anything about incoming freshman pitchers or recruits? we need to lock up another top pitching recruit.
they have a big time pitching recruit next year in sara driesenga from hudsonville, mi. she actually committed to them a couple years ago as she has long been a major recruit. only worry is she has had some arm/shoulder problems an has had surgery over the past winter. here is the press release from the signings.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/111610aaa.html
messages out to different people regarding our incoming pitchers. I will profile them in the coming days. The future is bright
Many thanks for your coverage of M softball, MGoSoftball. It was a crazy, almost-magical year.
I appreciate all the responses.
who are the key SRs we're losing (JT, Shaw, and...?) and the key returnees: hitters, the middle fielders (2B, SS, C, CF)?
thanks I'll hang up & listen
Really enjoyed the updates and detrailed analysis throughout the season!
I appreciate the encouragement. I had my tickets to OKC (maybe I Jinxed them), I did get a full refund. Anyway, I will be following the M girls through the summer.
My 16U girls are finishing up HS ball so I will be hard at it this summer. I will be keeping an eye on M softball and update the group as necessary.
Keep your eye on my profile post of the incoming freshmen.
The updates & support for the team throughout the year have been great! One of my favorite things about MGoBlog is the great coverage, often provided on the Board, of the non-revenue sports. Tough way for the season to end, but it's awful tough to feel too bad about going 53-6 and winning a fourth straight Big Ten title.
Thanks, MGoSoftball, for leading the way here. Hopefully we'll be even better next year so I can take you up on that beer. :)