Saturday Softball Thread

Submitted by jonesie022 on
I know Michigan is more than 12 hours away from the first pitch and many of us are recovering from that big win last night, but I thought I'd get today's thread started.
Great story lines in today's game against Oklahoma...
The Romero sisters take each other on as Sierra's Younger sister is a freshman for Oklahoma.
Since we are done with the best-of-three format until the championship Michigan is the home team (as the top seed) correct? No more of that switching back-and-forth crap we saw in the regional and super regional I hope.
Hope that awful umpiring doesn't cost someone a game before this thing is over. The pitch trax made her look foolish last night.
Go blue!

Mgodiscgolfer

June 4th, 2016 at 7:51 AM ^

pitching duels and last nights game was exactly that 2-0 for the good guys, You could bet on Betsa last night she was on fire great pitching performance....1st and 10 lets do it again. Bring the NC trophy on home to Ann Arbor one win at a time.....Go Blue! 

Lordfoul

June 4th, 2016 at 8:15 AM ^

The umpire was so terribly inconsistent that the strike zone seemed to be right down the middle or a grab-bag of unpredictable BS.  It was frustrating to watch, especially how great pitches at the knees or up to three inches above were mostly called balls.  It seemed to me that the umpire was using the strike zone to script the game a bit.

Regardless, Michigan prevailed in inspiring fashion and now we get to see the Romero sisters face off on the big stage.  Betsa looked pretty limber, even when fielding in front of the circle.  It seemed that she calmed down late in the game and I think we'll see her mowing down some Sooners later today.

Go BLUE!!!  These ladies make me a proud Wolverine!

Tater

June 4th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^

Betsa figured out the strike zone; so did the rest of the Michigan players.  The lower part of the strike zone was erased, but they got about a ball and a half outside throughout the rest of the strike zone.  

Michigan figured it out.  LSU never did.  

Wolvie3758

June 4th, 2016 at 8:47 AM ^

of the rain delay Ill Miss this game (shouldvde been last night) and am none to happy..Ill be on a plane to Kona with no wifi because of the over water flight and wont know untiI  I land...plus the 5 hr time change from OKC so the rest of the games will be early out there and Ill be working but following every pitch online (hopefully able to stream so Ill say it NOW  ..GO BLUE!!!!!  It Will take our best game of the year against OK in Oklahoma..thats a tall order but we can do this....LETS DO THIS.....WIN THE GAME!

Wolvie3758

June 4th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^

I know...Its a double edge sword..I get to go to great places like this all year long...Its my job but I often am flying or at work for things like this...THANK GOD for DVR

 

pdxwolve

June 4th, 2016 at 11:16 AM ^

Heading to Oahu first, and we'll be there during the Hawaii summer football camp (tempted to peek in on it). But I'm really looking forward to the Big Island.

I don't know if you've see this, but Mount Kileaua has been quite active the last week. I hope you're heading there and that it is still rumbling.

Alton

June 4th, 2016 at 9:28 AM ^

The first 2 games are elimination games; the loser will go home.  The home team is listed first:

UCLA v Florida State, noon (ESPN)

Alabama v Louisiana State, 2:30 (ESPN)

Georgia v Auburn, 7:00 (ESPN2)

Michigan v Oklahoma, 9:30 (ESPN2)

To answer OP's question, though:  the home rotation format is in effect for all rounds of the tournament.  This game Michigan is home because both Michigan and Oklahoma were home in their first round game, so the decision is made by seed.  What this does mean, though, is that Michigan will definitely be the visiting team for their next game after this.

The one thing I dislike about the revised schedule is that the loser of tonight's 9:30 game will have to turn around and play at 1 in the afternoon on Sunday against the UCLA-Florida State winner, who will have an extra 9-10 hours' rest.  The only way to avoid that short turn-around is to win, so I guess that is what Michigan will have to do.

Wolvie3758

June 4th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^

I was wondering who would be the home team..Advantage Michigan...we need every break to win this game and being Home HELPS...Seems like we rarely catch a break when it comes to things like this but this time we did...great news

WhoopinStick

June 4th, 2016 at 9:34 AM ^

I wish they'd get rid of the strike zone box. It was annoying to have it show balls and strikes so different from what the ump was calling. (sometimes I'd agree with the box, sometimes with the ump -especially with some of the low pitches that would be below the knees that the box would say was a strike). I found I was getting too caught up in what the box was saying instead of enjoying the game. Just get rid of the box and let us complain about the calls the old fashioned way.




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WhoopinStick

June 4th, 2016 at 9:36 AM ^

I don't know how to link so if someone more savvy on these things could help out...There is a nice story on MLive today about a young lady battling cancer that is a big part of the program.




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Michigasling

June 4th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^

Can't remember the specific thread where we educated somebody else, but found something new this time:  It's also the name of a documentary about Berra.  Website says the VHS is discontinued (what would Berra say about that?), but here's the description:

Yogi Berra: Deja Vu All Over Again, a one hour documentary hosted by Bob Costas, tells the story of baseball legend Yogi Berra. The narrative of his life is a saga of American success -- a moving and exciting tale of immigrant drive, athletic determination, humor, teamwork and family devotion. The program is the first ever television biography of his extraordinary life and is being produced with the full cooperation of Yogi Berra and his family, who are helping the producers capture this never-before-told story.

Goggles Paisano

June 4th, 2016 at 10:27 AM ^

Cool to see Romero's mom rooting for Michigan to win it all as she said Sydney has another 3 years after this to win it.  I think that might be the first time ever I have heard a parent with kids on opposing teams choose a side.  

ಠ_ಠ

June 4th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^

They were both very highly rated. Not sure of the final rankings, but Sydney was at #2 overall going into her senior year and Sierra was ranked similarly.

In my opinion Sierra was a slightly better prospect. Just from articles and interviews it was clear she had a unique edge to her game. I remember seeing the picture of her holding up her hands w/ her batting gloves completely torn to shreds and knowing this would be one of the best players we've ever had. When Sua Cravens was announcing his decision I posted that Michigan already had the best athlete at VMHS. It was obvious that she was special.

I feel the same about Meghan Beaubien.

South Bend Wolverine

June 4th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^

Any good articles you've found on Beaubien?  I haven't seen much recent on her, but I also don't get too deep into the recruiting world.  I know she had a pile of no-hitters as a sophomore, but haven't heard a lot of more recent news.

I do agree, from the limited things I've read, that she may well be the truth.  We'll need her to be ready to go from day one, too, because Betsa will be gone, so the rotation will be some combo of Blanco, Beaubien, and Crockett.

ಠ_ಠ

June 4th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

She was just named the Gatorade Michigan POY yesterday after winning last year as well. 286 strikeouts to 3 walks in 135 innings so far this season w/ three no hitters and one perfect game. Insane. She has dominated top tier travel ball tourneys as well. There are at least a couple of full games on youtube. Here's an article posted yesterday about the Gatorade award. I think the quote from the opposing coach sums it up nicely.

http://usatodayhss.com/2016/gatorade-michigan-softball-poy-meghan-beaubien-2

Chances are good that she'll be the workhorse from day one. No pitchers coming in next season and Blanco's future there is uncertain because of her shoulder. Crockett could develop into a reliable option, but for now we don't know much.

SpikeFan2016

June 4th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^

Agreed. Also would be very interesting and heated to see an Auburn-Alabama elimination game (if Bama and UGA win, this will happen). 

 

An interesting pattern has set up though: the next 3 games that an SEC team plays will be against another SEC team, and 2 of them are guranteed to be eliminated. Obviously the Bama-LSU loser, but then the loser of the UGA-Auburn game will switch over to face the winner of Bama-LSU in another elimination game. 

 

Michigan (and Oklahoma) cannot play an SEC team until the national semifinals on Sunday night. 

Ty Butterfield

June 4th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^

These ladies have worked so hard I just want to see them win. I am tired of the trend of Michigan teams reaching the finals but not being able to close. This needs to stop now. Just win.

Wolvie3758

June 4th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^

Ill be checking in have internet to LAX and a short layover but then no internet..Im am REALLY REALLY hoping we come out and show everybody we are HERE TO WIN IT..OK home crowd and all.....GO BLUE

Wolverine Devotee

June 4th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^

Michigan and Oklahoma played back on February 26 in the most bizzare game I've ever watched.

Here's the recap of it I wrote back then-

Sierra Romero opened things in the game with an RBI in the first inning followed by a Blanco single that scored Michigan's Romero from second to take a 2-0 lead right off the bat.

Looked like we may have had a run rule win brewing once Michigan took a 4-0 lead in the 3rd inning on a leadoff home run by SiLo and an RBI from Kelly Christner. 

That would not be the case. 

Sydney Romero hit a double in the B3 that would eventually lead to Oklahoma taking a 5-4 lead on a 3-run run blast. In the next inning, OU homered again which caused Hutch to make a pitching change. 

Tera Blanco gave Michigan the lead in the 5th inning when she hit a three-run shot, putting Michigan up 7-6. Oklahoma would tie it in the bottom of the 5th, though.

And then the 6th inning happened. Oh God did it happen.

Sierra Romero hit a 2-run RBI on bases loaded to give Michigan the lead once again. Then the very next batter, Kelsey Susalla, hit a three-run homer of her own to give the Wolverines an incredible 12-7 lead. 

But wait, there's more! Kelly Christner hit a two-run homer in the SAME INNING to put Michigan up 14-7.

Just a half-inning ago, this game was tied and now one run in the 6th away from possibly being a Michigan run rule win. 

Michigan could not tack one on in the 6th, but it wouldn't have mattered since Michigan was the road team and (obviously) Oklahoma wasn't going to go away quietly. Sara Driesenga got into a bases loaded jam and OU scored two runs in the inning. 

The crazy irony: Michigan walks (Sydney) Romero to avoid giving up a large number of runs. Sierra broke the Michigan program record for walks last weekend. 

It would prove smart as Michigan would tack on two more runs in the 7th as Kelly Christner once again gave Michigan two more RBIs.

Final score:

#2 Michigan 16

#12 Oklahoma 9