Softball #17 in NCAA tourney
This is good, right? The #1 #2 seed? Only 4 per regional? Hardest 4 seed and easiest 1 seed?
Isnt this where we were last year(?). I feel like I recall us playing Washington and just barely missing a hosting opportunity
Yes this is true, but last year we felt like we deserved to host a regional, and UW felt miffed that they were the 16 seed. This year we weren't Big Ten champs and so feel fortunate for this seeding, but as stated below the downside is getting out of the regional means OU in the supers (most likely)
Any team in the field beating Oklahoma twice in a super regional would an epic upset. The Sooners are currently amidst a ridiculous run basically in dynasty mode. It will be very interesting to see how they fare when they move to the SEC and are challenged every week. They will definitely hold their own, but I am interested to see if they fall back to earth at all.
Yes, I thought the talk was that M was on the 2-seed/3-seed bubble. Turns out they were on the 1-seed/2-seed bubble!
So, yes, they are in the region with the overall 16-seed (the lowest 1-seed) which is really helpful to the chances of getting out of the region. The downside is that the super regional match-up is likely with the overall 1-seed.
Getting Oklahoma in the super is basically a guarantee they don’t make the World Series. It’s a pretty bad draw
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https://twitter.com/umichsoftball/status/1525983975138701313?t=UJ-3HX0tEeuB5jj7H_rGZg&s=19
Seems like Sydney Romero's decision to play for Oklahoma in 2016 instead of following her sister to Ann Arbor was a pretty big deal. Since that decision OU has won 3 national championships. Can't blame her though, she's now a legend in Norman:
"Finished her Sooner career as the OU career leader in at-bats (853) and doubles (58) and tied for first with 13 sacrifice flies … Ranks second in OU career history in hits (320), extra-base hits (121) and total bases (558) … Also ranks third in games played (258); fourth in RBIs (215); fifth in batting average (.375), runs scored (229) and home runs (54); sixth in assists (367) and seventh in slugging percentage (.654)."
Good news and bad news.
It's the #16 regional, which means it's definitely winnable. Michigan played UCF in February and Storako threw a three-hitter in an easy, 6-0 win. However, UCF went with their #3 pitcher, who is a long step down from their top two.
South Dakota State won the Summit tournament and is one of the lower 3-seeds. Villanova was the surprise winner of the Big East and is close to the lowest-rated team in the tournament. Interesting that the women's basketball team beat both South Dakota (not SD St) and Villanova on its recent march to the Elite Eight.
So, unlike recent years, about as good a regional draw as humanly possible.
The bad news? #1 Oklahoma is waiting if they get to a Super-regional. That won't end well.
Other Big Ten schools...
Northwestern hosts the #9 regional. The Big Ten definitely, also unlike recent years, got some respect in the selection process. That will include Notre Dame, one of the better 2-seeds.
Nebraska won the Big Ten tournament and is the 2-seed in the #7 regional, hosted by Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State just upset Oklahoma in the Big XII final. I'm surprised they're that low.
Illinois is the 2-seed at the #15 regional, hosted by Missouri. Missouri's been up and down, but beat Illinois twice this spring.
Minnesota is the 3-seed at #1 Oklahoma. This version of Minnesota no longer pitches. They can hit OK, but Oklahoma can score at will and has great pitching, too.
Ohio State is the 3-seed at the #11 regional, hosted by Tennessee.
Wisconsin in the 3-seed at the #14 regional, hosted by Florida.
I can't remember seven Big Ten teams getting the invite before.
WOW! Seven, that's crazy good.
Outside of nw hosting a regional osu probably got the best draw
The NCAA doesn’t seed the softball tournament in a true 1-64 fashion like it does for basketball. They only seed 1-16 based on resume, and then they fill in the 2/3 seeds and then the 4 seeds almost entirely based on geography so that the highest amount of teams can bus within 400 miles. The only top 16 school within driving distance for Michigan is Northwestern, and they do not pair teams from the same conference in the regional round. So, Michigan (and probably Wisconsin and Minnesota) was going to have to fly wherever they were put. This means that Michigan got placed somewhere that had an opening after the geographically close teams were filled in. OSU, Illinois, and Nebraska got who they got (Tennessee, Missouri, ok st) because they were within 400 miles, not because of seeding.UM, Minny, and Wisky didn’t have anyone close and therefore got filled in mostly randomly to schools in Florida and Oklahoma which had openings after geographically close schools were filled in across the board.At this point I’m sure they look to make somewhat fair and interesting matchups, but it is definitely not their initial priority.
I know nothing about softball recruiting. But I do know of a freshman in Illinois who is one of the better youth hitters - softball or baseball - I've ever seen. Wondering who I could pass this along to.
Give her some info about softball camp and that will get her in front of the coaches.
Go Blue!!!!
She has a Twitter.
Shock the world ladies....shock the world.
Expect Beaubien to get the start against SDSU ?