Softball - Over too soon
As got some discussion on the super-regional thread, softball season ended a couple weeks too soon today, despite a furious late rally. The sense of disappointment in the stands was great, and I'm sure the team is feeling it even more.
Still, I won't accept the narrative that has this as a failed or wasted season. Yes, we expected and could have achieved much more. However, going 49-8 and winning a third straight Big Ten title is a damn fine year. A lot more folks are wishing they were us than are glad they aren't. A tough ending, but congratulations to the team on a great year - and may there be many more for Hutchins, the Bo of women's sports!
This team is all about a consistent, elite level of achievement. You can't win them all but they are always there.
Kudos to Coach Hutchins and thank you.
Coach Rod will be there soon.
With all due respect to Bo....
Bo was the Hutch of mens sports.
Hutch may very well go down as the greatest coach to ever coach at Michigan, if not already.
Quick Hutch stats:
- 1,156-473-4 (.707)
- Michigan's All-Time Winningest Coach (All Sports)
- 12 Big Ten Titles - 8 Big Ten Tournament Titles
- 10 time Big Ten coach of the year
- 2 time National Coach of the Year
- 2005 NCAA Champions (Only school east of Mississippi River to ever win softball Nat'l Title)
- She's awesome
She's had a truly remarkable career here at Michigan and has built quite the powerhouse of a program. I got the chance to meet her not too long ago and she was quite the class act. Every coach in every sport should aspire to be like her.
Quick Carol Hutchins trivia: she and Magic Johnson knew/know each other from having attended both the same high school and college (Everett High School in Lansing). Hutchins is I think two years older than Johnson.
It's over way too soon. The blog didn't even have a chance to get excited about them, and all of a sudden it's over.
On the plus side, Dorian Shaw is going to hit 4,000 HR next year.
If anyone throws her a strike. It's gonna be like Barry Bonds when he was all roided up. She's gonna have a TON of walks next year.
How does our pitching look for next year and are we bringing in any studs?
Wouldn't they be mares? We lose Nikki Nemitz, but Jordan Taylor stays. We also lose Viefhaus, Findlay, St. Claire, and Bausher.
should still be very good. We keep Taylor and last year we brought in a ptcher. She didn't do much this year (why would she?) but it looks like she was extremely well-regarded as a recruit. http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/speierman_stephanie00.html
I'm more worried about all the other positions. Chidester replacds St. Clair as catcher in blowouts, but I don't know if that's permanent or not, so that leaves (either catcher or 2nd base), 3rd base and 2 outfield spots open. Hutch'll have this year's freshmen class and the incoming one to pick and choose from, of course, but that's still a lot of spots. They'll be fine though, they always are.
I was all ready to get on the softball wagon when it came rolling through the blog; I know Tennesee is good, but it's a shock that it's over. Kudos to Coach Hutchins and the Lady Wolverines on a fine year, we'll get 'em in '11.
GO BLUE!
...for softball that ended too soon. Game one loss was attributable to defensive lapses, game two to a couple of uncharacteristic gopher balls.
The program is an undeniable powerhouse and will surely be back next year with another lineup that's strong from top to bottom.