Paging MGoSoftball (& friends): how have the ladies looked in fall ball?

Submitted by DowntownLJB on

I don't see much information on mgoblue.com about the women's softball fall ball games.  I'm hoping someone (MGoSoftball or others) have been following how the ladies have looked this fall as Team 40.  I know they beat MSU the other night - I think the final was 6-4 - and played another half dozen games or so (no results on the schedule on the team site).

Are Betsa/Blanco splitting pitching duties? 

How do the bats look without the Sierras leading off the line up?

Who's taking over fielding spots for the departed seniors in the field (2/3 of the outfield and 2nd base, as I'm recalling right now)?

How do the freshmen look?

 

The bye week feels like a good time to catch up on another favorite M sport.

 

 

 

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South Bend Wolverine

October 13th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^

I'm betting Ramirez makes that lead-off spot her own this year.  She's essentially been playing that role in the 9-spot for the last couple seasons.  The only difference will be that'll she'll get a few more at-bats and will get scouted more deliberately by opposing teams.  She's experienced, though, and has made big plays in pressure situations.  I'm very confident in her ability there.

Joined: 09/11/2009

MGoPoints: 7918

Hail To The Blue

October 13th, 2016 at 4:54 PM ^

Blanco and Crockett have been splitting pitching duties. Hoogenraad and Peters (freshman and sophomore respectively) have been getting most of the run in LF and RF respectively with Christner in CF. Sobczak has taken over at C. Canfield stepped in for Romero at 2B. Team was a little lethargic yesterday, sluggish offense and Blanco gave up a couple of bombs to MSU.

Joined: 10/30/2013

MGoPoints: 1605

South Bend Wolverine

October 13th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^

There was also a scrimmage against the USSSA Pride, the top team in the NPF regular season last year, and home to UM alums Jordan Taylor, Lauren Sweet, and of course Sierra Romero.  Michigan dropped that one in a reasonably competitive matchup, which there's no shame in doing.

I haven't been tracking things as closely as I sometimes have in the fall - in the Hoke years, fall ball was often a really welcome distraction from tough times, whereas with Harbaugh things are different (thankfully).  Overall, it looks like we've kinda checked the boxes, but haven't blown the doors off.  Hutch is clearly trying to get Blanco & Crockett plenty of opportunities, since Betsa's locked in as the ace no matter what.  Offense is producing runs, but not the double-digit numbers we have sometimes seen against these sorts of teams in fall play.

All of that is not too surprising, of course.  This is a team in transition, looking for a new #2 pitcher and replacing half the batting order.  It'll take some experimentation & adversity for them to get completely where they want to be.  Considering the fall as part of that process, I'd say I'm reasonably pleased, and excited to see more once the regular season comes around.

Joined: 09/11/2009

MGoPoints: 7918

DowntownLJB

October 13th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^

I agree with where you're coming from.  I knew there were games coming up a few weeks ago... and was surprised to look at mgoblue today and see they were pretty much all behind us already.

Definitely an opportunity for some of the ladies to step up and give the team a new identity in what will hopefully be a reloading year (not a rebuilding one).

Joined: 10/10/2012

MGoPoints: 2256