Preseason softball coaches poll released, M #8
The season opener will pit number eight Michigan against top ranked Florida on February 6 at USF Softball Stadium in Tampa.
Michigan's out of conference schedule also includes #3 Alabama, #4 Florida State, #10 Baylor, #16 Arizona State and Michigan will play a conference series at #15 Minnesota.
#18 Nebraska is off the regular season conference schedule, although a meeting in the Big Ten Tournament is definitely possible.
http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/softball/d1/usa-todaynfca-coaches
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/mich-w-softbl-sched.html
In a tradition that should be familar to MGoBloggers...
Monte more days ... #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/aOiNxx2dV4
— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) January 20, 2015
January 20th, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^
The softball team has been the most consistently successful, watchable team on campus over the past decade. We have gotten so close to another national title over the past few years, let's hope this year is the next step forward.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
Michigan will take on #1 Florida in their season opener. Michigan is 24-12 all-time in season openers.
Michigan is 97-18 when ranked #8 with a 63-37 record against the SEC.
The last time Michigan was ranked #8 was last season when they easily plowed through 3 teams in Louisville at the Class Act Federal Credit Union Classic.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:18 PM ^
15 minutes after this was posted. It would take most of us a day to determine when the last time Michigan football was even ranked #8. You have Michigan's combined record from whenever they are #8 ever in 15 minutes. I can only be impressed
January 20th, 2015 at 7:21 PM ^
don't forget... 5 minutes to Wapner.
Scary ccool nevertheless... WD should be the AD's stats guy!
January 20th, 2015 at 10:11 PM ^
Oh, I already had that doc made up for my Softball SuperGuide. All I had to do was pull it up.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:30 PM ^
How is the pitching going to be? I watch a couple of games a year, but don't follow the team closely.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:40 PM ^
Very good but not quite elite would be my guess at this point. Wagner is a senior and two time second team all-American, Driesenga was hurt for a lot of last year but is also a two time first team all-Big Ten pitcher and senior, and then Betsa is a sophomore who finished in the top ten for national freshman of the year and was second team all-Big Ten last season. Tera Blanco is a very highly touted freshman, but I doubt she plays very much this year.
I don't think the pitching will lose Michigan games, but there most likely won't be a Jackie Traina or Keilani Ricketts type that's going to single-handedly dominate everyone.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^
Thank you for the update.
Those lady Wolverine softball players play a lot of games.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:55 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the year Blanco has replaced one of the seniors.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
It definitely seems like she has the pedigree, I just see an awful lot of innings already accounted for if all three returning pitchers are healthy.
Then again you could be right sooner rather than later, I doubt even Hutch has a clear cut picture at this point. The good news is that Blanco and Driesenga can both hit, so even if Driesenga gets pushed out of a starting spot or Blanco can't break into one yet they should be able to contribute on a (most likely) truly elite offense.
January 20th, 2015 at 7:16 PM ^
Benny Blanco from the Bronx? The seniors might have something to say about that...
January 20th, 2015 at 7:36 PM ^
That sounds about right to me - an elite team, hovering on the border of WCWS territory. If everything goes well, pitching stays healthy, and we are on our game, we can be a super-regional host & WCWS contender. If we slip up a bit like last year, we might drop below that line. I'll be starting work on my season preview soon; hope to have it posted by Feb. 1, but I can't promise it.
January 20th, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^
top team.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:20 PM ^
10th anniversary of the national championship. Look Maize & Blue hosting it again in OKC.