Softball Sweeps First Weekend of Fall Ball
Michigan softball team 37 saw their first action over the weekend, breezing through an exhibition tournament in Traverse City 5-0, racking up 29 runs while allowing only 4 against CMU, WMU, and Oakland.
It sounds like Hutch was pretty happy with the team overall. I am especially encouraged by her comments regarding the pitching, as she noted that Wagner "looks strong, she looks fitter and better" and that freshman Megan Betsa looked like an immediate contributor. I stand by my view from last year that Wagner's sophmore slump was just a factor of the nagging injury, and that now that she's had time to heal from that, she'll be back to the high level of play she showed as a freshman.
There is a lot for this team to work on of course, and it will be one of the youngest teams we've seen in a while, but I think there's is tremendous potential here. With talented freshmen coming in, two returning pitchers, and a whole pile of offense including the landslide Big Ten Player of the Year award winner, we should have a great season ahead of us.
Hutch's full comments available here: http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/100113aad.html
October 1st, 2013 at 2:12 PM ^
Boom goes the dynamite
October 1st, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
Nice Profile Pic
October 2nd, 2013 at 12:26 AM ^
You too, good sir. Didn't think anyone would have beaten me to it.
October 1st, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
October 1st, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^
Very excited to see this team. If Dresinga can take the next step to be on the truly elite level, there should not be a team in the country with as much pitching depth as Michigan. Will also be interesting to see who steps up to fill Ashley Lane's shoes. Her role in the lineup was critical. It's safe to say Michigan would not have been in the WS without her. The infield D should be improved also which was a bit of an issue especially at the start of the season.
October 1st, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
Seems like a lot of pitching talent graduated in '13 all around the country, as I'm trying to think of other deep bullpens this year.
Emily Lockman and Tatum Edwards will have Nebraska giving Michigan a run for their money as deepest staff in the Big Ten. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Lockman blow up this season, but Driesenga is a year older and I do agree that she has everything needed to be dominant even on a national level.
October 1st, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
Good point bringing up the absence of Ashley Lane. I think replacing her production will have to be done by committee to some extent, but one name I would definitely put in that discusion is one that Hutch brings up as well, namely Kelsey Susalla. On only 54 at-bats last season, she was good for a .315 batting average and 5 home runs. In terms of per-at-bat production, she was one of our best hitters last year (obviously one can't extrapolate precisely, since she often came up in favorable situations, but still). I look for her to step up in a serious way this season & beyond and become a key part of the line-up.
October 1st, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
Susalla is the primary name I think of as well. The key will be finding her a fairly regular position. I know Coach Hutch mentioned versatility and multiple positions, but ideally you would like to have somewhat set positions. The outfield is pretty much set with Sappingfield, Lawrence, and Doyle. First, Short, and Catcher are set with Blanchard, Romero, and Sweet. That leaves Third & Second. Both are positions where you better have good defense. My understanding was Susalla primarily was an outfielder.
October 1st, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^
Susalla is a corner infielder, starting a handful of early games at both first and third last year, so I think it's pretty likely that she ends up starting at third, if she isn't the DH. The other possibility at third is freshman Lindsay Montemarano, from Long Island. I assume it's either Montemarano at third and Susalla at DH, or Susalla at third and Driesenga DHing when she isn't pitching.
From the article, it sounds like Abby Ramirez (a freshman from Chicago) has locked up the starting job at second.
October 1st, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^
October 1st, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^
Romero 4 USA College POY
October 2nd, 2013 at 12:36 AM ^
She's definitely got the potential to get there, if not this year, then in the future. I don't want to put too much pressure on one player early in her career, but there can be no doubt that she is a special talent. Her ability to hit for average & power while (later in the season) showing flashes of crazy athleticism on defense is something you just don't see. Watching her for the next three years is a huge privilege for us as M fans.
October 2nd, 2013 at 11:31 PM ^
I was fortunate enough to watch the games in Traverse City. I have also read Coach Hutch's post-TC comments. My impressions:
(1) Michigan's defense is going to be a lot better than it was last year. We were already pretty solid in the outfield with Silo, Lyndsay, and Nicole returning. Over the last year, Romo has improved tremendously at shortstop. She now makes all the plays with great ease and confidence. I don't believe she made any errors last weekend. She made one especially outstanding play lunging to the right to snag a low line drive. Hutch obviously has decided that Silo will remain in left and that freshman Abby Ramirez will be the second baseman at Michigan for the foreseeable future. Abby played every inning over the weekend at second and made many fine plays. Romo at short and Abby at second for three years will be a significant strength for Michigan. Kelsey and Taylor Hasselbach fielded well at first. Caitlin, who is out with a broken thumb, won the first base job last year when Kelsey and Taylor dropped too many balls at first during the early season last year. Both Kelsey and freshman Lindsay Montemarano were flawless at third. Monte, in particular, showed that she will be a very reliable third baseman. The excellent Lauren Sweet played every inning as catcher. There was a difficult ball that Abby didn't field cleanly but I don't think that was an error. Other than possibly that play, I don't think Michigan made any errors over the 5 games.
(2) In 2012, Michigan depended mostly on Haylie in the circle. Last season, Sara carried the team especially in the pre-Big Ten and post-Big Ten seasons. Next year, barring any injuries, Michigan will have three very strong pitchers. Freshman Megan Betsa pitched 10 scoreless innings in TC. I think she gave up only 2 or 3 hits and only 1 walk. Haylie and Sara were almost as good. Each gave up only one run and very few hits and walks. As Hutch has noted, Haylie looks a lot fitter than she did last year. That was obvious to me. But note that the pitching of most Big Ten teams and not just Nebraska is going to be very good next year.
(3) As Hutch also noted, the hitting could have been better in TC. Romo (2 home runs and several doubles and singles), Kelsey and freshmen Kelly Christner had the best weekends at the plate, in my opinion. In general, they hit the ball hard and on a line. Silo and Monte also had pretty good weekends as batters. Lauren Sweet was disappointing as the clean-up hitter and Abby was disappointing as the #9 hitter. Abby batted almost entirely as a left-handed slapper and had trouble making good contact. I think she hit her home runs in high school as a right-handed hitter. I expect Abby to improve her hitting considerably as the season progresses. With the possible exception of Megan, the pitchers did not hit well. I am not sure how long Hutch will be able to let the pitchers hit for themselves.
(4) My big takaways from the weekend in TC. (a) Kelsey will be playing as a regular at third, at first (if Caitlin is not available) or as DP, probably as the #5 hitter as has been suggested. (b) The four freshman all showed they are ready to make significant contributions to Team 37. It is obvious that Hutch feels that way. Abby is going to be a great up the middle partner with Romo. Monte will be a very good backup or starter at third. Hutch indicated that she will have to find a spot for Kelly. At TC, Kelly played left, center and first. She looked very good at each position. She was especially impressive as a hitter. Over the weekend, she batted 8th and 2nd. This coming season, she will be playing in the field or as DP. She is too good not to have her bat in the lineup. Finally, Megan was outstanding as pitcher. As Hutch's comments indicate, I think she will be treated as co-equal with Haylie and Sara. . .