Tweet
The Shockers continue their season with a trip south of the border to play in the Puerto Vallarta Collegiate Challenge. They play four games, one each day, beginning Wednesday. Their opponents are #8/7 Clemson on Wednesday at noon CT, #20/21 South Carolina at 6 pm on Thursday, #25/24 Auburn on Friday at 830 pm, and UC Davis at 1230 pm on Saturday. This is Session Two of the PV Challenge (Oklahoma was undefeated in Session One) and also includes #13/16 Utah, Mississippi State, and UC San Diego.
#8/7 Clemson is picked for second place (along with Duke) in the ACC behind perennial power Florida State. [Note: Charlotte, the #2 pick in the AAC, defeated FSU in their season opener.] P/DP Valerie Cagle is on the Preseason All-ACC team. Last year, Cagle had an OPS of 1.452 and 19 homers, leading the Tigers in both stats. She had almost half of the innings in the circle with an ERA of 1.56 and a WHIP of 0.88. McKenzie Clark (1.069 and 13 homers) is another returning stick. Millie Thompson and Brooke McCubbin were a strong #2 and #3 on the staff and both return this year. The Tigers were 4-1 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic last weekend.
#20/21 South Carolina is picked ninth of the thirteen teams in the SEC Preseason Poll. Their position in the SEC poll and their position in the national poll demonstrates the overall strength of the SEC. On the offensive side for the Gamecocks, the highest returning OPS is in the low .800s. The pitching staff will rely on newcomers Alana Vawter, a transfer from Stanford, and freshman Sage Mardgetko. Vawter pitched a shutout against the Shockers last year in Wichita while playing for the Cardinal. South Carolina was 4-0 in their Carolina Classic last weekend.
#25/24 Auburn is a pick for fifth in the SEC Preseason Poll. Pitcher Maddie Penta and shortstop Nelia Peralta are members of the Preseason All-SEC team. Penta was the SEC Pitcher of the Year last season. Peralta had an OPS of 1.040 with nine homers. Auburn was 1-1-1 in their rain-shortened Tiger Invitational last weekend.
UC Davis are members of the Big West where they are a preseason pick for fifth of ten teams. Anna Dethlefson, the reigning Big West Player of the Year, and pitcher Kenedi Brown are on the Preseason Coaches' team. Dethlefson had an OPS of 1.096. Brown has an ERA of 1.96 and a WHIP of 1.14. The Aggies were 2-2 last weekend at the NorCal Kickoff they hosted. Oh, Davis is very near Sacramento.
The Shockers appear to have four dependable hitters at the top of the lineup including CC to protect Addison. The rest of the lineup is uncertain. Chloe was impressive in her very short outing. The other three pitchers we saw appear to be more or less where they were last year. All of this is based on "not much." PV will be a significant upgrade in the competition, and the Shockers will have a better idea of where they are this time next week.
Rain may be an issue in this tournament. Of course, it is.
#8/7 Clemson is picked for second place (along with Duke) in the ACC behind perennial power Florida State. [Note: Charlotte, the #2 pick in the AAC, defeated FSU in their season opener.] P/DP Valerie Cagle is on the Preseason All-ACC team. Last year, Cagle had an OPS of 1.452 and 19 homers, leading the Tigers in both stats. She had almost half of the innings in the circle with an ERA of 1.56 and a WHIP of 0.88. McKenzie Clark (1.069 and 13 homers) is another returning stick. Millie Thompson and Brooke McCubbin were a strong #2 and #3 on the staff and both return this year. The Tigers were 4-1 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic last weekend.
#20/21 South Carolina is picked ninth of the thirteen teams in the SEC Preseason Poll. Their position in the SEC poll and their position in the national poll demonstrates the overall strength of the SEC. On the offensive side for the Gamecocks, the highest returning OPS is in the low .800s. The pitching staff will rely on newcomers Alana Vawter, a transfer from Stanford, and freshman Sage Mardgetko. Vawter pitched a shutout against the Shockers last year in Wichita while playing for the Cardinal. South Carolina was 4-0 in their Carolina Classic last weekend.
#25/24 Auburn is a pick for fifth in the SEC Preseason Poll. Pitcher Maddie Penta and shortstop Nelia Peralta are members of the Preseason All-SEC team. Penta was the SEC Pitcher of the Year last season. Peralta had an OPS of 1.040 with nine homers. Auburn was 1-1-1 in their rain-shortened Tiger Invitational last weekend.
UC Davis are members of the Big West where they are a preseason pick for fifth of ten teams. Anna Dethlefson, the reigning Big West Player of the Year, and pitcher Kenedi Brown are on the Preseason Coaches' team. Dethlefson had an OPS of 1.096. Brown has an ERA of 1.96 and a WHIP of 1.14. The Aggies were 2-2 last weekend at the NorCal Kickoff they hosted. Oh, Davis is very near Sacramento.
The Shockers appear to have four dependable hitters at the top of the lineup including CC to protect Addison. The rest of the lineup is uncertain. Chloe was impressive in her very short outing. The other three pitchers we saw appear to be more or less where they were last year. All of this is based on "not much." PV will be a significant upgrade in the competition, and the Shockers will have a better idea of where they are this time next week.
Rain may be an issue in this tournament. Of course, it is.
Comment