Due to travel later in the week on my part, let's get a too-early start on this.
The Shockers travel to Clearwater this weekend for one of the tournaments hosted by USF, the fourth consecutive weekend they have hosted. Must be something about the weather.
Two back-to-back games on Friday for the Shocks start at 345pm CT. UT-Chattanooga is the first opponent followed by North Dakota State.
The Moccasins have a record of 17-5. Their schedule appears to be pretty soft with no teams played that are even RV in the polls and a couple of teams you have probably never heard of. Chattanooga is picked third among seven teams in the Southern Conference. Aly Walker is the the Preseason Player of the Year for the conference. Emma Sturdivant (OPS of 1.083 and three homers), Amanda Beltran (1.080 and six homers), Hallie Williamson (1.007) and Walker (.994) are the leaders on offense. Over 80% of the innings have been thrown by Mariah Ramirez (ERA of 2.35 and WHIP of 1.25) and Celie Hudson (2.68 and 1.22). There are some nice numbers here, but again, a soft schedule.
Members of the Summit League, the North Dakota State Bisons have a record of 11-11, being 0-5 against ranked teams. Against common opponents, they have a win over Abilene Christian (v 3-0 for the Shocks) and a split with Texas State (v 1-0). They are picked for first in the League by one point and have qualified for the NCAA Tournament the last seven seasons, winning a game in six of those Regionals. Maddie Hansen has an OPS of 1.117 with six homers. Virtually all of the innings have been pitched by KK Leddy (3.40 and 1.42) and Paige Vargas (4.20 and 1.42). Not great numbers, but a more difficult schedule.
On Saturday, the Shockers play back-to-back again, this time with a 1pm CT start.
Towson State is the first opponent of the day. The Tigers are picked in a tie for fourth among eight teams in the Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Poll. College of Charleston, host of the first tournament of the year and a winner over the Shocks, is picked for second in the conference. Towson's record against a bunch of low mid-major teams is 9-7, having lost two tournaments to weather and probably without the budget to go to Florida too often. Julia Smith-Harrington (1.383 and three homers) and Kendall Arcia (1.037 and four homers) lead the offense. Towson has used six pitchers with (an injured, but now recovered?) Smith-Harrington leading the way with an ERA of 0.44 and a WHIP of 0.84. Sara Johnson has the next best numbers of 4.13 and 1.43.
The second game of the pair is against Minnesota. The Gophers began the season ranked #21 and are still there. Their record is 15-7 with all seven losses against ranked and RV teams. They have two wins over Texas and a win against James Madison, both ranked teams, as well as a win over UCF. They are clearly the best team the Shockers will see this weekend. Amber Fiser (1.52 and 0.80) and Sydney Smith (2.29 and 1.13) lead the Gophers in the circle with Fiser having over half of the innings. Natalie DenHartog (1.240 and seven homers), Hope Brandner (1.114 and six homers) and MaKenna Partain (1.069) lead the offense for Minnesota.
The Shockers close out the tournament with a game at 8am CT Sunday against Monmouth. The Hawks, members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, are picked first of its twelve teams. Their record is 8-6, having lost one of the same tournaments as Towson State. This too is a soft schedule full of lower mid-majors. The highest OPS belongs to Kayla Rosado at .871. Alyssa Irons had three-fourths of the innings with an ERA of 1.11 and a WHIP of 0.93. The rest of the staff combined has an ERA of 6.24 and a WHIP of 2.23.
Looking at schedule upon schedule, it appears that there are 23 teams at this site this weekend.
The Shockers travel to Clearwater this weekend for one of the tournaments hosted by USF, the fourth consecutive weekend they have hosted. Must be something about the weather.
Two back-to-back games on Friday for the Shocks start at 345pm CT. UT-Chattanooga is the first opponent followed by North Dakota State.
The Moccasins have a record of 17-5. Their schedule appears to be pretty soft with no teams played that are even RV in the polls and a couple of teams you have probably never heard of. Chattanooga is picked third among seven teams in the Southern Conference. Aly Walker is the the Preseason Player of the Year for the conference. Emma Sturdivant (OPS of 1.083 and three homers), Amanda Beltran (1.080 and six homers), Hallie Williamson (1.007) and Walker (.994) are the leaders on offense. Over 80% of the innings have been thrown by Mariah Ramirez (ERA of 2.35 and WHIP of 1.25) and Celie Hudson (2.68 and 1.22). There are some nice numbers here, but again, a soft schedule.
Members of the Summit League, the North Dakota State Bisons have a record of 11-11, being 0-5 against ranked teams. Against common opponents, they have a win over Abilene Christian (v 3-0 for the Shocks) and a split with Texas State (v 1-0). They are picked for first in the League by one point and have qualified for the NCAA Tournament the last seven seasons, winning a game in six of those Regionals. Maddie Hansen has an OPS of 1.117 with six homers. Virtually all of the innings have been pitched by KK Leddy (3.40 and 1.42) and Paige Vargas (4.20 and 1.42). Not great numbers, but a more difficult schedule.
On Saturday, the Shockers play back-to-back again, this time with a 1pm CT start.
Towson State is the first opponent of the day. The Tigers are picked in a tie for fourth among eight teams in the Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Poll. College of Charleston, host of the first tournament of the year and a winner over the Shocks, is picked for second in the conference. Towson's record against a bunch of low mid-major teams is 9-7, having lost two tournaments to weather and probably without the budget to go to Florida too often. Julia Smith-Harrington (1.383 and three homers) and Kendall Arcia (1.037 and four homers) lead the offense. Towson has used six pitchers with (an injured, but now recovered?) Smith-Harrington leading the way with an ERA of 0.44 and a WHIP of 0.84. Sara Johnson has the next best numbers of 4.13 and 1.43.
The second game of the pair is against Minnesota. The Gophers began the season ranked #21 and are still there. Their record is 15-7 with all seven losses against ranked and RV teams. They have two wins over Texas and a win against James Madison, both ranked teams, as well as a win over UCF. They are clearly the best team the Shockers will see this weekend. Amber Fiser (1.52 and 0.80) and Sydney Smith (2.29 and 1.13) lead the Gophers in the circle with Fiser having over half of the innings. Natalie DenHartog (1.240 and seven homers), Hope Brandner (1.114 and six homers) and MaKenna Partain (1.069) lead the offense for Minnesota.
The Shockers close out the tournament with a game at 8am CT Sunday against Monmouth. The Hawks, members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, are picked first of its twelve teams. Their record is 8-6, having lost one of the same tournaments as Towson State. This too is a soft schedule full of lower mid-majors. The highest OPS belongs to Kayla Rosado at .871. Alyssa Irons had three-fourths of the innings with an ERA of 1.11 and a WHIP of 0.93. The rest of the staff combined has an ERA of 6.24 and a WHIP of 2.23.
Looking at schedule upon schedule, it appears that there are 23 teams at this site this weekend.
Comment