Tweet
The new regime of Coach B opens its season this weekend in Waco at the Getterman Classic.
But first, this from Suellentrop's Sunday column.
Shape up for softball — New WSU coach Kristi Bredbenner isn’t sure how her team will handle a challenging schedule that starts on Friday against Iowa and Baylor in Waco, Texas. She isn’t sure how the Missouri Valley Conference stacks up because she spent the past six seasons at Emporia State.
She is confident the Shockers are stronger and more physically fit than last season. Starting in the fall, she put a heavy emphasis on weights and conditioning.
“Everything is being more explosive and working on softball-related things,” infielder Hayley Temple said. “Last year, it was more long distance (running) and you don’t really need that in softball. You needs sprints.”
Bredbenner saw a big improvement as the team worked in the fall and winter. She hopes more speed and strength will be an important part of her building project. WSU went 20-37 last season and is picked eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
“If you can get girls to believe that that’s going to be a payoff and that’s going to make them better at sports, they’re going to continue to work hard,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to believe that we can be better.”
Bredbenner seized on the preseason vote by coaches and will try to use it to her advantage. She printed No. 8 on pieces of paper and taped them all over the softball offices and locker room.
“As soon as the girls walked in, they knew exactly what it meant because it’s a big deal to them,” she said. “Our girls thought we should have been five. They have high expectations. At the end of the day, they’ve got to prove it.”
The Shocks open the tournament Friday against Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished 9-11 in the Big 10 last year in a three-way tie for sixth among the eleven teams. The Big 10 does not offer a pre-season poll.
Their other Friday game is against Baylor, a WCWS participant last year. Baylor is picked fourth among the nine teams in the Big 12 and is seventh in both pre-season national polls (NFCA and USA Softball).
On Saturday, the Shocks face UT-Arlington who is picked third of eleven teams in the Southland Conference and Belmont, a pick for ninth in the ten-team Atlantic Sun Conference. Belmont is coached by Chris Kuhlmeyer who was an assistant coach for Pooch during his first three years here.
The Shocks wrap up the tournament on Sunday against Arkansas, picked fifth among the six teams in the SEC-West.
It would appear that we would be favored only against Belmont, so this should be a good weekend to see if progress is being made. However, it is also awfully early to try to evaluate any progress. But I am definitely excited for the start of the season and for its prospects. Now to see if I can juggle a softball and a basketball for a few weeks. :)
But first, this from Suellentrop's Sunday column.
Shape up for softball — New WSU coach Kristi Bredbenner isn’t sure how her team will handle a challenging schedule that starts on Friday against Iowa and Baylor in Waco, Texas. She isn’t sure how the Missouri Valley Conference stacks up because she spent the past six seasons at Emporia State.
She is confident the Shockers are stronger and more physically fit than last season. Starting in the fall, she put a heavy emphasis on weights and conditioning.
“Everything is being more explosive and working on softball-related things,” infielder Hayley Temple said. “Last year, it was more long distance (running) and you don’t really need that in softball. You needs sprints.”
Bredbenner saw a big improvement as the team worked in the fall and winter. She hopes more speed and strength will be an important part of her building project. WSU went 20-37 last season and is picked eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
“If you can get girls to believe that that’s going to be a payoff and that’s going to make them better at sports, they’re going to continue to work hard,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to believe that we can be better.”
Bredbenner seized on the preseason vote by coaches and will try to use it to her advantage. She printed No. 8 on pieces of paper and taped them all over the softball offices and locker room.
“As soon as the girls walked in, they knew exactly what it meant because it’s a big deal to them,” she said. “Our girls thought we should have been five. They have high expectations. At the end of the day, they’ve got to prove it.”
The Shocks open the tournament Friday against Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished 9-11 in the Big 10 last year in a three-way tie for sixth among the eleven teams. The Big 10 does not offer a pre-season poll.
Their other Friday game is against Baylor, a WCWS participant last year. Baylor is picked fourth among the nine teams in the Big 12 and is seventh in both pre-season national polls (NFCA and USA Softball).
On Saturday, the Shocks face UT-Arlington who is picked third of eleven teams in the Southland Conference and Belmont, a pick for ninth in the ten-team Atlantic Sun Conference. Belmont is coached by Chris Kuhlmeyer who was an assistant coach for Pooch during his first three years here.
The Shocks wrap up the tournament on Sunday against Arkansas, picked fifth among the six teams in the SEC-West.
It would appear that we would be favored only against Belmont, so this should be a good weekend to see if progress is being made. However, it is also awfully early to try to evaluate any progress. But I am definitely excited for the start of the season and for its prospects. Now to see if I can juggle a softball and a basketball for a few weeks. :)
Comment