Shocker SB at North Texas Tournament

[flyingMoose]

This weekend the Shocks play in Denton at the North Texas Tournament. In addition to the teams listed below, Creighton and Missouri State are also at the tournament. However, none of the Valley teams play each other in Denton.

On Friday, we play Sam Houston State and South Dakota State. These two games are at the off-campus site, so no live stats will be available. The Shocks' remaining games in the tournament, however, are on-campus.

Sam Houston State is a member of the Southland Conference (as is UT-Arlington) where they were a preseason pick for seventh among the eleven teams. The Bearkats opened the season at the Houston Tournament where they went 0-4 including losses to Oklahoma State and North Texas.

South Dakota State is a pick for tied-sixth in the nine-team Summit League. This weekend will open the season for the Jackrabbits who have a new head coach, a former assistant at the University of San Diego. I can only assume the job app said SD State, and she thought she would just be moving up the road. UMKC, a future Shocker opponent, is picked to win the Summit.

At 10am on Saturday, we play Northern Illinois to be immediately followed by our game with North Texas. The Huskies of Northern Illinois are picked for third among six teams in the MAC-West. Last weekend, they were 3-2 at the Southeastern Louisiana Tournament which does not appear to be a particularly strong tournament.

North Texas is a preseason pick for seventh among the nine teams of the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green was also at the Houston Tournament last weekend, finishing 1-3 including a run-rule of Sam Houston State.

On Sunday, we close out the tournament with another game against South Dakota State.

This appears to be a field without especially strong teams, so perhaps a few wins are in the offing.

[1972Shocker]

South Dakota State is a pick for tied-sixth in the nine-team Summit League. This weekend will open the season for the Jackrabbits who have a new head coach, a former assistant at the University of San Diego. I can only assume the job app said SD State, and she thought she would just be moving up the road.

:highly_amused:

[Quick Pitch]

I believe that Jessica Sturm pitches for Northern Illinois. She is a lefty from Goddard. She had originally committed to WSU until the Wichita Mustangs coach convinced her that she could do better.

[flyingMoose]

I believe that Jessica Sturm pitches for Northern Illinois. She is a lefty from Goddard. She had originally committed to WSU until the Wichita Mustangs coach convinced her that she could do better.

Good catch. I had forgotten that story, but I now remember that my crude research indicated that she didn't do better. The Huskies basically used two pitchers this past weekend with a third pitcher facing only two batters. She is on the roster, so is she hurt? Headed for a red-shirt year?

The two pitchers noted are both freshmen. Hmm, possibilities for her future dance through my head.

[TM'11]

Northern Illinois has four solid pitchers so I wouldn't be thinking its going to be an easy game. When it comes to Jessica Sturm, you have to watch out for that lefty! I heard she'll be pitching in this weekends tourny...

[Quick Pitch]

Northern Illinois has four solid pitchers so I wouldn't be thinking its going to be an easy game. When it comes to Jessica Sturm, you have to watch out for that lefty! I heard she'll be pitching in this weekends tourny...

Just curious, why has Sturm not yet played? Is she hurt or just not won a position yet?

[flyingMoose]

Northern Illinois has four solid pitchers so I wouldn't be thinking it's going to be an easy game.

The staff ERA for Northern Illinois last weekend was 4.53 in a tournament that was not particularly strong, so I have reason to doubt four solid pitchers. That said, their staff may well be better than ours. Plus it's a young staff with three freshmen - it has lots of time to grow.

And believe me, I understand that the Shockers' easy games this year will be few and far between if they exist at all.

[Quick Pitch]

Looking at the schedule, I don't think it is unrealistic for the Shocks to win 9 or 10 out of their next 13 games.

[luvthoseshox]

Northern Illinois has four solid pitchers so I wouldn't be thinking its going to be an easy game. When it comes to Jessica Sturm, you have to watch out for that lefty! I heard she'll be pitching in this weekends tourny...

I guess we will see won't we? I would think she should do pretty good if she's too good for WSU.

[flyingMoose]

Looking at the schedule, I don't think it is unrealistic for the Shocks to win 9 or 10 out of their next 13 games.

In a sense, you are talking about 9 or 10 of their next 11, since two of those games are against defending WCWS champion Arizona State who are currently ranked fifth in both polls. But a lot of the rest of them seem winnable.

[HATERSGONEHATE]

Its Unfortunate that yall feel the need to hate on a college student. I feel as if Jessica Sturm is a great play and obviously the Huskies felt like she was also giving her a full ride. So im sorry that she is being successful and doing the dang thing. Also the Mustangs convinced her she could do better because as you seen they already had their butts handed to them so to me good job on her part. Stay classy people!! Props to Jessica Sturm keep it up and dont let any of them effect what you do because as you can see they are all behind you sitting on the computer tlkin bad about you! Much love to her and the Mustangs.

[Quick Pitch]

Its Unfortunate that yall feel the need to hate on a college student. I feel as if Jessica Sturm is a great play and obviously the Huskies felt like she was also giving her a full ride. So im sorry that she is being successful and doing the dang thing. Also the Mustangs convinced her she could do better because as you seen they already had their butts handed to them so to me good job on her part. Stay classy people!! Props to Jessica Sturm keep it up and dont let any of them effect what you do because as you can see they are all behind you sitting on the computer tlkin bad about you! Much love to her and the Mustangs.

Hatersgonehate, I don't know if you noticed but this is a forum for Shocker fans. If a player commits to WSU then says that she thinks she can do better, in other words, she thinks she is too good to play at WSU, then Shocker fans are not going to be hoping for her success. In fact, Shocker fans are going to feel insulted. Also for you to come in here and gloat that the Shockers "had their butts handed to them" is not showing much class either. We are Shocker fans here so get over it. If Northern Ill has a softball forum, you need to go post on that one to show your support for Jessica.

[WuDrWu]

Its Unfortunate that yall feel the need to hate on a college student. I feel as if Jessica Sturm is a great play and obviously the Huskies felt like she was also giving her a full ride. So im sorry that she is being successful and doing the dang thing. Also the Mustangs convinced her she could do better because as you seen they already had their butts handed to them so to me good job on her part. Stay classy people!! Props to Jessica Sturm keep it up and dont let any of them effect what you do because as you can see they are all behind you sitting on the computer tlkin bad about you! Much love to her and the Mustangs.

I think that speaks for itself.

[1972Shocker]

Stay classy people!!

OMG, that is a Pot Calling the Kettle Black chart topper. Congratulations. :applouse:

BTW, you are only making things worse for Jessica. My best wishes for Jessica is that she is not related to you.

[URKidng]

Hatersgonehate

I failed to read anything that implied hate toward Jessica Strum. Just facts about: has she pitched? Why hasn't she? Committed to WSU and backed off when Mark got her another gig, etc. Once again, when anyone posts anything about the Mustangs, the defensiveness begins, and people post quite passionately. Most of the posts I read from informed persons try to analyze the games, players, post musings and so forth. As a person who has been around softball for 50 years, and a follower of WSU, my alma mater, I appreciate the informed opinions from the posts.
Katie also pitched for the Mustangs until her senior year. She has had to make quite a few adjustments at the DI level. It stands to reason that Jessica will too, especially as a freshman. I do not have any knowledge of how often she pitched for Mark, at what level, against what teams, and what her ERA was. High school ball cannot be compared to college. It is how the players perform in the summer, at what level, and against what opponents. Just because a player is on the Mustangs, does not automaticly make her a DI starter. Mark has many players who often times do not play, or only play sparingly. As I said earlier, I do not know how often or at what level or against whom Jessica pitched. Time will tell if she can make the adjustment in college.
GO SHOCKERS! GOOD LUCK!