Shocker SB at Illinois State

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers take on the Redbirds this weekend though they may have to dodge some raindrops.

Illinois State (15-13, 2-1) are the preseason pick for first place in the Valley. They played in five tournaments, each of them having at least one major softball power. Among common opponents, the Redbirds have beaten Iowa, Baylor and Saint Louis while losing to Arizona State. They spent their first conference weekend in Springfield, losing the Sunday game to the Bears. One of their wins was a runs-ahead victory.

The Redbirds have three returning players who were on the All-Mideast Regional first- or second-team, and all three are part of the all-MVC preseason team. Their team SLOB is .713 with opponents at .755, but for a Valley team, they have played a very strong schedule. (The Shocker numbers are .637 and 1.002.) They have three hitters above .300 with Laura Canopy being the Valley Player-of-the-Week last week, the second Redbird to do so. The team ERA is 3.74 with Jordan Birch being Valley Pitcher-of-the-Week once.

[luvsb83]

New to posting, but not new to softball. Have had several discussions with former players/coaches and fans like me. Although I have not been to all the games this year, I have friends who have attended. It seems as though, when looking at the box scores (I haven't looked at all of them) and watching some games, as well as speaking with those who attended, the team has only a handful of players who can hit consistantly. Many players are up to bat in a 2-3 game series (6-9 times at bat) with only one hit, if any. If one considers that many of them have had 60-70 at bats so far this season, and only hit one out of about every 5 at bats, there is a problem. The box score for SLU, if I remember correctly, showed only three girls who got hits? I know that the Shocks won the second game, but there were several walks, wild pitches, errors by SLU. A win is a win! As posted, a grounder up first base line in the first game resulted in a triple? Hummm Must have been a heck of a hit. And only two players had hits in the first game.

The opening MV weekend was frustrating for the Shockers. Left fielder was scored on twice by SIU with a tag at third, she had to throw to a cut-off instead of firing the ball home (she caught the easy fly). I noticed an ace bandage on her throwing arm? Most fielders fire that ball home, hoping for a tag, or forcing the player to stay at third. On Sunday, left took a one-hopper in front of her, and a player scored from SECOND. I know she is one of the best hitters, and I noticed she DH at SLU. I also know she is a home town favorite. No doubt she can really hit the ball! Center catches those hit to her right or left, or behind, but not in front of her; resulting in loss of an out and a runner on. She is a good hitter, also. The right fielder had a good series. Although the line-up remained the same all three games, there was not much success. There were several bloopers by both third and second. First missed some pop ups, wind?

Going back to the week previous to the MV opening weekend, the team had a rough Friday against Indiana and OU. Run ruled in 5. However, on Saturday, with a different line-up, they were more successful. They lost in 7, but were more competitive, especially against Indiana who they scored against. New blood on the field, and new hitter. Center was back at her old position, second, and did well. Why bring this up? Because when comparing two different teams, it is like comparing apples to oranges. But, when looking at the same teams played from Friday to Saturday and improvement against the same teams with a different line-up, the comparison is more like apples to apples. I realize the pitchers for the opposing teams changed, but is the best comparision, in my humble opinion, that can be made when a line up change was made.

Not any of what was written here was meant to be critical, if taken that way, I apologize. It could be my old coaching days coming out in a blog! We tend to evaluate, and evaluate and evaluate! I hope the Shockers do well this weekend. Best of luck to them.

[flyingMoose]

GT and play-by-play links and game notes from the Redbird site. Katie is in the circle for this one.

[1972Shocker]

Welcome to Shockernet @lubsb83. Always good to have more input and opinion especially from knowledgable fans.

We all new coming in that this year would be a major challenge. The thing I am looking for is not so much wins and losses but gradual improvement during the year.

On a positive note, among the better hitters we do have are our younger players. This bodes well for the future if Coach B can supplement that over the next couple of years with good recruiting classes. Of course, IMHO we need to upgrade our pitching just as much, or perhaps even more importantly, as our hitting. I think most people agree that in fastpitch softball who is in the circle in the middle of the infield is a huge key to winning.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks drop game 1 to Illinois State 3-0.

Katie actually did a decent job in the circle as it was a 1-0 game into the 6th when she gave up a 2-run homer.

The bottom line though is that Redbird pitcher Jordan Birch dominated the Shockers with a 1 hitter as she faced only 2 batters over the minimum hitting Erin Carney with pitch to lead off the 5th followed by a 1-out single by Melanie Jaegers after Sammie Shook struck out. Unfortunately, the Shocks could not move Carney past 2nd base. Not sure if Sammie tried to bunt in that situation and could not get it down or not.

In any case, Illinois State is picked to win the Valley for the reason and Jordan Brich is no doubt a big reason for that.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-3 Illinois State

Jordan Birch one-hits the Shockers and one of Katie's better outings goes for naught. The Shocks had their only base runners of the game in the fifth with a HBP by Erin (her tenth of the season) and single by Melanie. Birch fanned eleven.

The Redbirds scored in the third on a lead-off single, a sac bunt that sent the runner all the way to third (ugh!! hopefully, a run and bunt) and a sac fly. Their final two runs came in the sixth on a double and homer. Katie allowed seven hits and only two walks, striking out three.

EDIT: Oops, trailed '72 a bit. Oh, well.

GT for Game Two.

[flyingMoose]

GT appears to be on a five-minute update cycle in Game Two. *Sigh*

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 3-5 Illinois State

The Shockers led early, "often," but not late.

In the first, Erin drove in Sydney, who had reached on an error, with a double. Sydney returned the favor in the second, driving in Brianne who had walked, with her own double. The Redbirds also scored in the second on a triple and sac fly and then tied the game in the third with three two-out singles.

Erin gave the Shocks the lead with her homer in the sixth, bringing on Jordan Birch, the third Redbird pitcher of the game. Brianne also had a double, but we could not move her. The Redbirds led off their bottom half with a homer to tie and then had a two-out homer to give them the lead, 5-3.

Hilary led off the Shocker seventh with a pinch-hit walk and we moved Danika, her reentry, to third but no further.

The Shockers had six hits on the day, all multiple-hits and extra-base hits already mentioned. Sloan gave up twelve hits and one walk, but the long ball was a problem again today.

The Shocks close the series with a game tomorrow at noon.

[SBFan]

I found the radio feed (listen button) and heard the game from their website. Radio announcer does a pretty good job with play by play and adding color.
Some might consider this option instead of GT.

[flyingMoose]

Katie in the circle for Game Three. The GT link and the play-by-play link.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 0-0 Illinois State, after three.

No one has reached for the Shocks, and Katie pitched out of a runners-at-third-and-second, one-out jam in the second.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 1-4 Illinois State, after four.

Rachel's double followed by Melanie's two-out single scores a run for the Shocks in the fourth, but Katie's nemesis returns in the bottom half. A HBP and two walks loads the bases and a (0-2 count) double unloads them. Another double scores the fourth run of the inning for the Redbirds, and brings on Katherine who induces two fly balls to end the inning.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 1-4 Illinois State

The Shockers get a baserunner in the fifth and sixth (one of those, the eleventh HBP for Erin) but cannot score again. Katherine gives up a single in the sixth, but with the help of DP, faces the minimum eight batters. This has to be encouraging, but can she repeat it?

The Shockers' only two hits came in their run-scoring fourth inning. Jordan Birch struck out seven. Katie had a nice outing going until the fourth, but could not get out of the inning after the freebies and doubles.

The postgame radio show for the Redbirds spoke of a player we lost to a concussion yesterday. Anyone have details?

The Shockers host UNI next weekend.

[SBFan]

Layne is the one with the concussion, Ozzie with the broken foot and Sydney has shoulder issues (moved to right to avoid the long throws).

[1972Shocker]

Layne is the one with the concussion, Ozzie with the broken foot and Sydney has shoulder issues (moved to right to avoid the long throws).

Was Layne hit in the head with a pitch or was she involved in a collision?

Is Ozzie's career over or do they expect her back this year?

Hopefully, nothing too serious for Sydney. She has been a bright spot this year.