Softball recruiting

[Quick Pitch]

It stinks that we are missing out on these in state players, but that might mean that we have better players already coming in. I think that Butler still has a couple players left that could help us though (Malone & James).
With the lack of local HS talent, we might have to go the juco route for instate kids and get our big studs from the sun belt states. That is until we start out recruiting the bigger schools for the few big time Kansas HS players.

[cttknj]

Lack of HS talent?? Dont follow you - problem is lack of WSU signing HS talent for years... Just got started. If it signs more - then more will stay. Frankly - if they wait until 2 yrs of JUCO and the girls get bigger vis, they sign at Creighton, OU, or Arkansas.

HS talent is all over - 2014 and following classes are full of talent and will present 10+ girls per class for D1 just from Wichita area. Including pithcers and catchers. 2013 is passed - and was probably not as strong as 12 or 14 and later.

WSU needs to win so that more of the top of the top want to stay. WSU plays in a league and plays a schedule that can get them into the tourny - which is what the girls want to do.

[1972Shocker]

WSU needs to win so that more of the top of the top want to stay. WSU plays in a league and plays a schedule that can get them into the tourny - which is what the girls want to do.

And what WSU needs to win is too upgrade their pitching.

[cttknj]

agreed - pitching is key. There are some Ks pitchers in D1 today that were not recruited at all by WSU in the past.

There are some opportunities to change that - but they better hurry...good pitching goes fast...

That being said - I have not exactly seen stellar defensive play either. Even good pitchers need good d. I know from watching several years of travel ball that the defense needs to steal some outs here and there. Not sure WSU has had the kind of talent to steal outs and help the pitching look better.

Lets just hope it gets better fast - my impression is that the coaches at WSU are better than they had recently. Not winning will not end well and unfortunately there is not much patience.

[Quick Pitch]

Lack of HS talent?? Dont follow you - problem is lack of WSU signing HS talent for years... Just got started. If it signs more - then more will stay. Frankly - if they wait until 2 yrs of JUCO and the girls get bigger vis, they sign at Creighton, OU, or Arkansas.

HS talent is all over - 2014 and following classes are full of talent and will present 10+ girls per class for D1 just from Wichita area. Including pithcers and catchers. 2013 is passed - and was probably not as strong as 12 or 14 and later.

WSU needs to win so that more of the top of the top want to stay. WSU plays in a league and plays a schedule that can get them into the tourny - which is what the girls want to do.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was making reference to the class of 2013. With the few big time local players signed early with other schools, there was a lack of local talent left. That is why I thought we should go after some of the local juco talent.
As for 2014, we got Bohanan and Holt. Who are the other local D1 level players in that class? Maybe Haffner? I know there are a few more I am just drawing a blank right now.

[cttknj]

Griggs, Sterneker, Haffner, Hogan, Mobo, Holt, Mannis, Chanel, Balderas, are 2014s that will or could play D1 IMO. Some will end up in Juco or D2 I suspect - and there are legit reasons why a local school does not just want local girls - so not suggesting they should all go to WSU. Mobo and Holt are good gets for 2014 locals - would not be surprised to see them add one or two more from Ks (keep in mind - these above are only Wichita girls - lots of talent in northeast Ks).

2015 has some (Finney, Buchanan) - although I think 2016 is better. Not sure who the pitchers are in the 2015 and later group.

Ks will produce 20ish per year and only KU and WSU are in-state D1s - no reason why both rosters should'nt be stocked with Ks kids. Pitchers and perhaps Catchers are typical gets from other areas as needs demand - but position players can certainly be had right here.

And I will add this - with the caveat that the current staff not necessarily to blame. Emp St, Ft Hays St and Pitt St have pitchers from Ks that would be at least servicable at WSU. Not to mention BCCC...

[Hovpen]

Softball this weekend in Wichita with some good young teams there. Laura Vickers younger sister will be playing with the Peppers 16's and the Mac en Seitz team will be there out of the KC area.