softball schedule

[JayShocks]

Does anyone know when the spring schedule comes out? I was curious if we will be playing KU this spring.

[flyingMoose]

Does anyone know when the spring schedule comes out? I was curious if we will be playing KU this spring.

Last year, the 2013 schedule was announced 21 October. So look for the 2014 schedule about the same time this year.

[JayShocks]

Is there a rule against playing other D1 schools in the fall?

[flyingMoose]

Is there a rule against playing other D1 schools in the fall?

No. In the past, we have gone to Stillwater to play the Cowgirls and Tulsa(?). In Googling for NCAA rules, I found that Eastern Kentucky and Kentucky played last weekend.

[JayShocks]

I am sure coach B has her reasons but I would like to have seen us play a couple D1 schools this fall to see how our girls stack up. Then again playing all junior colleges does give us a recruiting opportunity and our players can build some confidence.

[Quick Pitch]

I am sure coach B has her reasons but I would like to have seen us play a couple D1 schools this fall to see how our girls stack up. Then again playing all junior colleges does give us a recruiting opportunity and our players can build some confidence.

Not sure about the confidence building. If memory serves me correctly we lost to Seminole CC and Butler CC last year. Maybe that is why we don't have Butler on the schedule this fall.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks play Pratt and Seminole State on Saturday.

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=209263763

[1972Shocker]

On Saturday (Sept 28th), WSU scrimmages Crowder (Mo.) College at 11 a.m. and Pittsburg State at 1 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/09/25/302...#storylink=cpy

[flyingMoose]

I spoke with Coach B at the WBB game today. The schedule for the spring is not out because some schools have not returned contracts. I assume that means for WSU home games as well as tournaments they plan to go to.

She likes the depth she has with this team, more quality depth. She spoke of having five pitchers, although I only got to see three of them this fall. I mentioned in another post that Kaitlyn Malone, the freshman pitcher from Crete, NE, was illegal about one-third of the time. Coach B said that she was illegal *all* of the time until they started working with her. The umpires were instructed not to call the illegal pitches. Instead, they told Kaitlyn after each inning how many times she was illegal. A bit strange, but best thing to do for fall ball since the coaches were aware of the issue and were working on it.

[Quick Pitch]

Did she elaborate on how she was illegal? If she was leaping it wasn't by much.

[flyingMoose]

Did she elaborate on how she was illegal? If she was leaping it wasn't by much.

What I saw was leaping - and I was just counting the obvious ones, not the border-line ones. And even if it was only a fifth of her pitches, not a third, it was still a significant number each half-inning. But then maybe I saw her on her worst day of the fall, too.

[Hovpen]

Sounds like pitching coach SS has her work cut out for her.....again

[JayShocks]

That is interesting that coach B commented on having 5 pitchers. That would lead me to believe that she doesn't have much confidence in the ones she originally recruited if she felt the need to go get another one at the last minute, not to mention that the one she picked up was signed to play at Butler CC.
If that is the case, why did we sign those other pitchers in the first place?

[flyingMoose]

That is interesting that coach B commented on having 5 pitchers. That would lead me to believe that she doesn't have much confidence in the ones she originally recruited if she felt the need to go get another one at the last minute, not to mention that the one she picked up was signed to play at Butler CC.
If that is the case, why did we sign those other pitchers in the first place?

There were two pitchers returning from last year: Sloan, a senior and a Perniciaro recruit, and Hunter, a sophomore and CB recruit, who was often ineffective most of last year, but who also was pitching hurt, on a day-to-day basis almost. So Hunter has to be considered an unknown, but she is clearly a "hit her spots" pitcher.

With Sloan having only one more year, it makes sense to me to find as many pitchers as you can, especially if you don't think you have found that "special one" who is going to be the mainstay of your staff. Jenni does not throw that hard (although she is not a junker like Sloan), but she rarely missed her spots the one time I saw her. She is also listed as a utility player, so I assume she has potential in the field and as a hitter. Kayla is also listed as pitcher (only), but I did not see her in the games I saw (and she may not have pitched at all - an injury issue?), but the recruiting-release information suggests she is also a spots pitcher. Kaitlyn pitched a number of innings and throws hard, but has mechanical issues (leaping) and needs to have better location. I suspect the chance to get a hard thrower like Kaitlyn just could not be passed up.

With no clear stopper on the staff, it may be a pitch-by-committee year.

[JayShocks]

Picking up Kaitlyn Malone was huge for us. My only hesitation was that it seems to be a trade off. By that I mean that by taking Malone, coach B has probably guaranteed that we will have a very hard time ever getting another player from Butler.
If we are going to burn bridges with any recruiting source, it better be worth it. With that said, from what I saw this fall, we would be toast without Malone this spring. I am sure coach B was willing to burn that bridge in order to avoid a 3rd straight losing season.