2015 MVC Softball Tournament

[WuDrWu]

I hope we're paying attention and are doing whatever we can to lift the ball to left on a consistent basis.

I doubt there will be any 1-0 games today.

[WuDrWu]

Tied at 2 after 1 inning are Bradley and Illinois State.

[flyingMoose]

Tied at 2 after 1 inning are Bradley and Illinois State.

The Bradley pitcher was just called for her third illegal pitch. The announcers claimed ignorance, but the slo-mo on this last one shows she is not dragging her foot away from the pitcher's plate. By definition, that is a leap and an illegal pitch.

[flyingMoose]

The Bradley pitcher was just called for her third illegal pitch. The announcers claimed ignorance, but the slo-mo on this last one shows she is not dragging her foot away from the pitcher's plate. By definition, that is a leap and an illegal pitch.

In the top of the third, the announcers give us the explanation as provided by the umpire(s). Sometimes you don't want to trust the talking heads, but they should have known this one.

[1972Shocker]

Game 2 Final: Illinois State 11 - Bradley 7

[Shocker-maniac]

nm

[WuDrWu]

Well this sucks......

[1972Shocker]

Well this sucks......

Yep. Shocks down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the 4th. The final out in the top of the 4th was on a play at the plate so it could be worse. That is a deep hole but one this Shocker team is capable of climbing out of all the odds are not in their favor.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocks end there season at 34-23 after losing to Indiana State 5-1. Yvette Alvarez and Taylor Lockwood shut down the Shocks offense on 4 hits while Katie Malone wasn't her sharpest. Jenni Brooks was pretty solid in her 3.1 innings of relief work but the Shocks must of forgot their hitting shoes today.

This Shocker team will simply not win may games when their offense isn't producing.

[flyingMoose]

I watched this one in person. I am not sure if there is much to add if you watched on ESPN3. Alvarez, the Sycamore starter, rarely left anything on the plate. When she missed, it was off the plate. Even Brittany's double was not very hard, just a long, looping fly ball that the left fielder could not quite catch up to. Nearly everything we put in play was weakly hit. Credit to the Indiana State pitching.

Cacy hit a home run in the sixth that might have given the Shockers life, but she passed McKenzie when she rounded first base and was only credited with a single. Truly awful base running on everyone's part, but mostly McKenzie who was pinch running. There is never any reason to be only twelve or fifteen feet from first base on a ball hit to the warning track and beyond in left field - just never.

Katie deserved a better fate. The home run was wind-aided (as was Cacy's over-the-fence single) and a number of the Sycamore hits were bloopers and choppers.

[flyingMoose]

Game Four

Illinois State 8-2 Northern Iowa

A couple of home runs produced three runs for the Redbirds in the third and they were on their way to the victory. This was the 1000th win for Coach Melinda Fisher.

Indiana State, the #8 seed, and Illinois State, the #7 seed, advance to play Drake, the #1, and Missouri State, the #2, today.

[shockswsu]

Awards

Most Valuable Player - Megan Stone, Indiana State

Most Valuable Pitcher - Rebekah Schmidt, Drake

Defensive Player of the Year - Melanie Jaegers, Wichita State. This is a new award this year.

Newcomer of the Year - Erika Zimmer, Missouri State

Freshman of the Year - Nicole Newman, Drake

Coaching Staff of the Year - Drake, Rich Calvert, Head Coach

I think that it's great that the coaching award gives a nod to the entire staff instead of just the head coach. That's the first time I've heard that done.

[1972Shocker]

I think that it's great that the coaching award gives a nod to the entire staff instead of just the head coach. That's the first time I've heard that done.

I like it too. Especially in softball and baseball where roles of assistants are pretty specialized. A good pitching coach and recruiter in particular are worth their weight in gold.

I have always looked at the Coach of the Year award as really a team award that involves everyone including head coaches, assistant coaches, dobos, players and managers and I think most coaches recognize that as well.

[flyingMoose]

I think that it's great that the coaching award gives a nod to the entire staff instead of just the head coach. That's the first time I've heard that done.

The Coaching Staff award has been done for a number of years now (I may research it later to find out how long), and I agree that it is entirely appropriate.

[flyingMoose]

Game Five

Indiana State 2-1 Drake

Taylor Lockwood threw a three-hitter, two of those coming in the seventh when the Bulldogs scored their only run, to lead the Sycamores to the Championship game tomorrow. Indiana State scored their two runs on a slap single, two-base throwing error and another single by Reifschneider who hit the home run yesterday against the Shockers. The lower seeds have won all five games to this point in the tournament.