Shocker Softball at Kajikawa Classic (Tempe, AZ)

[1972Shocker]

Grand Slam by Kara L'Huillier gets Oregon out of a jam.

Shocks up 12-0. Still no outs in the Top of the 3rd.

May be looking at a run rule game here.

Coach Pooch has to be please with the offensive production today.

:clap: :goshocks:

[flyingMoose]

Grand Slam by Kara L'Huillier gets Oregon out of a jam.

[flyingMoose]

FM, another thing I had read about Kasha was that, unlike many pitchers, her rise ball will start at the knees and finish in the upper part of the strike zone. A lot of pitchers start it waist high and it ends up out of the strike zone.

I have seen her pitch several times at WSU, and her rise ball does not start at the knees - just no way. The ones I have seen with good movement start above the waist and move toward the shoulders. Michelle Smith (I believe it is), OSU alum, Olympian, pro in Japan, WCWS commentator, suggests that rises should never be in the strike zone - use it to change the eye plane or to get someone to chase. But Michelle's frame of reference for hitters may be different than what WSU will typically see.

I think it also takes awhile to adjust to pitching from a couple of feet further out.

Allow me to clarify. In her summer ball, ASA 18U Gold, she pitched from 43'. So at least the past two summers, she has pitched at the college distance. Further, Oklahoma plays high school softball (40' pitching distance) in the fall. So the last time she pitched from 40' was the fall of 2007, sixteen months ago.

... I suspect KK will make the necessary adjustments to be effective.

This is the key point. Pitches that were not mistakes at the 18U Gold level become mistakes against junior and seniors at D-I. Learning to hit your spots better and mix up your pitches better and improve the pitches you have are the adjustments a freshman has to make. And you don't learn to make those adjustments against jucos in the fall.

[1972Shocker]

Thanks for the good info, FM. :good:

[1972Shocker]

Shocks leading the Ducks 14-7 entering the bottom of the 5th.

Jamie Hull releiving Brianna Smet with 2 outs and the bases loaded facing Jenkins who homered earlier in the game. Very key hitter right here.

[1972Shocker]

Jamie Hull gets Jenkins to get out of the jam.

Kiersten Dixon homers leading off the 6th.

Shocks up 15-7 as I head out to the Shockers vs Drake WBB game.

:goshocks:

[flyingMoose]

The Shocks lead Oregon, 14-7, and Jamie relieves Breezy in the bottom of the fifth. This will be a good test for her. We are going to need some good production from these two during the course of the season.

[flyingMoose]

The Shocks lead Oregon, 14-7, and Jamie relieves Breezy in the bottom of the fifth. This will be a good test for her. We are going to need some good production from these two during the course of the season.

Not so good. Jamie gives up five runs in the sixth including a grand slam, and Breezy has to return to finish the game. But the Shocks win, 15-12.

Portland State and Nevada are the opponents tomorrow and McNeese State on Sunday. Nevada is ranked #23; Oregon is receiving votes.

[1972Shocker]

Today's bottom line:

Offensive production very good. Stole a lot of bases as promised. More power than expected.

Pitching could be an issue.

Considering the pitching woes, a split was a pretty good result today.

[pogo]

What happened? I'm used to softball scores looking more like hockey scores. Sometimes its fun to watch a pitchers duel in baseball but not so much in softball time and time again. Looks like an exciting start.

[shocks02]

Portland State leads the Shox 3-1 after the first. Jamie Hull needs to figure some things out on the mound fast.

[flyingMoose]

Jamie starts against Portland State and gives up three runs as the first five batters all get hits, but then settles down to get out of the inning without further damage. We get one back in the bottom half.

I think Jamie has enough tools to contribute as a pitcher, but I don't think she has a lot of confidence in her abilities. These early tournaments will let the coaches find out what she can do for us this year in the circle.

Jamie has a scoreless third, but we trail 6-1 going to the bottom of the third.

And we score seven runs(!!) to take an 8-6 lead to the fourth.

A couple of observations. At this rate, someone will ask us to send all of our bats in for testing. And we must be playing havoc with the scheduling of the games at this tournament. They will probably move tomorrow's game to the last one of the day. :)

Kasha goes out to start the fourth. I was expecting her to go against Nevada - maybe she still will since it is a 730pm (ha!) start. And she promptly gives up a two-run dinger to tie the game.

We scratch out two runs in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead, 10-8. Kasha gives up a hit but has another strikeout (for three in two innings) in the top of the fifth.

Another Portland State homer and a walk in the top of the sixth, and Breezy comes in to pitch. She walks another but gets out of the inning with the help of a tag play at the plate.

[shocks02]

Shox scored 7 runs in the third to regain the lead 8-6. These softball games are crazy. :yahoo:

[WuDrWu]

KK giving new meaning to "chicks dig the long ball". 8-8 after yet another tater surrendered by the frosh.

[shocks02]

KK gives up another homer. Shox still up 10-9 in the top of the 6th.