The Valley Softball Tournament

[1972Shocker]

Drake was probably the best dark-horse pick in this Tournament considering their one-two punch in the Circle (Dordel and DeLong) and the fact that they were hosting.

Kasha really competed well today. I agree that starting Breezy against Creighton is risky, but I haven't been able to figure Pooch out very well this year so hard to say what he will do.

Nice to see Kara getting back into the groove lately, but she could sure use some help from Heather and a couple of other hitters.

[flyingMoose]

Those able to watch the game online will know that we caught a couple of breaks in this game. A steal of second by Drake was nullified (the runner had to return to first) by umpire interference with Gert's throw to second. And in the fourth inning the Drake runner on first only went halfway to second on a blast to the base of the wall in right-center. Consequently she had to stop at third, a squeeze was popped up and a ground out allowed the Shocks to escape the threat.

[flyingMoose]

Pertaining to our discussion, Missouri State starts Natalie Rose, their pitcher earlier in the day, against Northern Iowa.

[1972Shocker]

Those able to watch the game online will know that we caught a couple of breaks in this game. A steal of second by Drake was nullified (the runner had to return to first) by umpire interference with Gert's throw to second. And in the fourth inning the Drake runner on first only went halfway to second on a blast to the base of the wall in right-center. Consequently she had to stop at third, a squeeze was popped up and a ground out allowed the Shocks to escape the threat.

That umpire interference call was a first for me. But you're right the Shocks caught a couple of big breaks, but they also took advantage of them.

[flyingMoose]

Game 3

Missouri State 4-3 Northern Iowa

Natalie Rose throws another complete game to send the Bears up against Southern Illinois tomorrow. She gave up eight hits, including two home runs, but hung on for the win. Missouri State had a two-run home

[1972Shocker]

I thought that was curious use of the big kid who hit the pinch homer in the bottom of the 7th for UNI. I think that was her 14th homer of the year. She definitely had a lot of power.

She had a great AB, but not sure why you would want to pinch-hit her to lead-off an inning with the bases empty. Looks like they had a number of places they could have used her during the latter part of the game with runners on board. Not sure why she wasn't in the game as the DP.

[flyingMoose]

I thought that was curious use of the big kid who hit the pinch homer in the bottom of the 7th for UNI. I think that was her 14th homer of the year. She definitely had a lot of power.

She had a great AB, but not sure why you would want to pinch-hit her to lead-off an inning with the bases empty.

I was thinking the same thing.

[flyingMoose]

Kasha gets the start, and Lauren is at third.

[1972Shocker]

Probably should have considered squeezing with Sammie.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks and Creighton tied at 4 at the end of regulation.

Is it my imagination or do these announcers sound like they will be very disappointed if Creighton loses this game?

:-x

[flyingMoose]

Shocks and Creighton tied at 4 at the end of regulation.

Is it my imagination or do these announcers sound like they will be very disappointed if Creighton loses this game?

I am hearing the same thing.

I lost my MVC Live in the eighth. Anybody else?

[1972Shocker]

Yes, I lost and then signed back on in time to see Creighton score the winning run.

Tough 5-4 loss for the Shocks, but I thought they competed very hard today and really have nothing to hang their heads about.

We had our chances, but Kasha made a couple of mistakes that turned into game tying home runs.

Good effort, Ladies.

[flyingMoose]

Well, that was thinking out of the box, and we are out of the tournament.

IW, sac, IW, single scores a run for Creighton in the bottom of the eighth.

We received the gift of three unearned runs, but the long ball (and the threat of it) was our downfall.

After the tying run in the sixth, Kasha became a screwball, curveball, offspeed pitcher with an occasional rise. Against the best opposition, I think this is how she has to pitch. She got through the remainder of the sixth and the seventh in that fashion.

The two homers I saw were off rise balls.

I agree with '72 - we competed very well against a tough pitcher in Oltman.

[1972Shocker]

The two homers I saw were off rise balls.

I think the home run Larson hit in the 6th to tie the game at 4 may still be rising.

[flyingMoose]

http://www.kansas.com/2010/05/14/1312966/creighton-stops-wsu-in-thriller.html

But the article is incorrect. This game against Creighton is not part of the double-elimination portion of the tournament.