NCAA Softball Selection -- Does the committee love the B1G?

[trojansc]

Oklahoma State's pitcher has a huge error and allows JMU to score and leads the game 1-0. Runners on corners with 2 outs.

James Madison is the designated home team.

[trojansc]

I've seen it before, but the fact that some D1 softball pitchers, who are quite good, cannot throw a ball overhand to save their life is completely baffling. How did they get so far in their careers without someone making it a point of emphasis to at least become somewhat competent in throwing overhand.

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 18:25:03 GMT -5 trojansc said:

I've seen it before, but the fact that some D1 softball pitchers, who are quite good, cannot throw a ball overhand to save their life is completely baffling. How did they get so far in their careers without someone making it a point of emphasis to at least become somewhat competent in throwing overhand.

I imagine if you're a good enough pitcher, your strengths outweigh a weakness that probably doesn't come into play that often (though it obviously did on the run-scoring error). I would guess the coaches probably have tried, as I'm sure they would prefer that their pitcher be able to throw overhand in situations like that. But some players have mental blocks that are just hard to explain. We saw this with Chuck Knoblauch and Rick Ankiel in MLB.  

[trojansc]

JMU is just fun to watch. What a play by 4'11" Lynsey Meeks.

[bbg95]

Kate Gordon hits a solo shot to increase James Madison's lead to 2-0.

[trojansc]

The last time a Non-Power 5 team made it to the National Semifinals was the year 2000. Southern Miss came out of the losers bracket though, and didn't force the if necessary semifinal game in a 6-0 loss to UCLA.

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 19:21:19 GMT -5 trojansc said:

The last time a Non-Power 5 team made it to the National Semifinals was the year 2000. Southern Miss came out of the losers bracket though, and didn't force the if necessary semifinal game in a 6-0 loss to UCLA.

Looks like the last non-P5 team to go 2-0 in the WCWS was Fresno State in 1998 as the Bulldogs were en route to their title. 

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State cut the deficit to 2-1 on a single to left field. JMU should have had a play at the plate, but they couldn't pull it off.

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 19:32:53 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State cut the deficit to 2-1 on a single to left field. JMU should have had a play at the plate, but they couldn't pull it off.

Pretty sure she would have been out if the catcher gets that ball. It wasn't the best throw, but it certainly could have been worse.

[trojansc]

I really have to think the winner of UCLA-Bama will play for a National Championship. I kind of want Bama just for the sake of guaranteeing there will not be a Oklahoma-UCLA rematch for the Title.

[bbg95]

Jun 4, 2021 19:37:10 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Jun 4, 2021 19:32:53 GMT -5 bbg95 said:

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State cut the deficit to 2-1 on a single to left field. JMU should have had a play at the plate, but they couldn't pull it off.

Pretty sure she would have been out if the catcher gets that ball. It wasn't the best throw, but it certainly could have been worse.

Yeah, I agree. Not a great throw, but it should have been good enough given how far the runner was away from the plate. It was mostly on the catcher.

[trojansc]

Odicci Alexander all cool and collected: "This is how you throw back to first".

2-1 JMU B6th.

OK St was foolish there to have its hitter swinging at 3-0, with 1 out and runner on 1st. Alexander had bounced two balls in the dirt and wasn't even close to the zone. Hitter fouls off what should have been ball 4, ends up getting out.

[bbg95]

James Madison is now three outs away from advancing to the semifinals. 

[c4ndlelight]

Jun 4, 2021 20:00:42 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Odicci Alexander all cool and collected: "This is how you throw back to first".

2-1 JMU B6th.

OK St was foolish there to have its hitter swinging at 3-0, with 1 out and runner on 1st. Alexander had bounced two balls in the dirt and wasn't even close to the zone. Hitter fouls off what should have been ball 4, ends up getting out.

Eh, if you're the team's power hitter, you've got a runner on and a 3-0 look, and you're down and need to push runners past the plate, it's not a terrible idea to try and make something happen, esp. if the bat behind you is less potent.

[trojansc]

Jun 4, 2021 20:02:13 GMT -5 c4ndlelight said:

Jun 4, 2021 20:00:42 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Odicci Alexander all cool and collected: "This is how you throw back to first".

2-1 JMU B6th.

OK St was foolish there to have its hitter swinging at 3-0, with 1 out and runner on 1st. Alexander had bounced two balls in the dirt and wasn't even close to the zone. Hitter fouls off what should have been ball 4, ends up getting out.

Eh, if you're the team's power hitter, you've got a runner on and a 3-0 look, and you're down and need to push runners past the plate, it's not a terrible idea to try and make something happen, esp. if the bat behind you is less potent.

Well getting one run is the most important. Not all 3-0 counts are the same, but, those balls were wild enough the announcers were thinking she was about to get pulled from the game (not sure I agree). The hitter right behind her is a power hitter anyways too.

[trojansc]

Also, it's not just the fact that she was swinging at 3-0. It's the fact that it was yet another ball well out of the zone.