gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 8, 2018 13:13:59 GMT -8
As some of you know I am a HUGE softball fan. Coach Berg has been at the helm for 6 years. The team has made 3 NCAA appearances and been one and done in each of them, I believe. I was hoping with Coach Berg's status in the softball world we would be more competitive in recruiting and on the field. I understand that Pitching is the core of any successful team. Should we be concerned that after this length of time we've reached the ceiling of where Berg can take this program? Facilities can be argued but Pat Casey did it with average facilities and his success begat the stadium and auxiliary facilities we have today.
Hoping for some insight.
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Post by vic1963 on Feb 8, 2018 13:33:15 GMT -8
Took Pat Casey 10 years to reach playoffs. I would like improvement and have not followed softball as closely as you.
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Post by messi on Feb 8, 2018 13:40:51 GMT -8
Wasn't there a plan years ago to install lights at the Softball Complex?
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 8, 2018 14:31:48 GMT -8
Wasn't there a plan years ago to install lights at the Softball Complex? I had heard that too. |
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 8, 2018 14:36:52 GMT -8
Took Pat Casey 10 years to reach playoffs. I would like improvement and have not followed softball as closely as you. Good point. I had heard that it turned when he was able to convince local talent, like Ellsbury, to come to OSU. Hopefully in time Coach berg will be able to convince some top talent to attend. |
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 8, 2018 15:03:54 GMT -8
Took Pat Casey 10 years to reach playoffs. I would like improvement and have not followed softball as closely as you. Good point. I had heard that it turned when he was able to convince local talent, like Ellsbury, to come to OSU. Hopefully in time Coach berg will be able to convince some top talent to attend. She did have a number 3 rated class and they are seniors this year. Unfortunately none were pitchers. Also, Berg won the title as a player at Fresno State and I'm guessing that the roster was filled with blue collar types, which causes her to believe winning can be achieved with unheralded players. Again, just conjecture on my part. |
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2ndGenBeaver
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Post by 2ndGenBeaver on Feb 8, 2018 19:52:49 GMT -8
Thanks gnawitall for your passion around Softball. I have started "tuning in" with the Laura Berg hiring anticipating some good strides being made..... On the good news side, we have a 50% hit rate in her reign on post season, but to your point, it's all one-and-done. I also believe PC has an advantage as Pro prospects see his program as a good preparatory stepping stone, there is not a similar attraction on the women's side. I also believe deep tourney runs attract more interest than "managed to squeak in" stories. Pitching has seemed to be the limiter (again, to your point). We always seem to have one exceptional pitcher that gets us over the hump, but I don't know if we have a built a team capable of the deep run, and like a couple of other programs at OSU, we are waiting for the "diamonds in the rough" to make it happen (though I expect Laura's rep should have some cachet value). It is almost worth doing an analysis of which of our sports programs need a "diamond in the rough" breakthrough to gain some glory vs. those programs that are now attracting a talent level that keeps us at a high level. I would put WBB, Baseball and Gymnastics in the latter category. Then there are programs that were always rough diamond prospecting (football?), and then some that may not have been able to sustain high levels of accomplishment - MBB, VB, Westling.... Go Beavers! |
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Post by messi on Feb 9, 2018 7:41:19 GMT -8
Took Pat Casey 10 years to reach playoffs. I would like improvement and have not followed softball as closely as you. Good point. I had heard that it turned when he was able to convince local talent, like Ellsbury, to come to OSU. Hopefully in time Coach berg will be able to convince some top talent to attend. The problem with the Pat Casey and baseball analogy, the only competition in state at the time was Portland, and for a few years Portland State. There wasn't another program to flash the bling and woo recruits, like we see in softball right now. This building is going to take time, especially with how deep the conference is. But getting into regionals is a good place to start. |
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 9, 2018 8:43:21 GMT -8
Good point. I had heard that it turned when he was able to convince local talent, like Ellsbury, to come to OSU. Hopefully in time Coach berg will be able to convince some top talent to attend. The problem with the Pat Casey and baseball analogy, the only competition in state at the time was Portland, and for a few years Portland State. There wasn't another program to flash the bling and woo recruits, like we see in softball right now. This building is going to take time, especially with how deep the conference is. But getting into regionals is a good place to start. I understand your point. I just thought Berg would bring in top recruits with her clout. The good news is, save my poor researching, our incoming class was ranked 16th and we have two studs from Cal. Infielder Cameron Ybarra and pitcher Mariah Mazon. When I loaded the feed for this mornings game at 8am against #21/24 Oklahoma State I noticed Mazon was starting instead of Sophomore Nerissa Eason who can really bring it and that compelled me to do the research. Mazon was the 29th ranked prospect but I'm not sure if that is overall or pitcher. She struck out the first batter of the game and then walked the next three and then struck out the next two. Hope springs eternal that's for sure :-) |
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 9, 2018 8:53:13 GMT -8
So we have a 3rd ranked class as seniors and a 16th ranked class as freshman. Could be in for a run? That'd be awesome.
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 9, 2018 8:59:04 GMT -8
Today we started a freshman at 2nd, 3rd, Right, DH, Pitcher. Wow!
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 9, 2018 9:03:47 GMT -8
Beavers put up a crooked number in the top half of the 4th and lead 3-0. Now, shut 'em down, no response.
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 9, 2018 9:13:29 GMT -8
Gave up 2. Am I wrong to think that when you score three and then give up runs the next half inning it's a sign of lacking mental toughness or is that just softball?
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gnawitall
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Post by gnawitall on Feb 9, 2018 9:22:29 GMT -8
Pot two more in top of 5th. Up 5-2.
Shut them down in the bottom half. 5 complete.
Freshman DH Hope Brandner homers in the top of the 7th to put the good girls up 8-2.
Double play ends the game.
Notes:
Freshman pitcher struck out 7 against a ranked team.
Beat a ranked team
and...and...wait for it.....we didn't give up a home run. I know that sounds odd but it isn't.
Woo Hoo!
Indiana up at 12 or 1. I've got mixed start times on that. Supposed to be on the Pac 12 network.
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