Well this weekend was the last regular season series between the Pride and the Bandits(Thank God!) and it very well might go down as the weirdest yet! It started off Thursday night with Cat Osterman in the circle for the Pride and a whole mess of pitchers in the circle for the Bandits. The Pride offense had no problem with the pitchers the Bandits put out there and Cat Osterman pitched a very good game and the Pride won 9-0. To me that was the first weird thing of the weekend. In every other series this season the night Cat pitched, so did Monica. So I was very surprised when they went with someone else. Friday Sarah Pauly pitched for the Pride and Monica Abbott pitched for the Bandits. It was was a very close game but the Pride got the 2-1 victory. The Pride won this game on an error and then a sac fly, so that was one of the weird things about this game. The other weird thing was the only run the Bandits scored was on an illegal pitch by Sarah Pauly(something that has been an issue for her all season long and she was called for several times on Friday night). Saturday Danielle Lawrie was in the circle for the Pride and again a whole mess of pitchers for the Bandits. Danielle pitched a very good game. She gave up only 3 hits 2 of which were HRs, walked 4, struck out 9! It probably won't go down as her best game but it will go down as a very strong win for her! I thought she did a very good job! On the Bandits side the score was tied 2-2 going to the bottom of the 7th. Jessica Mendoza starts off the inning for the Pride offense and hits a ball back to Abbott who badly over throws Goler at first base and allows Mendoza to get all the way to 3rd! She intentionally walks both Kristyn Sandberg and Kelly Kretchman. The Pride bring Tonya Callahan to PH for Ashley Charters and on the 2nd pitch of the at bat Abbott hits her to bring in the game winning run! I think the article I read yesterday said it best Monica Abbott imploded and on her birthday no less. It was not a good weekend for her! Sunday's game though was the weirdest of all. The Pride had Mack in the circle to start the game and it was yet another game that the Bandits used a whole mess of pitchers. Mack had a rough first inning and little help from the defense who committed 2 errors in the inning and the Bandits came out of the top of the 1st with a 3-0 lead. Pride struck back in the bottom of the 1st picking up 2 runs of their own. The score stayed that way for a couple of innings until Mendoza drilled a solo HR to tied the game at 3. This is when things got crazy! In the 4th inning, the Pride put up 4 runs. The scoring started with a single by Bruder. 2 batters later Lappin brings her in with a single of her own and then Watley hits a single to bring Lappin in. The Bandits take Nemitz out after that and bring in Bell. Watley advances to 2nd on wild pitch and then Lowe walks. Mendoza reaches on an error and Watley scores. Sandberg comes up and on the 2nd pitch is hit. Both Bell and Doepking were ejected as the homeplate umpire felt it was intentional. The Bandits head coach was eventually ejected for arguing the call. So with the bases loaded they bring in Moses to pitch to Kretchman who has a great at bat and walks in the 4th run of the inning. So I'm thinking well that weird but who knew it would get even more weird! It was quiet until 6th when with 1 person on and 1 out Megan Wiggins steps to the plate for the Bandits and Mack hits her. Personally I thought from her reaction she hadn't meant to but she and Kristyn Sandberg were tossed and then followed shortly by a very angry Beth Torina. So that's right 6 ejections in 1 game! Cat Osterman came in to finish the game and the sweep of the Bandits!
It was a good series for the Pride and it's always nice to sweep the Bandits. For me it was kind of a dose of back to reality so to speak. As hard as it was to watch Canada lose and end up falling just short of the metal stand, I enjoyed watching their games. I'm not a big fan of their coach and I've made that pretty clear. I don't think he respects all the players the way he should and he can just flat be a jerk. But there is one player he respects and that's Jenn Salling. As soon and her and Danielle landed there was never any doubt who would be playing SS for the Canadians and she did a fantastic job. It was nice to finally see her used the way Jenn Salling can and should be used. It was good to see her play the way Jenn Salling is known for playing. She is an incredible athlete, person, and leader! I really enjoyed actually getting to see her play and lead an infield again because it just seemed like so long ago since I actually got to see that. It seems odd for me to feel so almost sad and discontent after the Pride swept the Bandits but I do. It's funny to me that they have no problems get anybody else starts. This weekend we saw 3 different people play 1st, 2 different people play 2nd, 2 different people play 3rd, and several different outfield lineups. Grant it, Jenn did see 2 innings in Saturdays game, and 3innings in Sundays game but still in comparison to everyone else that is nothing. She got 1 AB all weekend. Niki Williams hasn't seen an inning in the field in I couldn't tell you how long and she too got 1 AB this weekend. She spends the vast majority of her time doing stats. I've thought about this and thought about this and it drives me nuts to see Jenn sitting on the bench and Niki doing stats. It drives me nuts that there is no issue getting anyone else playing time yet those 2 are stuck on the bench. I think for Niki's sake they should either trade her at the end of the season or she might just be better off not coming back at all. Beth Torina has no interest at all in using her. I ask myself at least 100 times a weekend why they even drafted her because they sure don't respect her or her talent. They sure had no interest in helping her grow and develop her talent because the only talent she is developing and being able to use is her talent for keeping stats. I think whats worse though than that is what is being done to Jenn. Every other coach has made sure she was getting time on the field. The time was split almost completely evenly between her and Watley last year with Coach Walton. This year she'll be lucky if she has half the innings she did last year let alone half the innings Watley has. Don't get wrong I like Watley and I am not saying Jenn should get all the starts but why not 1 a series? How is she ever going to find a rhythm and make a name for herself when she does nothing but warm the bench and come in when the Pride has control of the game? It makes me sad that Beth Torina has so little respect for Jenn and the talent she has. It makes me so sad that she is wasting that kind of talent. I've said before and I'll say it again I don't know what Jenn or Niki will have to do to earn some respect and see some serious time with Torina as head coach, I am about convinced that it's pretty much out their hands. Jenn was the starting SS for the first couple of series and she did a wonderful job and yet she didn't just lose the starting job she lost the back up job and has fallen to the bottom and I'm still confused as to what she did that was so bad! Honest as a fan who has had the privilege of watching that girl as a Husky and on the Canadian National team all these years this NPF season has been a huge disappointment as far as she is concerned. She was not given the chance at all this season and as long as this is how Torina plans to use her she'd be better off playing anywhere else, except that she loves this team. It just breaks my heart!
Well the Olympics are under way, the first one without softball. To be honest here it hasn't really bothered me. Most NPF games are far better games than most international games. Yes I think it's sad that it's not in the Olympics and it should be there but it's not and because it's not we've been gifted with something better, the NPF! We've just got keep bringing awareness to it!
Well I'm done griping once again lol. Go Pride, Go Huskies, Boomer Sooner, RTR Go Bama, FTG, and let's USWNT(soccer)! Bring home the gold ladies!!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
NPF/Worlds
Let me start off by saying I haven't had a descent nights sleep in 3 nights. I'm exhausted and my emotions are a little all over the place. So in other words expect this blog to be a little all over the place and I am sorry if some parts don't make sense lol!..... (So this is where I was when I started this blog 2 nights ago, I have on descent nights sleep since and I am not up at almost 4 AM going to finish it. Insomnia has kicked my butt the last week! So I am still tired and emotional, maybe not as much as I was the other night but still tired and emotional lol)
Pride had a great series last weekend and a great series this weekend as well! It seems they are finally rolling and now are right there with the Bandits competing for 1st place in the league! First 3 games of this series the Pride out scored the Racers like 33-1! They dropped the game Sunday but it was a very good game. 2 great weekends in a row and a rough stretch for the Bandits have the Pride in 1st place in the league! They play the Bandits again next weekend!
Worlds just wrapped up in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Japan took gold behind the incredible and I believe only half human Yukiko Ueno! On her 30th birthday in her 17th inning of the day and 32nd inning in 2 days she sealed the deal and got the gold for Japan! She may not be the same pitcher she was in 2008 but she proved why she is considered one of the best pitchers in the world! I have alot of respect for her and her teammates! They play the game with so much passion and heart! Congrats to them! USA won the silver. This young team was just no match for Ueno's drive to win and claim that gold. It came down to I believe understanding the way Asians play ball. The squeeze bunt is their bread and butter and the USA couldn't defend it! Runner from 3rd slid easily under the tag! The USA girls played well though and had a great summer! I'll be honest as much as I like individual players on the team, team USA will never be the same to me. I've tried and tried to feel differently but I don't and I don't know that I ever will. I was of course rooting on those Canadians. They had an all around nice tournament and finished 2nd in pool play behind Japan. The highlight of the whole thing for me came on Wednesday when Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling took the field for the Canadians for the first time in the tournament. Danielle pitched a great game! The crowd was big and so loud! They were chanting her name and her number. I was watching on the computer and the electricity of the crowd was pumping me up! I can only imagine how the girls playing on the field felt. Sadly it was pretty much all down hill from there for the Canadians. They won their game on Thursday and were set to take on the Americans. I hoped and prayed and everything else that they would at least win that game. It wasn't meant to be though. Danielle didn't seem to have the same crispness to her pitches and I could tell she was tired. They lost 4-2 but it was never really very close. Canada's offense just never got going. So the loss to the American's put them in a must win situation Saturday against the Dutch. Jenna Caira pitched 5 great innings and Danielle came in and pitched 2 great innings in relief to knock off the Dutch with a 4-0 win. They had to come back that night and play the Aussies. Honestly the Canadians looked flat and just exhausted from the moment they took the field. Danielle gave up a HR to start the game but buckled down and didn't give up any more runs in the 1st. She gave up another run in the 2nd. She was pulled after the 2nd for Jenna Caira who pitched another nice game but the offense was gone by this point. They were only able to put up one run and Caira gave up a HR herself to the same person to seal the win for the Aussies and end the tournament and the summer for the Canadians and giving them a disappointing 4th place finish. This girls of course took it hard. Disappointment was written all over all of their faces. I felt bad for Danielle and Jenn. I had hoped this would be a very positive experience and it didn't seem like much of one after the first game. Danielle admitted in an interview in an article that all the softball she has played over the last few months has taken a toll on her, physically and emotionally. With all of that being said I am very proud of those women and the job they did! They battled and fought! I know 4th place is not what they wanted but 4th best int he world isn't terrible either! I think the ironic thing is the placement of the first 4 teams is exactly the same as it was in Beijing in 2008! Japan, USA, Australia, and Canada. Speaking of the Olympics and international softball it seems the ISF has made the decision to go in with baseball in hopes of getting the sport back in the Olympics. I think this is a last ditch effort at best. Going together with baseball solves nothing and only adds more issues and worries and things to overcome. I think this a move that ultimately will only hurt softball. But I guess only time will tell.
Well I don't know anything else! Go Pride! Go Huskies! Boomer Sooner! RTR Go Bama! FTG!
Pride had a great series last weekend and a great series this weekend as well! It seems they are finally rolling and now are right there with the Bandits competing for 1st place in the league! First 3 games of this series the Pride out scored the Racers like 33-1! They dropped the game Sunday but it was a very good game. 2 great weekends in a row and a rough stretch for the Bandits have the Pride in 1st place in the league! They play the Bandits again next weekend!
Worlds just wrapped up in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Japan took gold behind the incredible and I believe only half human Yukiko Ueno! On her 30th birthday in her 17th inning of the day and 32nd inning in 2 days she sealed the deal and got the gold for Japan! She may not be the same pitcher she was in 2008 but she proved why she is considered one of the best pitchers in the world! I have alot of respect for her and her teammates! They play the game with so much passion and heart! Congrats to them! USA won the silver. This young team was just no match for Ueno's drive to win and claim that gold. It came down to I believe understanding the way Asians play ball. The squeeze bunt is their bread and butter and the USA couldn't defend it! Runner from 3rd slid easily under the tag! The USA girls played well though and had a great summer! I'll be honest as much as I like individual players on the team, team USA will never be the same to me. I've tried and tried to feel differently but I don't and I don't know that I ever will. I was of course rooting on those Canadians. They had an all around nice tournament and finished 2nd in pool play behind Japan. The highlight of the whole thing for me came on Wednesday when Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling took the field for the Canadians for the first time in the tournament. Danielle pitched a great game! The crowd was big and so loud! They were chanting her name and her number. I was watching on the computer and the electricity of the crowd was pumping me up! I can only imagine how the girls playing on the field felt. Sadly it was pretty much all down hill from there for the Canadians. They won their game on Thursday and were set to take on the Americans. I hoped and prayed and everything else that they would at least win that game. It wasn't meant to be though. Danielle didn't seem to have the same crispness to her pitches and I could tell she was tired. They lost 4-2 but it was never really very close. Canada's offense just never got going. So the loss to the American's put them in a must win situation Saturday against the Dutch. Jenna Caira pitched 5 great innings and Danielle came in and pitched 2 great innings in relief to knock off the Dutch with a 4-0 win. They had to come back that night and play the Aussies. Honestly the Canadians looked flat and just exhausted from the moment they took the field. Danielle gave up a HR to start the game but buckled down and didn't give up any more runs in the 1st. She gave up another run in the 2nd. She was pulled after the 2nd for Jenna Caira who pitched another nice game but the offense was gone by this point. They were only able to put up one run and Caira gave up a HR herself to the same person to seal the win for the Aussies and end the tournament and the summer for the Canadians and giving them a disappointing 4th place finish. This girls of course took it hard. Disappointment was written all over all of their faces. I felt bad for Danielle and Jenn. I had hoped this would be a very positive experience and it didn't seem like much of one after the first game. Danielle admitted in an interview in an article that all the softball she has played over the last few months has taken a toll on her, physically and emotionally. With all of that being said I am very proud of those women and the job they did! They battled and fought! I know 4th place is not what they wanted but 4th best int he world isn't terrible either! I think the ironic thing is the placement of the first 4 teams is exactly the same as it was in Beijing in 2008! Japan, USA, Australia, and Canada. Speaking of the Olympics and international softball it seems the ISF has made the decision to go in with baseball in hopes of getting the sport back in the Olympics. I think this is a last ditch effort at best. Going together with baseball solves nothing and only adds more issues and worries and things to overcome. I think this a move that ultimately will only hurt softball. But I guess only time will tell.
Well I don't know anything else! Go Pride! Go Huskies! Boomer Sooner! RTR Go Bama! FTG!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Rain rain go away!
Weather was the story of the series between the Pride and the Diamonds in Baton Rouge at the stadium at LSU ! Friday was the only day that went as planned. Cat Osterman pitched for the Pride and Katie Burkhart pitched for the Diamonds. It was a pitchers dual. Both pitchers did a great job working out of jams. The Pride broke through for 1 run and that was all that needed. After the game they unveiled Brittany Mack's All-American banner and her long time boyfriend Josh proposed to her! It was a really sweet moment.
On Saturday they had a double header planned. Danielle Lawrie started the first game of the double header. Sadly it was not the game she wanted and I know it. She was really upset. You could just see it in her body language. She is a competitor and she will not be satisfied with that. She gave up 7 runs and then was pulled for Sarah Pauly who didn't fair much better. She didn't even get an out before she was pulled. Things were getting a little desperate for the Pride by this point! So Jamee Juarez was brought in to pitch and for the first time that I've ever seen Charlotte Morgan was sent to the bull pen to warm up. Don't get me wrong Morgan was a great pitcher during her college days at Bama but as far as I know she has never pitched in a game for the Pride! Jamee finally got them out of that inning but they would never recover and lost 11-2. Danielle did come in to finish the game out and I think that was good. I think she needed to do that for her. The 2nd game of the day Brittany Mack started for the Pride. She was a little shaky at first but settled down quickly. The Pride offense got going a little better and went up 7-2 on the Diamonds and then weather kicked in. The first delay was just barley over an hour after the game started and it lasted about 45 minutes. They came back and played about 45 minutes more and then ended up in another delay. During the 2nd delay they pulled the tarp at one point in hopes of continuing but almost as soon at the tarp was off and put up it began to pour! After about an hour they called the game for the day and moved it until today. Mack came back today but didn't seem to really have her stuff and was pulled for Cat Osterman pretty early on. Diamonds tried to come back but Pride held on and got the win 11-6! They started the 2nd game but barley got into the 2nd inning when the skies opened up and it poured. I was watching the video and it was like 3 oclock or so in the afternoon and looked like it was about 8:30 or 9 and the outfield looked like a lake. The Pride had a flight to catch and the rain wasn't going anywhere so the game was cancelled.
It was not the best weekend the Pride has ever had but not the worst either. There was some good things but there was some not so good thing as well! I shouldn't have griped last weekend about certain players sitting on the bench and not seeing much playing time because Jenn Salling played 1 inning at SS, was used as pinch runner 1 time and had 1 at bat the whole weekend and Niki Williams never left the bench! It makes me very sad that these girls aren't seeing the field. I think there is just too much talent in both them to waste on the bench. I have to say though it's no wonder to me so many players leave after their rookie seasons. If you never see the field, it's not much fun. I'll be very honest it really upset me this weekend to seem not use Jenn at all. My guess is this will be the role she plays the rest of the season and I think it sucks! Poor Niki I don't know what she'd have to do or what would have to happen for her to see time on the field. Those two are such amazing competitors and I know this has got to be driving them nuts doing nothing game after game after game. It just sucks and makes me wonder why they were drafted in the first place. I just don't understand how they are supposed to improve and get better if they are never given the opportunity to play and get a feel for the game. It just frustrates me so much to see those two warming the bench because they are capable of so much more than that! It just seems like such a huge waste! But I guess the coach knows what she is doing...
On another note I found out last night that Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling will be headed up to Canada to play for team Canada in the ISF World Championships the 13th-22nd of this month! I am excited for them! I know this is something both of them very much wanted to do and an opportunity they'll likely never get again! They've played for the Canadian National team since they were very young. Danielle started in 2005 and Jenn in 2006. That is where it all began for them. Without the opportunities they were given all those years ago they probably wouldn't be where they are today. But everything started for them in Canada and I know they have a HUGE support system up there and I am sure they are excited to have them back. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this be the last time they wear the Red & White and I can't think of a better way to leave international softball. I've mentioned it before but these two will be always have a special place in my heart, not just because who they are as individuals(and they are both incredible individuals!) but because of their relationship with each other. Those two have known each other along time. I think it's safe to say they've seen each other at their best and they've seen each at their worst. I know things have not always been great between the two of them and I know they do not have the relationship they once did but I also know the bond, love, and respect they have for each other runs deep! I see it every time they are on the field together. No matter what is going on between them off the field, on the field it doesn't show. They respect each other and fully trust each other. They've got each others backs. I love to watch them play together because they have the best connection I believe I've ever seen. The way they look at each sends chills down my spine! It's funny how life keeps pulling them back together. I think somethings are just meant to be and those are meant to be! I'm excited for the both of them to go back to Canada! I will be watching and wish them all the luck in the world!
Well I don't know anything else right now! Go Pride, Go Canada, Go Huskies, Boomer Sooner, RTR Go Bama, and FTG!
On Saturday they had a double header planned. Danielle Lawrie started the first game of the double header. Sadly it was not the game she wanted and I know it. She was really upset. You could just see it in her body language. She is a competitor and she will not be satisfied with that. She gave up 7 runs and then was pulled for Sarah Pauly who didn't fair much better. She didn't even get an out before she was pulled. Things were getting a little desperate for the Pride by this point! So Jamee Juarez was brought in to pitch and for the first time that I've ever seen Charlotte Morgan was sent to the bull pen to warm up. Don't get me wrong Morgan was a great pitcher during her college days at Bama but as far as I know she has never pitched in a game for the Pride! Jamee finally got them out of that inning but they would never recover and lost 11-2. Danielle did come in to finish the game out and I think that was good. I think she needed to do that for her. The 2nd game of the day Brittany Mack started for the Pride. She was a little shaky at first but settled down quickly. The Pride offense got going a little better and went up 7-2 on the Diamonds and then weather kicked in. The first delay was just barley over an hour after the game started and it lasted about 45 minutes. They came back and played about 45 minutes more and then ended up in another delay. During the 2nd delay they pulled the tarp at one point in hopes of continuing but almost as soon at the tarp was off and put up it began to pour! After about an hour they called the game for the day and moved it until today. Mack came back today but didn't seem to really have her stuff and was pulled for Cat Osterman pretty early on. Diamonds tried to come back but Pride held on and got the win 11-6! They started the 2nd game but barley got into the 2nd inning when the skies opened up and it poured. I was watching the video and it was like 3 oclock or so in the afternoon and looked like it was about 8:30 or 9 and the outfield looked like a lake. The Pride had a flight to catch and the rain wasn't going anywhere so the game was cancelled.
It was not the best weekend the Pride has ever had but not the worst either. There was some good things but there was some not so good thing as well! I shouldn't have griped last weekend about certain players sitting on the bench and not seeing much playing time because Jenn Salling played 1 inning at SS, was used as pinch runner 1 time and had 1 at bat the whole weekend and Niki Williams never left the bench! It makes me very sad that these girls aren't seeing the field. I think there is just too much talent in both them to waste on the bench. I have to say though it's no wonder to me so many players leave after their rookie seasons. If you never see the field, it's not much fun. I'll be very honest it really upset me this weekend to seem not use Jenn at all. My guess is this will be the role she plays the rest of the season and I think it sucks! Poor Niki I don't know what she'd have to do or what would have to happen for her to see time on the field. Those two are such amazing competitors and I know this has got to be driving them nuts doing nothing game after game after game. It just sucks and makes me wonder why they were drafted in the first place. I just don't understand how they are supposed to improve and get better if they are never given the opportunity to play and get a feel for the game. It just frustrates me so much to see those two warming the bench because they are capable of so much more than that! It just seems like such a huge waste! But I guess the coach knows what she is doing...
On another note I found out last night that Danielle Lawrie and Jenn Salling will be headed up to Canada to play for team Canada in the ISF World Championships the 13th-22nd of this month! I am excited for them! I know this is something both of them very much wanted to do and an opportunity they'll likely never get again! They've played for the Canadian National team since they were very young. Danielle started in 2005 and Jenn in 2006. That is where it all began for them. Without the opportunities they were given all those years ago they probably wouldn't be where they are today. But everything started for them in Canada and I know they have a HUGE support system up there and I am sure they are excited to have them back. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this be the last time they wear the Red & White and I can't think of a better way to leave international softball. I've mentioned it before but these two will be always have a special place in my heart, not just because who they are as individuals(and they are both incredible individuals!) but because of their relationship with each other. Those two have known each other along time. I think it's safe to say they've seen each other at their best and they've seen each at their worst. I know things have not always been great between the two of them and I know they do not have the relationship they once did but I also know the bond, love, and respect they have for each other runs deep! I see it every time they are on the field together. No matter what is going on between them off the field, on the field it doesn't show. They respect each other and fully trust each other. They've got each others backs. I love to watch them play together because they have the best connection I believe I've ever seen. The way they look at each sends chills down my spine! It's funny how life keeps pulling them back together. I think somethings are just meant to be and those are meant to be! I'm excited for the both of them to go back to Canada! I will be watching and wish them all the luck in the world!
Well I don't know anything else right now! Go Pride, Go Canada, Go Huskies, Boomer Sooner, RTR Go Bama, and FTG!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
From a huge high to a huge low in 7 days!
What a disastrous weekend for the Pride! I'm sorry I don't know how else to explain this weekend. You never know which offense is going to show up for this team. The offense was stellar all weekend last weekend and firing on all cylinders. This weekend I would have settled for one cylinder! The defense was a mess as well this weekend and the pitching in all honesty wasn't much better. There were also some coaching decisions that certainly made me scratch my head.
Danielle Lawrie pitched the first game on Thursday. It was obvious from the first pitch something was not right. She was messing with her hand constantly between pitches and look completely uncomfortable. She is usually passionate and energetic in the circle and she wasn't. I don't think I saw her smile one time Thursday night. I've watched her pitch many many many times and I can't think of too many times that she looked that uncomfortable. It was very difficult for me to watch. She battled so hard and I was very impressed with her effort but it wasn't enough. She gave way to Sarah Pauly who also struggled. Offense never really got going well and the Pride lost 8-2. Thinking about it now the lack of energy and passion seemed to carry over the rest of the weekend. I'm not blaming anybody, just saying the problems and lack of energy just snow balled from ehre.
Friday night was the typical pitching dual we see between Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman every series between the Bandits and the Pride. Monica Abbott again got the best of the Pride and 1 hit them AGAIN. Cat pitched a great game and pitched her heart out but the Bandits managed to score a run(AGAIN) and that was all they needed. This was the least disappointing game of the weekend but that's not saying much.
Yesterday Sarah Pauly got the start and didn't even make it out of the 2nd inning before being pulled for Danielle Lawrie. I was surprised to say the least to see this but Danielle looked very good. There was more drama between Danielle and Megan Wiggins and I thought we were going to see a fight between not just them but the benches for both teams. Honestly I've never seen anything quite like that in the NPF. I think emotions were boiling already and that was just the fire to light the fuse. I was glad to see Danielle looking better and you could tell she felt better! The offense was slow and sluggish getting started but made a late game rally. They were facing the Bandits statistically worst pitcher(she came into the game with an 8.98 ERA) and still couldn't come away with a win, just one of the many disappointments of the weekend. They lost 10-7.
And then today. I think it might actually go down as the most disappointing game of the whole series. Brittany Mack got the start and like Sarah Pauly yesterday didn't even make it out of the 2nd. She just didn't have her best stuff at all today. They brought in Cat Osterman again and she did a great job not allowing the Bandits to score again. But the offense was already on the plane headed back to Orlando apparently because it certainly wasn't on that field. Pride had lots of base runners but nobody to step up and get the big hit. They only scraped up 1 run. They had the bases loaded and 1 out in the 6th against Monica Abbott who came in to get the save and walked away with nothing to show for it. So the Bandits completed the sweep with a 3-1 win. I've been watching the Pride for several seasons now and I can't really ever remember a time that they got swept. Not just swept but never really in any 4 of the games.
I don't know what happened in all honesty. I wish I did because if it was something simple enough that I could point to it, the team could too and make an easy fix. But I have noticed a few things. First off, coaches spent the whole weekend trying to get Watley and Mendoza going. I'm honestly not sure whats going on with Watley this summer but she has been less than impressive to say the least. Obviously something is wrong because she has logged only 1 game at SS all season. Mendoza just joined the team again this weekend because she was doing WCS with ESPN. She actually got going pretty well but throwing her back in the lineup seemed to kind of throw things off. I don't know maybe it's just a matter of some time and finding that rhythm. I really felt though that they wasted too much time with the one lineup that wasn't producing. You've got ladies sitting on that bench who would love to get a chance to hit too! I don't understand how they expect these ladies to find their rhythm when they aren't being allowed to hit more than 1 or maybe twice in a series. I think they need to not be set on one lineup and switch things around here and there. I think they have great players sitting on the bench, who deserve the chance to play as well! I've always enjoyed the chemistry, the passion, and energy that this team plays with. But I felt that was missing this series, especially the energy. My hope is this is the low point in the season and things go up from here! Because this weekend was certainly a huge low. I hope they can find some confidence, passion, and energy and change this around. I feel for them and I know they are all extremely disappointed with this series. I know they are all asking themselves the same things I'm trying to answer. Positive thing about this weekend is, no championship trophy was handed out and there is still a lot of season left to be played. Another positive is the Pride doesn't play the Bandits in Rosemont again in the regular season(Thank God because honestly guys I couldn't listen to the Bandit announcers do one more game and not say something to someone! They are some of the worst announcers I've personally ever heard! If they could learn to pronounce the players names it would help a ton!). These women are professionals and I fully believe they'll turn this around that we haven't seen or heard the last from them! But ugh this weekend was not fun! If it was so not fun for me I can only imagine how it was for them!
Well time to forget this weekend and move on! The Pride goes to LSU next weekend to face off against the Diamonds again! I was very sad and disappointed to find out that Teresa Wilson has been fired from her position as the Diamonds head coach. I'd like to know what happened but all I can do is wish her the best! Diamonds have had a very good series against the Racers taking the first 3 games of the series and the last game will be played tomorrow. So the as usual the Pride will have their work cut out for them and they better find some offense before next weekend!
Well that is all I have for now! Let's go Pride! Go Huskies! Boomer Sooner! RTR Go Bama! FTG!
Danielle Lawrie pitched the first game on Thursday. It was obvious from the first pitch something was not right. She was messing with her hand constantly between pitches and look completely uncomfortable. She is usually passionate and energetic in the circle and she wasn't. I don't think I saw her smile one time Thursday night. I've watched her pitch many many many times and I can't think of too many times that she looked that uncomfortable. It was very difficult for me to watch. She battled so hard and I was very impressed with her effort but it wasn't enough. She gave way to Sarah Pauly who also struggled. Offense never really got going well and the Pride lost 8-2. Thinking about it now the lack of energy and passion seemed to carry over the rest of the weekend. I'm not blaming anybody, just saying the problems and lack of energy just snow balled from ehre.
Friday night was the typical pitching dual we see between Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman every series between the Bandits and the Pride. Monica Abbott again got the best of the Pride and 1 hit them AGAIN. Cat pitched a great game and pitched her heart out but the Bandits managed to score a run(AGAIN) and that was all they needed. This was the least disappointing game of the weekend but that's not saying much.
Yesterday Sarah Pauly got the start and didn't even make it out of the 2nd inning before being pulled for Danielle Lawrie. I was surprised to say the least to see this but Danielle looked very good. There was more drama between Danielle and Megan Wiggins and I thought we were going to see a fight between not just them but the benches for both teams. Honestly I've never seen anything quite like that in the NPF. I think emotions were boiling already and that was just the fire to light the fuse. I was glad to see Danielle looking better and you could tell she felt better! The offense was slow and sluggish getting started but made a late game rally. They were facing the Bandits statistically worst pitcher(she came into the game with an 8.98 ERA) and still couldn't come away with a win, just one of the many disappointments of the weekend. They lost 10-7.
And then today. I think it might actually go down as the most disappointing game of the whole series. Brittany Mack got the start and like Sarah Pauly yesterday didn't even make it out of the 2nd. She just didn't have her best stuff at all today. They brought in Cat Osterman again and she did a great job not allowing the Bandits to score again. But the offense was already on the plane headed back to Orlando apparently because it certainly wasn't on that field. Pride had lots of base runners but nobody to step up and get the big hit. They only scraped up 1 run. They had the bases loaded and 1 out in the 6th against Monica Abbott who came in to get the save and walked away with nothing to show for it. So the Bandits completed the sweep with a 3-1 win. I've been watching the Pride for several seasons now and I can't really ever remember a time that they got swept. Not just swept but never really in any 4 of the games.
I don't know what happened in all honesty. I wish I did because if it was something simple enough that I could point to it, the team could too and make an easy fix. But I have noticed a few things. First off, coaches spent the whole weekend trying to get Watley and Mendoza going. I'm honestly not sure whats going on with Watley this summer but she has been less than impressive to say the least. Obviously something is wrong because she has logged only 1 game at SS all season. Mendoza just joined the team again this weekend because she was doing WCS with ESPN. She actually got going pretty well but throwing her back in the lineup seemed to kind of throw things off. I don't know maybe it's just a matter of some time and finding that rhythm. I really felt though that they wasted too much time with the one lineup that wasn't producing. You've got ladies sitting on that bench who would love to get a chance to hit too! I don't understand how they expect these ladies to find their rhythm when they aren't being allowed to hit more than 1 or maybe twice in a series. I think they need to not be set on one lineup and switch things around here and there. I think they have great players sitting on the bench, who deserve the chance to play as well! I've always enjoyed the chemistry, the passion, and energy that this team plays with. But I felt that was missing this series, especially the energy. My hope is this is the low point in the season and things go up from here! Because this weekend was certainly a huge low. I hope they can find some confidence, passion, and energy and change this around. I feel for them and I know they are all extremely disappointed with this series. I know they are all asking themselves the same things I'm trying to answer. Positive thing about this weekend is, no championship trophy was handed out and there is still a lot of season left to be played. Another positive is the Pride doesn't play the Bandits in Rosemont again in the regular season(Thank God because honestly guys I couldn't listen to the Bandit announcers do one more game and not say something to someone! They are some of the worst announcers I've personally ever heard! If they could learn to pronounce the players names it would help a ton!). These women are professionals and I fully believe they'll turn this around that we haven't seen or heard the last from them! But ugh this weekend was not fun! If it was so not fun for me I can only imagine how it was for them!
Well time to forget this weekend and move on! The Pride goes to LSU next weekend to face off against the Diamonds again! I was very sad and disappointed to find out that Teresa Wilson has been fired from her position as the Diamonds head coach. I'd like to know what happened but all I can do is wish her the best! Diamonds have had a very good series against the Racers taking the first 3 games of the series and the last game will be played tomorrow. So the as usual the Pride will have their work cut out for them and they better find some offense before next weekend!
Well that is all I have for now! Let's go Pride! Go Huskies! Boomer Sooner! RTR Go Bama! FTG!
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