NCAA Softball Regionals: Michigan vs. Washington Open Thread

Submitted by Wendyk5 on

Wolverines strike first. 1-0, mid first off Kelly Christner's homerun. Go Blue!

JWG Wolverine

May 20th, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^

Ugh. Not a good start at all. At least that Betsa breakdown happened this early in a game where it was questionable whether we would play her anyway. Now she can rest for a possible elimination game which would be WAY more important for her to start.

SpikeFan2016

May 20th, 2017 at 6:07 PM ^

I don't think Hutch had any reason to pull Betsa so early. 

 

Obviously it's not worth it to put her back in now because this is an automatic loss, but bizarre coaching too. 

Solecismic

May 20th, 2017 at 6:12 PM ^

I'm good with the decision. They can't win if Blanco can't give them good innings. Washington has an elite top-to-bottom lineup. They did this to many teams this season, and Michigan hasn't faced a team this good since the early tournaments. Obviously, moving on to the supers is a huge long-shot now, but what do they have to lose? Hope for a good repeat against Fresno State (they have the same pitching issues, with even a larger gap between Dung and their other pitchers). Maybe Betsa gets in a groove tomorrow.

Solecismic

May 20th, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

The women's sports work differently because girls mature faster. The recruiting trail is years in the making. Next year's class has two top prospects (one offense, one pitching). But, of course, no Betsa. It's hard to get top players to come here when they can't play outdoors at home until the season is half-way over. Hutch has done an incredible job building the program, but it's going to be difficult to catch up to the SEC and the top Pac-12 schools. Her run of reaching the regionals is Hall-of-Fame worthy given the constraints of the Big Ten. I'm sure she's hitting the recruiting trail as well as one can here.

Maizen

May 20th, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^

I still don't understand why baseball and softball don't start later in the year than they do now. Totally unfair to northern schools to have to be on the road as much as they are to start the season. You're right though, Hutch will get things right. There are a lot of good players that would love to play here I'm sure of it.

Solecismic

May 20th, 2017 at 6:38 PM ^

It's just something we sacrifice, I guess. It already seems a bit strange to have a sport going long after the winter term has ended. Obviously, men's basketball and football are mini-pro teams because of the money, but I'd like to think that everyone else still represents their fellow students first and foremost. Makes 2005 and Hutch's entire career all the more impressive.

ckersh74

May 20th, 2017 at 6:51 PM ^

Son of a bitch. 

UW makes 2 errors and gives us runners on the corners and then we GIDP to end the inning without doing any damage. 

I fear that might have been our last best shot today. 

Solecismic

May 20th, 2017 at 7:12 PM ^

Ouch. Previous high for runs allowed this season was six. I hope Blanco gets another shot in this regional. This has to be tough on her.

freejs

May 20th, 2017 at 7:19 PM ^

but the team just doesn't seem to have the tenacity and fire of recent years past? Obviously, Romo changed the feel of the whole lineup and that whole leadership core was excellent. 

This team seems sloppy and unsure of itself, like no one really was able to take the leadership reigns? 

I was really frustrated by the play when we ran right into the tag so that Christner could be doubled up at first. That's just bad baseball/softball. Not a play a mentally sharp team makes. 

Hutch is the best, so it's sad to see us fall off. 

What kills me? Romo has anything like her underclassmen WCWS last year and I think we win it all. I still think if we had won that thriller from Oklahoma in the 2nd game we would have won it all. Romo seemed to press the whole WCWS and just wasn't herself. Wish we could have gotten both Romo's to come here. Then we *definitely* would have won it all last year. 

My 2005 shirts are getting old and beat up. Wish to hell I could have gotten a new one from one of the last few years. 

 

Maizen

May 20th, 2017 at 8:14 PM ^

I said the recruiting had taken a dip two years ago and I was chastised and laughed at. Romo's senior class covered up a ton of deficiencies within the rest of the roster.

It's really simple, Michigan needs to recruit higher ranked players. Worst season in 20 years and next year doesn't look any brighter. 

Wolvie3758

May 20th, 2017 at 7:21 PM ^

That went pretty much as expected...Itll be weird to not see Michigan even in a Super Regional 

chatster

May 20th, 2017 at 8:50 PM ^

This makes you appreciate the work that Carol Hutchins has been able to do during her time at Michigan.  Because of the inability to play outdoors throughout the year in Ann Arbor, it’s hard for Michigan to get the best softball players in the United States to enroll at the University.  Finding one top-level pitcher isn’t easy, let alone finding two, along with some outstanding hitters and defensive players who are willing to join the Wolverines softball family.  It requires some exceptional recruiting and a strong record of developing great players.
 
Even as good as Michigan softball has been with Carol Hutchins as head coach, going forward, as she’s entering her 60s, you might have to wonder how often Carol Hutchins will be able to land a player the caliber of Jennie Ritter or Sierra Romero again.
 
If this season marks the beginning of the end of Michigan softball’s dominance in the Big Ten and automatic annual appearances in the NCAA tournament, let alone trips to Super Regionals and the Women’s College World Series, then it’s worth appreciating a woman who, as a freshman, started at shortstop for a college national championship softball team in 1976 at one of Michigan’s rival schools (Michigan State) and years later, like Bo Schembechler, wound up as one of Michigan’s legendary coaches.

freejs

May 20th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^

at her job. She's been sucking at her job year after year - she pulls this shit every WCWS. 

Know how many fucking outs there are, okay? 

It's a simple fucking job. 

She's constantly busy reading promo shit and other scores and doesn't get the most essential part of her job down: pay attention to the fucking game you're calling. 

She also never corrects herself/never apologizes. I find it just insulting to the women's game. Every baseball announcer is embarrassed as hell if they get the outs wrong. As a player, it's a mistake you just cannot make. Same goes for an announcer. 

freejs

May 20th, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^

and it just blows my mind. 

I can't stand MRA aholes giving Mendoza a hard time - I think she's great. 

But Mowins? Getting that kind of high profile bump? It's ridiculous. She has a nice enough voice, but she makes way too many mistakes for an experienced professional. 

(although I'm pretty sure the only reason ESPN is in extremis is because of some truly shitty tv deals they made) 

 

Wolvie3758

May 20th, 2017 at 11:31 PM ^

if Hutchins finds a way to pull this Regional out it would probably be her best best wins outside of the 2005 season..All season long Michigan has struggled against top 20 teams..Uncharacteristic for us.. Washington has alot of REALLY big wins this year including handing Minnesota 2 of its 4 losses in games that werent even close...Beating them twice tommorow?  in Seattle?   MONUMENTAL...and remember they did this at Arizona St a couple years back so its not unheard of.....

freejs

May 20th, 2017 at 11:57 PM ^

is changing channels???

What the fuck is wrong with this woman? 

She's not right in the head. Kind of an important piece of information. Oh, good, though, she got her stupid fucking doughnut.