Softball 2016

VULB#62 · November 19, 2015, 05:36:03 PM

Remember the two years we won the HL? It was't that long ago. Hopefully these recruits will help to bring us back to the top of the league again.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2015-16/15065/crusader-softball-inks-seven-to-nlis/#.Vk5bvYQ4ko8

valpotx · March 14, 2016, 10:21:27 AM

Taylor has shown glimpses of her prior greatness (FR year) this year! She had a 1 hit, 12 k win against Santa Clara, and has been fairly solid over her last few games. Hopefully this means that she found her FR self, as she was outstanding that season.

vu72 · March 15, 2016, 08:37:37 AM

Quote from: valpotx on March 14, 2016, 10:21:27 AM
Taylor has shown glimpses of her prior greatness (FR year) this year! She had a 1 hit, 12 k win against Santa Clara, and has been fairly solid over her last few games. Hopefully this means that she found her FR self, as she was outstanding that season.

Remember that she didn't have a pitching coach last year. Apparently she has a good one this year!!

vu72 · May 12, 2016, 05:54:45 PM

Softball has found their grove! After a win yesterday versus #3 seed YSU, Valpo, a #6 seed, beat #2 seed WSU!! Lots of action but several teams now face elimination games while Valpo plays on in the winner bracket. GO VALPO!!

valpotx · May 12, 2016, 10:13:27 PM

Taylor has found her game in the second half of the season. She can be a dominating pitcher, as demonstrated during her FR season. All it takes is a solid pitcher and some timely hitting, and you can earn an NCAA bid!

vu72 · May 13, 2016, 04:15:52 PM

Valpo takes down UIC and the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, 1-0, on...are you ready??? ONE HIT!!!!!!

On to the title game tomorrow!!!

GO VALPO!!!!!

VULB#62 · May 13, 2016, 04:29:57 PM

HOLY COW

That's great!

Just to be clear. Valpo had only one hit. We did not throw a 1 hitter. UIC did. Weissehofer threw a 3 hitter for Valpo. She had 11 SO and scattered 5 BB.

vu72 · May 13, 2016, 06:12:12 PM

So UIC beats WSU to advance to the title game versus us. We need one win, UIC needs two.

covufan · May 13, 2016, 06:45:29 PM

Quote from: vu72 on May 13, 2016, 06:12:12 PM
So UIC beats WSU to advance to the title game versus us. We need one win, UIC needs two.

The HL site has WSU beating UIC. It will be WSU versus us tomorrow.

vu72 · May 13, 2016, 08:24:03 PM

Quote from: covufan on May 13, 2016, 06:45:29 PM
Quote from: vu72 on May 13, 2016, 06:12:12 PM
So UIC beats WSU to advance to the title game versus us. We need one win, UIC needs two.

Not sure how I misread the score but, on to WSU! I'd rather face them than Heflin (POY) again after getting only one hit off of her today.

agibson · May 13, 2016, 09:16:36 PM

Quote from: covufan on May 13, 2016, 06:45:29 PMThe HL site has WSU beating UIC. It will be WSU versus us tomorrow.

Wow - what a run! After we just squeaked into the HL tournament on a tiebreaker.

I've not been following... but presumably one has to like our chances? Two chances for one win, on a neutral field? (Wright State must be sore about not hosting, I'm assuming it's #1 seed hosting, being the second seed by virtue of the same number of wins as UIC, but one additional loss).

valpotx · May 13, 2016, 09:50:34 PM

It will be 2 chances, and will most likely be the #1 pitchers for both teams throwing both games. Again, Taylor is a POY-caliber pitcher when she throws like she has over the second half of this season. Watching our run to the NCAA tourney during her FR year, she was absolutely electric. She walks people more now, but has really cut down on the hits that bogged her down earlier in the season. We can be a dangerous 18-32 team in the NCAA tourney with her on her game.

agibson · May 13, 2016, 09:55:09 PM

Tempting to try to get up for the game. But, after a 3rd grade basketball game, I'd be lucky to get there by 1:30 PM. Probably only time for an inning or so? Or, the second game, if needed. Hmm...

The men's tennis is going on at Northwestern as well, but I don't think I'd be a very good tennis fan. Don't know much about the game...

VUfan · May 14, 2016, 03:42:07 PM

Valpo 5 WSU 4 in 8 innings

a great day!!!

talksalot · May 14, 2016, 03:47:04 PM

5-4 VALPO !!

Scoring 4 in the bottom of the 7th to tie... and a run in the 8th to take the title! We will be very close to the bottom seed in the NCAA's... #6 seed in the HL tournament...with a record of 18-32 !!

(speaking of NCAA... Nwestern leads VU 4-1 in men's tennis... tied 1-set apiece in #1 singles...down a set at #6...)... no looking good)

vu72 · May 14, 2016, 04:14:06 PM

Quote from: talksalot on May 14, 2016, 03:47:04 PM
5-4 VALPO !!

Scoring 4 in the bottom of the 7th to tie... and a run in the 8th to take the title! We will be very close to the bottom seed in the NCAA's... #6 seed in the HL tournament...with a record of 18-32 !!

(speaking of NCAA... Nwestern leads VU 4-1 in men's tennis... tied 1-set apiece in #1 singles...down a set at #6...)... no looking good)

Saw the final play. With a runner on second, (not our fastest player) we hit a long ball over the right fielder's head that went to the wall. Our runner had held up to make sure it wasn't caught and then a break for home. The relay to the plate was perfect and our runner barely beat the throw to clinch the win!! Very exciting.

As for the men's tennis team, they did lose 4-1 but were battling in almost every match. Everyone who played today will be back next year with two very good freshman being aded to the mix. Don't be surprised if they advance in next year's tourney. A terrific year, nonetheless.

valpotx · May 14, 2016, 07:00:04 PM

I was watching the live stats for the game today, and kept thinking that if we can get Ranieri up with people on, we would have a chance. She hasn't been the same hitter this season as in previous seasons, but her team picked her up! The weird thing is that as an 18-32 team, if Taylor keeps pitching well, we can actually upset someone in the NCAA tourney. Great job girls, in securing our 3rd bid in team history!

VULB#62 · May 14, 2016, 09:34:50 PM

Congrats ladies! Not often a Valpo team pulls off such a major series of upsets and then concludes with the real deal at the end. I was waiting for the buble to burst, but I am so happy it didn't. Heres hoping the team can continue the momentum into and beyond the first round.

agibson · May 14, 2016, 09:34:58 PM

My son's basketball activities this morning ran late, so I decided it wasn't worth trying to catch the end of the first game (with an extra inning, it might have been worth it, with 20-20 hindsight). Instead, thinking of the low scoring games Valpo's been playing, I figured I'd wait to see if Valpo happened to get in a hole, and then drive up for the second game. Was a tragic first HR they gave up - ball caught (only visible in slow motion) before she collided with the wall in the outfield, hitting the fence flipped her glove over, and she lost the ball over the fence. Was ruled a HR. And, in the emotional aftermath, gave up a second one immediately after. I figured that was the first game, told my son it was 90% chance of a Valpo loss, and hopped in the car to head into the city and catch the second.

What a come back!

Did at least get there in time to see the final score on the scoreboard. And didn't even have to pay for parking!

The kids didn't mind a short visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (two days in a row!) in lieu of the softball.

When's the selection show?

valpotx · May 14, 2016, 09:50:09 PM

We will most likely be playing the #1 or #2 national seed, unless there are multiple upsets in conference tourneys. Something worthy of consideration is that YSU won the HL baseball tourney a few years back as a 6 seed, and actually won 1 game in the regional round of the NCAA tourney. We can do the same, and build up some experience heading into next year. We will have to replace Taylor and Ranieri as they graduate, but have the bulk of our top contributors back next season.

valpo84 · May 14, 2016, 10:46:57 PM

That 4-run comeback was one of the best Valpo sports moments I've ever watched live or on TV. Congrats to ladies on that comeback. The almost catch by the CF in the 5th was heartbreaking but they never quit. Good luck in the Tourney!

agibson · May 15, 2016, 01:45:44 AM

Quote from: agibson on May 14, 2016, 09:34:58 PMWhen's the selection show?

from valpoathletics.com:

Quote
Valparaiso (18-32) will learn its destination and opponents for the regional round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament on Sunday evening as ESPNU televises the tournament selection show at 9 p.m. CT.

covufan · May 15, 2016, 10:50:15 PM

Congrats to the softball team. What an amazing run! Keep it going another few games!

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covufan · May 15, 2016, 10:55:53 PM

Looks like it is Ann Arbor regional against #2 seed Michigan. Good luck ladies!

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covufan · May 16, 2016, 10:18:19 AM

These things also happened on Saturday:

https://twitter.com/Jen_Beck20/status/731578448519540736

https://twitter.com/ValpoSoftball/status/731602590585229312