2017 Softball

[VULB#62]

The softball team started the season with a sweep this weekend at the N.C. A&T softball tournament. Good going ladies! 

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/16135/crusaders-close-out-perfect-opening-weekend-sunday/#.WKsblRiZMo8

[valpotx]

They seem to have improved on the pitching front, which bodes well for the season

[hailcrusaders]

Nadler followed Stevens to North Dakota, if that hasn't been established yet.

[valpotx]

Interesting.  I don't believe that she is the one that was the reason that Stevens had to 'quit.' 

[valpotx]

We are now 10-4.  Our pitching is fantastic this year, so it will be a fun season.

[vu72]

really looking good with plenty of power!!

[vusupporter]

While it didn't result in a win, the team's 1-0 loss midweek at top-10 Alabama was maybe the most impressive result of the season - softball is much like women's basketball, where it's very top-heavy - the top-25 are many steps above the rest of the nation and the top-10 or so are even further elevated. It's not unusual to look through Horizon League results and see teams get run-ruled by 10+ runs in five-inning games against top-25 teams. For us to stand in down at Alabama and only lose 1-0 is pretty darn good.

[VULB#62]

Fast forward to April 6.  With their 4-0 shutout of UWGB, the softball team is now 19-10.  The ladies are doing some good things.

[bbtds]

Fat Fast forward to April 6.

Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. 

[VULB#62]

Fat forward to April 6.

Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. 

Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours     .  To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend aa strike through and entry of the correct word   .

[bbtds]

Fat Fast forward to April 6.

Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. 

Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours     .  To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend (a)a strike through and entry of the correct word   .

Fixed, but now it's memorialized in your post     Let's see, how could you fix it?   

[valpotx]

It looks like it will come down to UIC and Valpo, with our current pace.  We have some solid pitchers, and some power in our lineup, so we can do some damage.

[VULB#62]

Fat Fast forward to April 6.

Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. 

Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours     .  To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend (a)a strike through and entry of the correct word   .

Fixed, but now it's memorialized in your post     Let's see, how could you fix it?   

Not gonna.  Hell, no body pulls the string on a post 

[bbtds]

Fat Fast forward to April 6.

Let's not disparage our heavier athletes. 

Fixed it, but now it is memorialized in yours     .  To retain the thrust of your humor, I'd recommend (a)a strike through and entry of the correct word   .

Fixed, but now it's memorialized in your post     Let's see, how could you fix it?   

No gonna.  Hell, no body pulls the string on a post 

This guy did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1ouMDZeMC4

[IndyValpo]

Curious what happened to Lawton. She had started every game at CF for 2 seasons, the first nine this year and then.....did she get hurt?

Same question about Moreno at SS...

[vusupporter]

Perhaps lost in the MVC buzz is softball's success, especially over the past week:
- A three-game sweep of Wright State in the final home weekend to finish in third place
- Sam Stewart gets named Horizon League Player of the Year and was National Player of the Week this past week
- Jorgi Calombaris gets First Team as well, and Carly Trepanier gets Second Team
- Team starts the league tournament with a 1-0 win over Oakland, who swept them during the regular season

Here's to a repeat this weekend!

Indy: Taylor Lawson got hurt down at Alabama and is expected to apply for a medical redshirt. Steph Moreno was hurt the first part of the year, Jaymee Lawton earned the starting SS job, and Moreno has pinch-hit and occasionally played DP since.

[VULB#62]

1st loss.  Gotta run the table now.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17416/softball-falls-to-youngstown-state-thursday/#.WRWl21KZMo8

[talksalot]

Doesn't look good for the Crusaders in this win-or-go-home game... UDM just slammed, in the 5th to make it 8-0.  Valpo with 2 hits on the day.

Hate to see a good season come to an end.... they need to score or the game ends.

[valpotx]

Samantha Stewart was ridiculously good.  She was intentionally walked around 10 times in the last week.  Good season gals, and on to the MVC!

[talksalot]

Lifetime results for VU vs. MVC teams in Softball...

Loyola 24-37
Missouri State 1-1 (SwMOSt we were 0-1)
Southern Illinois 0-1
Indiana State 2-8
Illinois State 0-2
Evansville 3-12
Drake 1-5
Bradley 1-4
... Northern Iowa?  Never Played 'em

We haven't played a Valley team since a 3-game sweep by Loyola in April 2013.

                          Conference            Overall
     Team                   W   L   T   Pct       W   L   T   Pct
     UNI.................  20   6   0  .769      32  18   0  .640
     Illinois State......  20   6   0  .769      30  20   0  .600
     Southern Illinois...  17   8   0  .680      30  22   0  .577
     Wichita State.......  16   9   0  .640      31  19   0  .620
     Drake...............  11  15   0  .423      28  27   0  .509
     Evansville..........  11  15   0  .423      20  33   0  .377
     Missouri State......  10  16   0  .385      23  25   0  .479
     Loyola..............   9  17   0  .346      27  25   0  .519
     Indiana State.......   8  18   0  .308      24  29   0  .453
     Bradley.............   7  19   0  .269      21  32   0  .396

[valpotx]

...other than the 4-3 loss in 8 innings at Loyola this season

[VULB#62]

We get an NJCAA All-American pitcher from Illinois.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17444/packard-named-njcaa-all-american/#.WTGFA8aZMo8

[FWalum]

I know nothing about the competitiveness of JC Softball, but those stats are very impressive. Let's hope they come close to holding up in the MVC, if they do then watch out!

[valporun]

We get an NJCAA All-American pitcher from Illinois.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17444/packard-named-njcaa-all-american/#.WTGFA8aZMo8

The program she's coming from is in my hometown. This college softball program was dead for so long, and the current coach came in six years ago, changed the culture of the program the freshmen and sophomores that year bought into his system, and they've now won 4 consecutive national championships at the D-III level of NJCAA softball. The team Packard was on this season was 52-3, and dominated the national championship tournament. In the championship series, they scored 41 runs in 4 games, and in those same 4 games, they gave up an astonishing ZERO runs, including a championship drubbing of 20-0 in 7 innings. Packard will come in with a great attitude, and ready to play championship softball!

[vu72]

We get an NJCAA All-American pitcher from Illinois.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/softball/news/2016-17/17444/packard-named-njcaa-all-american/#.WTGFA8aZMo8

The program she's coming from is in my hometown. This college softball program was dead for so long, and the current coach came in six years ago, changed the culture of the program the freshmen and sophomores that year bought into his system, and they've now won 4 consecutive national championships at the D-III level of NJCAA softball. The team Packard was on this season was 52-3, and dominated the national championship tournament. In the championship series, they scored 41 runs in 4 games, and in those same 4 games, they gave up an astonishing ZERO runs, including a championship drubbing of 20-0 in 7 innings. Packard will come in with a great attitude, and ready to play championship softball!

So how does D3 NJCAA softball equate to D1 softball?  Not sure Valpo would be interested in a D3 NJCAA basketball player even if they were an All American at that level.