Softball 2011

okinawatyphoon · March 26, 2011, 07:32:52 PM

Let's give a big congratulations to the ladies for defeating Michigan State and winning 8 in a row! Great start to the season.

vuweathernerd · March 26, 2011, 07:34:47 PM

and to alex lagesse for her perfect game against detroit this afternoon.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/news/default/173/10637/

boomdad · March 26, 2011, 08:21:25 PM

Very nice to beat Mich state. Think they set another record for wins after the 2 games with Detroit today. Nice Job Ladies

valpo04 · March 30, 2011, 08:57:11 AM

11 in a row!

QuoteValparaiso concluded a perfect start to Horizon League play this weekend with a 7-1 victory Sunday afternoon over Detroit at the Valparaiso University Softball Field, completing a three-game sweep of the Titans and registering their 11th consecutive victory, an on-going program record.

Unlike Saturday, when the Crusaders scored in their first time at-bat both games, it took a few innings for them to crack the scoreboard on Sunday, as Valpo stranded a pair of runners on base in each of the opening two innings. The Crusaders finally got on the board in the third, as junior Sara Strickland (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) poked a one-out double to the right-center gap.

Two batters later, junior Jordan Rutkowski (Alden, N.Y./Alden) and senior Sadie Conner (Washington, Ill./Washington) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with two away. Junior Kelsey Phalen (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) stepped up, fought back from an 0-2 count to get a full count and then hit a hard grounder back up the middle to score Strickland and Rutkowski for a 2-0 Valpo lead.

The Crusaders then broke the game open in the fourth inning. Freshman Amanda Wisniewski (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) led off the inning with a double, and two batters later, fellow rookie Angie Doerffler (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) singled and advanced to second on the throw in to third base. With two runners in scoring position, Strickland swung at the first pitch and lined a single into right, scoring both runners. A misplay by the Titans' right fielder allowed the ball to get all the way to the fence, and the speedy Strickland scampered all the way home on the play, increasing the lead to 5-0.

First-pitch swings got the job done for the next two Crusader hitters as well. Senior KC Boldt (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing) lined a single into left and advanced to second on an error by Detroit's left fielder, while Rutkowski followed with a fly ball into left that fell in for an RBI double, scoring Boldt. Following a pitching change, Phalen stepped in and delivered her third RBI of the day with a double to left to plate Rutkowski and make it 7-0 Valpo.

While the Crusaders were unable to add to their lead in their final two times at the plate, seven runs was more than plenty on Sunday. Junior Alex Lagesse (Beecher, Ill./Beecher) couldn't match her perfect game performance of Saturday, but was nearly as good, allowing just one hit in her four shutout innings of work to improve to 6-5 on the year. Junior Shaleigh Jansen (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa Township) allowed a run in the fifth inning, but escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam with no further damage and went on to pitch the final three innings, picking up her third save of the year.

Detroit (4-11, 0-3 Horizon) starting pitcher Karyn McCarty took the loss on Sunday, surrendering all seven runs in 3.1 innings of work. Doerffler, Phalen and Strickland all had multi-hit games as the Crusaders pounded out 10 hits in the series finale, including five doubles. Rutkowski and Strickland both scored a pair of runs, while Phalen led the way with her three RBIs.

Valparaiso (18-10, 3-0 Horizon) steps out of league play mid-week as the Crusaders travel to take on Northern Illinois in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m., with live stats and live chat available at www.valpoathletics.com.

sectionee · March 30, 2011, 10:47:36 AM

Well done team! I saw yesterday that it looks like they put up some more bleachers over there at the softball field.

okinawatyphoon · March 30, 2011, 12:25:33 PM

Quote from: sectionee on March 30, 2011, 10:47:36 AM
Well done team! I saw yesterday that it looks like they put up some more bleachers over there at the softball field.

Yeah, there were a number of improvements to the field recently. If someone could take some pictures of the recent upgrades, that would be great!

valporun · March 30, 2011, 01:29:54 PM

Quote from: okinawatyphoon on March 30, 2011, 12:25:33 PM
Quote from: sectionee on March 30, 2011, 10:47:36 AM
Well done team! I saw yesterday that it looks like they put up some more bleachers over there at the softball field.
Yeah, there were a number of improvements to the field recently. If someone could take some pictures of the recent upgrades, that would be great!

I believe the VU Softball blog has some pictures of some of the work done, with adding in bullpen/warmup spaces for pitching, bleachers and other improvements made.

vu72 · March 30, 2011, 04:55:27 PM

Not sure but believe there is chairback seating and a two story pressbox, as well as other improvements.

okinawatyphoon · March 30, 2011, 08:45:00 PM

Make that 13 in a row now! The women easily down Northern Illinois in a doubleheader. Also, there are some pictures on the blog. Thanks for pointing that out, valporun!

valporun · March 30, 2011, 09:44:37 PM

Quote from: okinawatyphoon on March 30, 2011, 08:45:00 PM
Make that 13 in a row now! The women easily down Northern Illinois in a doubleheader. Also, there are some pictures on the blog. Thanks for pointing that out, valporun!

You're welcome!

new2ff · March 31, 2011, 09:59:05 PM

This team and coach really have things going. May be best coaching staff and team for Valpo this year.

FWalum · April 01, 2011, 05:32:58 PM

What about the two freshman!! Freshman Angie Doerffler has been spectacular, starting all 30 games at Short Stop and also second on the team in batting average. That girl is one heck of an athlete. Wisniewski has also been very impressive, she is third on the team in batting average.

Player AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%
1 STRICKLAND, Sara.... .410 30-30 100 24 41 9 0 2 17 56 .560 10 2 10 1 .469 1 1 13-14 24 2 1 .963
2 DOERFFLER, Angie.... .365 30-30 85 27 31 8 1 0 9 41 .482 7 4 12 0 .438 0 2 2-3 31 71 7 .936
3 WISNIEWSKI, Amanda..345 23-20 58 13 20 2 1 3 10 33 .569 10 0 20 0 .441 0 0 1-1 33 26 2 .967

new2ff · April 01, 2011, 06:21:35 PM

Quote from: FWalum on April 01, 2011, 05:32:58 PM
What about the two freshman!! Freshman Angie Doerffler has been spectacular, starting all 30 games at Short Stop and also second on the team in batting average. That girl is one heck of an athlete. Wisniewski has also been very impressive, she is third on the team in batting average.

Player AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%
1 STRICKLAND, Sara.... .410 30-30 100 24 41 9 0 2 17 56 .560 10 2 10 1 .469 1 1 13-14 24 2 1 .963
2 DOERFFLER, Angie.... .365 30-30 85 27 31 8 1 0 9 41 .482 7 4 12 0 .438 0 2 2-3 31 71 7 .936
3 WISNIEWSKI, Amanda..345 23-20 58 13 20 2 1 3 10 33 .569 10 0 20 0 .441 0 0 1-1 33 26 2 .967

Great job of recruiting by coach Stevens. Also, all 3 will be back next year.

valporun · April 01, 2011, 10:38:13 PM

Was it Coach Stevens who did this recruiting, or was it Coach Schneider before the opportunity to be an assistant at Wisconsin opened up? I'm not sure who recruited these players, but whichever coach it was did a great job.

KL31NY · April 01, 2011, 10:53:30 PM

Quote from: valporun on April 01, 2011, 10:38:13 PM
Was it Coach Stevens who did this recruiting, or was it Coach Schneider before the opportunity to be an assistant at Wisconsin opened up? I'm not sure who recruited these players, but whichever coach it was did a great job.

Credit for obtaining these players goes to Schneider. Both players were inked by April 2010 and Stevens wasn't here until September 2010.

I will say Stevens gets credit for how he's using them on the team. With Marinec and Ichiyama not playing, the pair needed to step up, and they are contributing extremely well. Doerffler and Strickland in the #2 and #3 spots respectively has been very effective and Wisniewski is a great bat for the 9th spot to turn over the lineup. Plus, their defense has been great. Looking forward to see where they and the team go the rest of the year...

boomdad · April 02, 2011, 01:28:12 PM

Even though the prep class of 2011 was recruited initially by Schneider it was completed by the New coach. They will be his first class of recruits. Even though he did not recruit the current players he along with the rest of the coaching staff have moved things forward at a very nice pace and made things work with who they have. Fantastic job by all. Beating a big 10 and a big 12 team as a mid major is by its self a pretty impressive feat. Nice job Ladies and coaches. Keep it going

new2ff · April 02, 2011, 08:06:36 PM

Quote from: boomdad on April 02, 2011, 01:28:12 PM
Even though the prep class of 2011 was recruited initially by Schneider it was completed by the New coach. They will be his first class of recruits. Even though he did not recruit the current players he along with the rest of the coaching staff have moved things forward at a very nice pace and made things work with who they have. Fantastic job by all. Beating a big 10 and a big 12 team as a mid major is by its self a pretty impressive feat. Nice job Ladies and coaches. Keep it going

Not sure that is the way it works, I think his first class will be 2011-12 players. Does not really make a difference they are doing a good job with players either way.

Does anyone know about a big power hitter that coach Schneider had signed as a junior? I think she is from Ohio or Michigan, did she sign?

boomdad · April 02, 2011, 10:49:07 PM

Does anyone know about a big power hitter that coach Schneider had signed as a junior? I think she is from Ohio or Michigan, did she sign?

It wont let me post links but look at the news from 11-11-2010 Under signings

vuweathernerd · April 02, 2011, 11:17:24 PM

that would be the security measures in place to prevent spammings. you'll be allowed to when you're not classified as a new member (not too long).

ValpoDad · April 04, 2011, 06:31:35 AM

The current freshman are reaping the benefits of not having Randy around. He never saw a swing he couldn't tinker with.

valporun · April 04, 2011, 02:38:53 PM

Randy also had a major fetish with platooning pitchers as well. Even if the pitcher was throwing a good game. He would pull for various situations, pitch limits, or maybe it was something to do with a particular pitch he called for not working well for a pitcher. Very difficult for any one of the pitchers to really develop when they don't get to pitch a complete game, or have the confidence to get out of their own mess.

boomdad · April 05, 2011, 10:04:26 AM

Pretty big test coming up in the next 8 games or so, Big 10 and the top ranked conference teams.

boomdad · April 13, 2011, 08:44:54 PM

Butler,s pitcher seemed to have Valpo,s number. Would have been a big confidence builder to take 2 of 3 from them

FWalum · May 03, 2011, 01:44:05 AM

Looks like the ladies will have to win all three against Cleveland State this week in order to remain atop the Horizon League Softball standings. Loyola, the other top team, plays Detroit which has won only 2 league games this campaign. Hope the Ladies can hang on down the stretch. I would love to go with our friends Dean and Barb Doerffler to some HL Tournament games.

746 · May 03, 2011, 08:45:19 PM

Quote from: ValpoDad on April 04, 2011, 06:31:35 AM
The current freshman are reaping the benefits of not having Randy around. He never saw a swing he couldn't tinker with.

Randy Schneider broke pretty much every hitting record ever recorded at Valpo. In 09, Valpo finished top ten in division1 in hitting. 2010 Valpo sat at number 3 for most of the year. 9 players hit 300 plus in 09 and I believe at least 8 hit that mark in 2010...... How can anyone take your posts serious?