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Post by sballalumni2 on Sept 28, 2019 13:03:09 GMT -6
This is terrible news. We spent some time with Mike trying to find some property around Troy. Do you know what happened to him during the surgery? He seemed so healthy.
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jul 8, 2019 11:46:44 GMT -6
UAB picks up Madison Preston, transfer pitcher from Alabama!!! Dang Jimmy Kolaitis can recruit.
Scratch above...it looks like she picked Arizona State University instead. Going to the Pac! Thank goodness!
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jul 8, 2019 8:58:20 GMT -6
I heard over the weekend that Annie Willis is going to transfer to Miss State. I hope this doesn't set up a trend of our Sunbelt Freshmen of the Year using Troy to get to the SEC. I really do wish her well, but I wanted us to keep her!!!
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jun 11, 2019 10:15:30 GMT -6
Yeah - I am shocked that starters would leave. I could see Willis possibly ending up at Auburn or an SEC school that needs a pitcher because she was more highly recruited out of high school and has some big awards, but the other two most likely aren't using the portal as a spring board. They better hold on tight to Johnson because I could see her being poached. I have heard that some coaches are encouraging athletes to enter the portal, so it could be a nice way of getting rid of scholarship players. We just don't know the details unless someone wants to share.
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jun 11, 2019 7:33:11 GMT -6
Dang - Willis is in the portal. Her sister played here for 4 years and she was one of the biggest recruits. She could have gone other places and chose Troy, but yet we can't keep her happy. We were poised to have three years in a row of AL Miss Softball, and then something like this. There are a lot of softball players in the portal, so I wonder if she doesn't find a transfer spot if Troy would have her back. Bailey Taylor and Hope Hernandez are also in the portal according to softball America. Taylor hit over .300 as a SO. after getting only 34 at bats her FR year. Hernandez hit .276 as FR in 105 AB's and only .226 as a SO in 93 AB's. Losing those three and the seniors, we will be seeing some new faces on the field next year. Does anyone know if Calhoun is getting a medical redshirt for this past season?
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jun 5, 2019 14:26:04 GMT -6
And...we get an announcement! Tate Moseley from Auburn to Troy. The press release says she will have 4 years left because she took a redshirt, so I am guessing she had some type of injury. She wasn't on the roster, but she was listed as a signee by Mickey Dean. After this one announcement, maybe we can get some more. This portal is like a player draft. Keep them coming!
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jun 5, 2019 8:54:00 GMT -6
ULL announced the addition of Mia Camuso (Oregon starter that played in the WCWS in 2017 and 2018), Callie Martin (Missouri starting OF), and a JUCO pitcher from Miami Dade College. Does Troy have any transfers coming in? Can we get a press release if so? I heard that one of AL pitchers is entering the portal, Preston. Has anyone checked to see if she might want to come just a little farther south and stay in AL? I think she is a lefty. There was no mention of Megan Kliest in the press release, but they sent something out last year stating that she was coming in as a graduate in 2020 to ULL. She pitched for Oregon at WCWS and was an All-American. I hope that fell through.
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jun 3, 2019 7:05:29 GMT -6
Here is the deal - the portal is open! Go get us some hitters off the portal. UAB has already picked up two SEC players. We will forget about the past if the coaches will take some new steps to the future. Don't keep doing the same thing over and over and sitting at home when the conference tournament is over. Work hard. Pound the pavement. Bring in a hitting coach. Get a GA from a different program. Develop a pitching staff (not just an ace).
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 31, 2019 12:17:02 GMT -6
The topic is now firing the coach and or staff that just won more softball games than any team at Troy since 2006? Hemi - you totally missed the first post. Our best out of conference win was against University of North Alabama at RPI #110. Anyone can win games against subpar competition. I like the Coach and I want her to succeed, but something has to change. She needs to get a hitting coach from outside that has been in other successful programs. The RPI that came out on May 11 indicates that Western KY, North Texas, Liberty, SE Mo State, Wichita State, and Texas State are all better than us. We are at RPI #63. My point is that this would not be acceptable in any other program at Troy.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 31, 2019 9:51:11 GMT -6
With the AD Department that is in place right now, there will never be a male coach for softball. Now, if the new AD comes in and cleans house, it could be possible. Heck, with the department in place now, we won't be searching for a softball coach any time soon. They seem to be content with graduating players, keeping them out of trouble, and basically being mid-tier in the Sunbelt. I think they would be fine with a male assistant, but it is pretty difficult to fire the family of another teams head coach. We need some changes and fresh perspectives from an outside program and we need it fast. Bring in a GA or something who can spot talent and develop it.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 28, 2019 15:30:07 GMT -6
3. Can someone explain why it seems that the players batting averages go down starting from freshmen year to senior year? Are we teaching one way to hit to everyone? cornhole no softball scholar for certain, but as young player gets rep for good hitter, opponent pitcher have information to pitch to weakness of former good hitter? I would say this could be an explanation if the other teams spent time scouting, but why on earth would they worry about Troy's .200 hitters. I suspect that Troy has a hitting philosophy that they try to teach to everyone or they just can't spot talent. I would love an explanation. I know when I played they tried to change my swing because they wanted the whole team to hit the same way, but that was under a previous staff. Another thing could be they struggle with the mental side of coaching. I have heard that several of the key players went "mental" and couldn't throw strikes, or couldn't hit, etc. It is a common thing in softball/baseball, but the coaches need help or training so that the players can overcome. The old sophomore slump per say.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 28, 2019 8:02:23 GMT -6
The NIT champions are from the Sunbelt. UT-Arlington wins it. They played an extra 6 games and won with a walk off hit against Iowa State. I am telling you they will be a better team next year for playing and getting some post season experience. Troy swept them at home this year. They get to end their season with a win.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 13, 2019 9:38:37 GMT -6
I would have put my softball recap on this thread, but just saw it. Please go read it before you say they had a good year. The best out of conference win was RPI #110 North Alabama. They should have 100% gone to the NIT - I followed the NIT two years ago and the team that won it played an extra 10 games. The very next year they went to the NCAA and won a game against the regional host. It makes a big difference in getting playing time for the younger players, which we had a lot of, and it will be worth every penny to get that kind of experience. I would have even donated toward it.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 13, 2019 9:32:13 GMT -6
Haha - there has to be someone out there that cares about softball! BTW - I feel certain we got invited to the NIT and turned it down because Appalachian State and UT-Arlington are going and we finished higher than both of them. We really need to play in that tournament to get more playing time for the younger players. It can't be that expensive!
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 13, 2019 8:25:01 GMT -6
I was only able to see two games in person, but watched and followed stats as much as I could. We need some changes in our program if we are ever going to make the NCAA tournament. Usually the Sunbelt is a two bid league, but Troy the #2 didn't have enough to get an at-large bid. The 5/11/19 RPI has Troy at #63, with a record of 37-20. The best win was RPI 62 at Texas State. Troy didn't beat a team out of conference with an RPI less than 110, and that win was against North Alabama. Against the NCAA teams that made the tournament we were (0-11) and were outscored 8 to 77 (this includes AL, MO, Auburn, North Dakota State, SC, LSU, ULx3, FSU). Our #63 RPI is only because we did have a tough out of conference schedule, but we didn't win any of the games. Here are some tips from this keyboard cowgirl:
1. Can we please recruit some JUCO kids that can hit? If Alabama will put a JUCO pitcher from Chipola in to start the SEC championship game, I think good old Troy can get out there and do some recruiting in the Panhandle Conference. You have a hot bed of talent right here in the FL JUCO's. Go get them, find them, there are hitters in there. If you go back through Troy's history books, you will see that a lot of years a JUCO transfer led the team in hitting. The way the P5's recruit now (25 roster players), the mid-majors are getting left the crumbs. The crumbs are the my parents can pay for me to be on a travel team and go to camp, but I really can't hit. The JUCO players are just under the radar, local, don't play big travel ball, but they are still good players. Let the JUCO coaches do all the work finding them out of high school. It is an easy recipe (see baseball).
2. Let's try to develop a pitching staff. We have two Freshman of the Year pitchers back to back, so why on earth do we have one pitcher throwing 217 IP! Yes, I understand that she was hot and the ace, but she RAN OUT OF GAS. The reason we got the #2 seed was the awesome pitching, but it is impossible to sustain and put a freshmen through that and expect her to be on top of her game in the conference tournament.
3. Can someone explain why it seems that the players batting averages go down starting from freshmen year to senior year? Are we teaching one way to hit to everyone? Recruit kids that can hit and then let them be. I have done the statistical work to prove this, but I don't want to call out any players so I am not going to post it. There is a trend of hitting well your first year in the program, and then slowly getting worse. There are exceptions, but if you analyze you will see this trend.
Anyway, I would love to hear some feedback from the fans that watched the games in person, parents, etc. This is my perspective from the outside/analytics, but I just don't think we can keep doing the same thing and expect different results. We did schedule better teams this year, but those 37 wins are very misleading. Let's schedule some tougher bubble teams and win those games so we have some Top 100 RPI wins - Lipscomb, LA Tech, UCF, Marshall, Jacksonville State, Nicholls St, FGCU, McNeese, Chattanooga - all mid majors within driving distance in Top 100 RPI.
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jan 11, 2019 13:28:10 GMT -6
Steve Spurrier Jr for offense!
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jan 5, 2019 11:33:09 GMT -6
Steve Spurrier Jr is my vote! He has a big name and is ready for a head job. Good mentor in his dad and wants to get back to the South! If not the head coach, then the new offensive coordinator.
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Post by sballalumni2 on Jul 11, 2018 13:46:14 GMT -6
I am pretty sure the Marriott does this also. I would book my room the very day they announced homecoming and sometime later on I would get a letter asking me to fill out some information and making me pay in advance (many months) and it was not cancelable. I haven't done it in the last year or so, but I know it was the case a few years ago.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 29, 2018 7:52:29 GMT -6
If Troy declined the bid, then they are making bad decisions. This team is young and needs experience. They have a pitcher coming off of injury who was the ace in 2017 that needs innings to be effective again and regain her confidence. This would have been a perfect opportunity to get the young players some at bats. I saw on another thread that 3 or 4 teams that went to the NISC last year, made the NCAA this year. Liberty had 10 extra games last year in the NISC and the Coach specifically mentioned what that tourney did to help her team be in a championship situation. I can't believe we would decline. Please list the reasons.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 22, 2018 12:50:39 GMT -6
RPI is a very complex formula and SOS is one component. You can check the team sheets for the nitty gritty, but it is what the NCAA uses to rank the teams. You can't say we had a bunch of wins this year and then bash the RPI rank because we played a weak schedule. We played a weak schedule and therefore had more wins, and we still lost to FAMU, TN Tech, etc. RPI is what I use because it is a mix. We won 4 conference series this year, the three teams that finished dead last and the first place team. Yes, we got hot at the end. Does anyone know why we didn't play in the softball NIT? I saw that UT-Arlington went. It seems with our young team, they would want to get in as many extra games as possible. The NISC Tournament gives an automatic bid to the team that finishes the highest in their conference but doesn't make the NCAA Tournament. Since Texas State was 1st Place and Louisiana was 2nd Place, and both went to the NCAA Tournament, that automatic bid fell to UT-Arlington since they were 3rd Place. It would've been Troy's automatic bid had they not gotten swept by USA during the last weekend of the regular season. Good to know. I thought they would pick some at-large teams to round out the bracket.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 21, 2018 11:58:59 GMT -6
RPI is a very complex formula and SOS is one component. You can check the team sheets for the nitty gritty, but it is what the NCAA uses to rank the teams. You can't say we had a bunch of wins this year and then bash the RPI rank because we played a weak schedule. We played a weak schedule and therefore had more wins, and we still lost to FAMU, TN Tech, etc. RPI is what I use because it is a mix. We won 4 conference series this year, the three teams that finished dead last and the first place team. Yes, we got hot at the end. Does anyone know why we didn't play in the softball NIT? I saw that UT-Arlington went. It seems with our young team, they would want to get in as many extra games as possible.
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Post by sballalumni2 on May 17, 2018 14:24:01 GMT -6
Wow! I haven't checked the sight in a while, and I came back to all of this softball talk. I was at the Texas State series and watched the entire Sunbelt tournament on ESPN+. The team made great strides at the end, but we only finished with an RPI of #98. We lack consistency and I am sorry but you need to beat the teams you are supposed to beat. UL finished #22, Texas State #28, GA State #64, South AL #69, UT-Arlington #83, and GA Southern #84. If this was football, you guys would be going crazy being worse than all of those teams. I do think the pitching coach was a great hire, as you can clearly see confidence in them. Yes, they were much better than last year, which was the worst season of all time. I am hoping we can build off this and we should be better next year with all of the returners. Do you think the coach gets a contract extension?
Also, for those of you complaining about hurt feelings, I am almost positive no one has said anything on here that the coach doesn't already know. I want the softball team to be treated just like football, and I am pretty sure the coaches and players get criticized publicly. It is just part of the business of being big time.
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Post by sballalumni2 on Apr 5, 2018 6:34:16 GMT -6
I have been trying to be positive, but we dropped a mid-week game to FAMU at home. What is going on with this team?
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Post by sballalumni2 on Nov 3, 2017 15:35:57 GMT -6
I watched the game from the comfort of my Lovesac (google it and buy the supersac for your wife for Christmas). I am extremely happy about the state of our football program, but I was disappointed in the play of our QB. I think the Idaho QB has a better chance of playing in the NFL. It is almost like on televised weeknight games our QB gets nervous and either throws the ball too hard or overthrows. He was better before someone anointed him as a NFL prospect. I hope that CNB can mentor him and bring him back to the excellent play that he had in prior years. I was even yelling at the TV to run the ball. The funny thing is that as I was complaining, my UF alumni husband was talking about how he wished that UF would call the plays that Troy was calling and how we should be happy with our QB. My how times have changed!!!
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Post by sballalumni2 on Nov 3, 2017 15:06:33 GMT -6
I am pretty sure that none of you care that much, but there is a dumpster fire going on with the UL softball team. They fired Coach Lotief and the assistant coaches. I have a feeling that the UL softball program will never be the same. It is a fine time for the Troy softball team to make the NCAA tournament!
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