Gopher Softball 2024

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If the big10 season starts like what we have seen so far I would like to see the younger Pitchers get more innings to be ready for the future. They will not give anymore games away like we have so far. Just my thoughts. Don't want them to get mentally stressed though.
 

LarBear said:
If the big10 season starts like what we have seen so far I would like to see the younger Pitchers get more innings to be ready for the future. They will not give anymore games away like we have so far. Just my thoughts. Don't want them to get mentally stressed though.
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I agree. Since our only chance to make the tournament is to win the BIG tourney I would continue to try and develop the young players
 

I have said this before about the lack of "basic softball" not being played out there by our Gopher Players. It was explained to me before that today's youth are mentally in and out of games just like they are in the classrooms.

1 - As I was watching a replay of yesterday's game with South Carolina, I believe it was Werner that was pinch running and was on second. With one out and nobody on first she decides to take off for third when the ball was hit to the pitcher...of course she was thrown out at third. Whoever was the third base coach appeared to be pointing that out to her.

2 - Also, I sometime questions what is going on in DeBord's head when she is deep in center and throwing the ball home when the runner is within 10' or less of the plate. Others have brought this up how she allows way to many runners to advance to second who will eventually score because she is not hitting her cutoff. Has she thrown any base runner out yet this year with her decisions?

This season it just appears there have been many more costly fielding errors and many opponents walking and/or getting hit by pitches. I know some of you have talked about this program going through the changes it has in recent years and with Piper as HC you are hoping it would be settling in. Hate to say it, but I don't believe we are seeing that this season.
 

4EverAGopher said:
Can someone refresh my memory on JH and her pitching last year? She is so up and down this season. With Schwartz out, we really need her to be more consistent and efficient on that mound.
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I think Hambrick was fairly reliable last year. I know Enter wasn’t effective last season.
 

Nipomo 56 said:
I think Hambrick was fairly reliable last year. I know Enter wasn’t effective last season.
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Inconsistency in the entire battery. In the circle Schwartz out (with an injury? has it ever been described?); other pitchers not throwing strikes; only Enter able to get outs consistently. None of this helped by Krapf not able to catch every game; and freshman Wolocko only used for defense,not given any at-bats; Lindmark mysteriously gone from the roster, with never a word from the coaching staff. Why are fans not given even the slightest helpful general insights?
 


PreacherRoe said:
Inconsistency in the entire battery. In the circle Schwartz out (with an injury? has it ever been described?); other pitchers not throwing strikes; only Enter able to get outs consistently. None of this helped by Krapf not able to catch every game; and freshman Wolocko only used for defense,not given any at-bats; Lindmark mysteriously gone from the roster, with never a word from the coaching staff. Why are fans not given even the slightest helpful general insights?
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Is Reilly Gardner still on the team? Would like to see what she can do. I know she was injured last year. Is Lindmarkk gone?
 

Nipomo 56 said:
Is Reilly Gardner still on the team? Would like to see what she can do. I know she was injured last year. Is Lindmarkk gone?
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in chatting with some folks with the team at the clemson games, lindmark is gone. no one would say why.
 

junc1929 said:
in chatting with some folks with the team at the clemson games, lindmark is gone. no one would say why.
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probably was tired of sitting on the bench as a grad transfer and losing. I know she was injured prior to season too, maybe it become more serious.
 

DietCokeFan said:
probably was tired of sitting on the bench as a grad transfer and losing. I know she was injured prior to season too, maybe it become more serious.
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I have no idea why she left the team. Regarding her sitting on the bench, in the Gophers first 12 games, she started in 6 of them and was not lifted in any of them.
 



Gopher68 said:
I have no idea why she left the team. Regarding her sitting on the bench, in the Gophers first 12 games, she started in 6 of them and was not lifted in any of them.
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Noticeably her addition to the team was hyped a bit as the season began, but she disappeared without a word apparently. Seems fans would be worthy of some explanation, no matter how bland.
 

PreacherRoe said:
Noticeably her addition to the team was hyped a bit as the season began, but she disappeared without a word apparently. Seems fans would be worthy of some explanation, no matter how bland.
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Unfortunately, privacy rules prevent the school from making any statement regarding her situation. Unless you can find inside information or the athlete provides the information, we may never know her reasons for leaving the program.
 

Gopher68 said:
Unfortunately, privacy rules prevent the school from making any statement regarding her situation. Unless you can find inside information or the athlete provides the information, we may never know her reasons for leaving the program.
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Any news about Gardner?
 




4EverAGopher said:
I have said this before about the lack of "basic softball" not being played out there by our Gopher Players. It was explained to me before that today's youth are mentally in and out of games just like they are in the classrooms.

1 - As I was watching a replay of yesterday's game with South Carolina, I believe it was Werner that was pinch running and was on second. With one out and nobody on first she decides to take off for third when the ball was hit to the pitcher...of course she was thrown out at third. Whoever was the third base coach appeared to be pointing that out to her.

2 - Also, I sometime questions what is going on in DeBord's head when she is deep in center and throwing the ball home when the runner is within 10' or less of the plate. Others have brought this up how she allows way to many runners to advance to second who will eventually score because she is not hitting her cutoff. Has she thrown any base runner out yet this year with her decisions?

This season it just appears there have been many more costly fielding errors and many opponents walking and/or getting hit by pitches. I know some of you have talked about this program going through the changes it has in recent years and with Piper as HC you are hoping it would be settling in. Hate to say it, but I don't believe we are seeing that this season.
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I've been watching fastpitch closely for about 15 years now and the bolded might be my number one pet peeve. Unless its the bottom of the 7th with the winning run headed home, hit the damn cut off.
 


Gophers lose in 9 innings as they couldn’t get the top of the order back up once it went extra. The bottom of order is sooooooo bad.
 



With a good ace starting pitcher, the Gophers would've won game1 also --- and handily. They won't get back to a power standing in the Big Ten without top starting pitching.
 

PreacherRoe said:
With a good ace starting pitcher, the Gophers would've won game1 also --- and handily. They won't get back to a power standing in the Big Ten without top starting pitching.
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Which Hrothgar and others (me included) have been saying for two years is the priority. Really good teams need that really good pitching.
 



As a pitching coach Piper sure doesn't see when a pitcher is struggling. Lord have mercy! JC simply can't throw strikes. Between the walks and hitting batters every inning is a struggle.

Oakland is so good! I bet she is gone after this year. Just a matter of time before the big NIL callers start.

Gophers were up 4-0 heading to the bottom of the 4th. It is now 4-7 Maryland heading to the top of the 5th.
 
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DietCokeFan said:
As a pitching coach Piper sure doesn't see when a pitcher is struggling. Lord have mercy! JC simply can't throw strikes. Between the walks and hitting batters every inning is a struggle.

Oakland is so good! I bet she is gone after this year. Just a matter of time before the big NIL callers start.
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Why was Richardson pulled after 2 no hit innings? Don’t sell Oakland out, not all athletes are NIL greedy.
 

Nipomo 56 said:
Why was Richardson pulled after 2 no hit innings? Don’t sell Oakland out, not all athletes are NIL greedy.
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That would be my other question as to why she was pulled, especially without giving up a hit.

Well if a player is not NIL greedy you would think they would want to at least win ball games. Yes, they could still come back and win this game; but, it's just me being a frustrated fan.
 

This is an effective way to lose a loyal fan base. Get a 4-run lead halfway through the game, then give up 7 runs in about 5 minutes? This is not D1 pitching. Hard to say which is worse, 2022 or 2024. This weekend the Gophers offense supported the circle by scoring 27 runs in 3 games, but the pitching gave up 25 to an opponent with a below .500 W-L record. The Gophers high school recruitment search for D1 pitching must be with no eye out for potential top talent or any ability to judge it or attract it. MN hasn't brought in a super pitcher out of high school since Fiser went 13-0 in 2017. If the AD lets a program fall, it's a long way back up. Currently down's where we're heading.
 

DietCokeFan said:
That would be my other question as to why she was pulled, especially without giving up a hit.

Well if a player is not NIL greedy you would think they would want to at least win ball games. Yes, they could still come back and win this game; but, it's just me being a frustrated fan.
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Why did Richardson get tagged for the loss?Hambrick is the one who got us behind before Richardson came back in.
 

PreacherRoe said:
This is an effective way to lose a loyal fan base. Get a 4-run lead halfway through the game, then give up 7 runs in about 5 minutes? This is not D1 pitching. Hard to say which is worse, 2022 or 2024. This weekend the Gophers offense supported the circle by scoring 27 runs in 3 games, but the pitching gave up 25 to an opponent with a below .500 W-L record. The Gophers high school recruitment search for D1 pitching must be with no eye out for potential top talent or any ability to judge it or attract it. MN hasn't brought in a super pitcher out of high school since Fiser went 13-0 in 2017. If the AD lets a program fall, it's a long way back up. Currently down's where we're heading.
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Yup! Sad to say they lost me as a fan. I’ll say it again; Piper can’t focus on pitching and being a head coach. Sucks we won’t be in the tournament this year.
 

PreacherRoe said:
This is an effective way to lose a loyal fan base. Get a 4-run lead halfway through the game, then give up 7 runs in about 5 minutes? This is not D1 pitching. Hard to say which is worse, 2022 or 2024. This weekend the Gophers offense supported the circle by scoring 27 runs in 3 games, but the pitching gave up 25 to an opponent with a below .500 W-L record. The Gophers high school recruitment search for D1 pitching must be with no eye out for potential top talent or any ability to judge it or attract it. MN hasn't brought in a super pitcher out of high school since Fiser went 13-0 in 2017. If the AD lets a program fall, it's a long way back up. Currently down's where we're heading.
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What’s your opinion about Natalie Susa for next year? Should Piper use the freshman more this season and see how they develop? Bench Hambrick?
 

Nipomo 56 said:
What’s your opinion about Natalie Susa for next year? Should Piper use the freshman more this season and see how they develop? Bench Hambrick?
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I can live with the young arms have a bad day/Inning but veterans such as Enter and Hambrick walking, hitting batters is just not what this program is all about. I do see a little promise with Schwartz, Richardson and Snippes
 
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