Gopher Softball 2025

[Nipomo 56]

Pease was brought in by Trachsel. Leavitt was brought in by Piper. Two pitchers that could have developed were Dueck and Hostettler but both of them left the team at about the same time. It put the remaining staff in a spot that was bad enough that Valencia was pressed into duty as a pitcher - a position she only played briefly in the 7th grade.

In regards to the pitching I think you start with Schwartz and Susa. Snippes has found a spot as a hitter, Grayson and Richardson disappeared and Hosick became ineffective. I know they have one freshman pitcher coming in next year but I think they need a veteran starter also. Along with a hitting coach maybe coach who can teach defense. All aspects of the game failed this year.

 

[rwlarson]

In regards to the pitching I think you start with Schwartz and Susa. Snippes has found a spot as a hitter, Grayson and Richardson disappeared and Hosick became ineffective. I know they have one freshman pitcher coming in next year but I think they need a veteran starter also. Along with a hitting coach maybe coach who can teach defense. All aspects of the game failed this year.

In this new era, we need to see who all goes portaling before we can start talking about next year. Hopefully, no more post Fall Ball losses. Those are the ones that hurt the most because you don’t have a fair shot at replacing those players.

 

[Nipomo 56]

In this new era, we need to see who all goes portaling before we can start talking about next year. Hopefully, no more post Fall Ball losses. Those are the ones that hurt the most because you don’t have a fair shot at replacing those players.

The wait begins. Hopefully we get some good news during the summer.

 

[Chase the Rise]

In this new era, we need to see who all goes portaling before we can start talking about next year. Hopefully, no more post Fall Ball losses. Those are the ones that hurt the most because you don’t have a fair shot at replacing those players.

Realistically, are we concerned if anyone leaves? We have more holes than bodies to fill anyway. Maybe a better question...which players currently can the coaches go find better players to replace them with.

I think it's unrealistic to think they will turn the entire roster over, but who potentially maintains a significant role moving forward? Do they deserve it?

 

[Nipomo 56]

Realistically, are we concerned if anyone leaves? We have more holes than bodies to fill anyway. Maybe a better question...which players currently can the coaches go find better players to replace them with.

I think it's unrealistic to think they will turn the entire roster over, but who potentially maintains a significant role moving forward? Do they deserve it?

With the players left I don’t see a lot of leadership on the team. Whoever is left and incoming players someone needs to step up and demand more from everyone on the team.

 

[PreacherRoe]

With the players left I don’t see a lot of leadership on the team. Whoever is left and incoming players someone needs to step up and demand more from everyone on the team.

Demanding more from everyone is one thing, but finding players with enough talent to produce more/enough is an entirely different thing. Besides Schwartz, I don't see any player returning for 2026 with the talent to excel at a winning D1 level.

 

[Nipomo 56]

Demanding more from everyone is one thing, but finding players with enough talent to produce more/enough is an entirely different thing. Besides Schwartz, I don't see any player returning for 2026 with the talent to excel at a winning D1 level.

I agree about Schwartz, just hoping there are others.

 

[rwlarson]

I think Schwartz, Susa, and maybe Easton on the top tier. Then Snippes, Cosgriff, Hooper,
Chard, Richardson, Breezy. After that, Werner, Jones, Grayson. Those are the only players off the top of my head who have shown anything, and even the majority of those haven’t shown enough to make me think they can be a key cog in a winning program.

That still leaves about 8-10 spots, half recruits and half portal.

Since the recruiting class isn’t generally regarded to be top caliber, the portal additions will be the core of the team if we are to climb out of the gutter next season.

 

[PreacherRoe]

I think Schwartz, Susa, and maybe Easton on the top tier. Then Snippes, Cosgriff, Hooper,
Chard, Richardson, Breezy. After that, Werner, Jones, Grayson. Those are the only players off the top of my head who have shown anything, and even the majority of those haven’t shown enough to make me think they can be a key cog in a winning program.

That still leaves about 8-10 spots, half recruits and half portal.

Since the recruiting class isn’t generally regarded to be top caliber, the portal additions will be the core of the team if we are to climb out of the gutter next season.

Personally I can't see this coaching staff bringing in the level of needed on-field talent. I try to be optimistic, but.......

 

[NextYear_76]

Personally I can't see this coaching staff bringing in the level of needed on-field talent. I try to be optimistic, but.......

I suspect coaching changes perhaps a total change will need to be part of the rebuild.

 

[Scooter]

The program has steadily went down hill the last 3-4 years. Had a couple decent years after the College World Series appearance in 2019 but the last 2-3 years the decline has been rapid. Have not really brought in any decent hitters to go along with the 2-3 good hitters they had on the roster. Time to bring in a young coach in the likes of J. Allister. She totally turned the program around in a quick fashion at a very young age. Watching the Conference Tournaments now and there is some really good pitching. With the current Head Coach being a pitching coach you would think better pitching would be able to be recruited and developed.

 

[rwlarson]

If only we could be so lucky again. The chances of someone as young and inexperienced as Allister was when she was hired going on to prove she is a top 20 coach in the country is about one in 100 or less.

That said, Piper’s seat will start getting hot very soon unless she develops more AA pitchers or gets real hitters from the portal.

 

[4EverAGopher]

This program was much better with Piper as our pitching coach and focusing only on that aspect of the sport for the Gopher program.

 

[NextYear_76]

This program was much better with Piper as our pitching coach and focusing only on that aspect of the sport for the Gopher program.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to demote from head coach. Best to move on.

 

[PreacherRoe]

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to demote from head coach. Best to move on.

More important than 'developing' pitchers is recruiting ones who are already good when they arrive. Groenewegen was BigTen Pitcher of the Year as a freshman; Fiser went 13-1 as a freshman, and Pease beat FSU as early as February of her first year at MN. Good pitchers tend to be ready early.

 

[Chase the Rise]

More important than 'developing' pitchers is recruiting ones who are already good when they arrive. Groenewegen was BigTen Pitcher of the Year as a freshman; Fiser went 13-1 as a freshman, and Pease beat FSU as early as February of her first year at MN. Good pitchers tend to be ready early.

I don't disagree that Groenewegen and Fiser were good when they came in, but W/L record doesn't tell the whole story.

SG run support her freshman year 5.7/team had 69 stolen bases/a .961 team fielding percentage
AF had 7.1 in run support/44 stolen bases/ and a .968 fielding percentage

This year we had 4.0 in run support/ 6 stolen bases/ and a .952 in fielding percentage

All phases need to be better, but anyone thinking our offense & defense wasn't the problem is missing what the season actually was.

 

[PreacherRoe]

I don't disagree that Groenewegen and Fiser were good when they came in, but W/L record doesn't tell the whole story.

SG run support her freshman year 5.7/team had 69 stolen bases/a .961 team fielding percentage
AF had 7.1 in run support/44 stolen bases/ and a .968 fielding percentage

This year we had 4.0 in run support/ 6 stolen bases/ and a .952 in fielding percentage

All phases need to be better, but anyone thinking our offense & defense wasn't the problem is missing what the season actually was.

Your points are quite good & statistically better supported than mine, but SG, AF, & AP came to campus all able to compete & win given proper support.

 

[PreacherRoe]

Anyone have ideas about a timeline for possible changes in Gophers staff or roster? Hate to say it, but my feeling is: No change = no chance.

 

[mngolf]

Anyone have ideas about a timeline for possible changes in Gophers staff or roster? Hate to say it, but my feeling is: No change = no chance.

Coyle usually jumps as soon as season is over and has a replacement all lined up. So I'm thinking he isn't making a change.

 

[WAGopher]

Coyle usually jumps as soon as season is over and has a replacement all lined up. So I'm thinking he isn't making a change.

This is where boosters can make a difference. Coyle has had enough time to recruit fans with deep pockets, and if he hasn’t, that’s on him. Another reason is maybe he just doesn’t want to make a change, which would be moderately surprising.

 

[ClassOf98Gopher]

The addition of USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon has led to the worst single all-sports school year 2024-2025 in the history of the Gopher athletic program.

I knew adding those west coast teams to the Big Ten would be catastrophic for Gopher athletics… and it has been.

 

[MilosRevenge]

The addition of USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon has led to the worst single all-sports school year 2024-2025 in the history of the Gopher athletic program.

I knew adding those west coast teams to the Big Ten would be catastrophic for Gopher athletics… and it has been.

While conference titles will become more rare, this year has been better than last.

Learfield Directors Cup

End of winter 2024: 18th
End of winter 2025: 15th

There will be a big drop after the spring but track could add decent points.

Football beat USC and UCLA, Men's Basketball went 3-1 against the west coast schools, Soccer made the sweet 16, Men's Track just finished 2nd to Oregon at Big Tens...ahead of USC.

All in all....decent year, far from great, farther from catastrophic (Softball would be catastrophic).

 

[ClassOf98Gopher]

While conference titles will become more rare, this year has been better than last.

Learfield Directors Cup

End of winter 2024: 18th
End of winter 2025: 15th

There will be a big drop after the spring but track could add decent points.

Football beat USC and UCLA, Men's Basketball went 3-1 against the west coast schools, Soccer made the sweet 16, Men's Track just finished 2nd to Oregon at Big Tens...ahead of USC.

All in all....decent year, far from great, farther from catastrophic (Softball would be catastrophic).

Besides football (that team deserves credit!) all the sports I have tried to follow were the most boring to follow in decades:

Baseball… boring!
Softball… boring!
Basketball.. boring!
Volleyball… boring.

Conference championships (even participation in conference championship games) are now, permanently part of Gopher sports’ past.