This is my first post and I really value reading the inside information that exists in this discussion group. I also value the passion that is displayed by you serious fans of college softball, the best sport going these days. That said, some posts have been a little (some a lot) bonkers. It appears to me the issue is expectations. Let me give the best advice which I am just restating what my dad told to me a few years ago: when it comes to Gophers Softball (or baseball for that matter) all that matters is the Big Ten. Don’t even worry about the NCAA tournament. NCAA tournament performance and even that NCAA rankings and seedings are not a relevant barometer for the program. Why? Because it is Minnesota! The north, all of Big Ten country really, has such short windows for college students to practice and play outside. For instance, I now live in Nashville, TN where you can actually play ball outside right now, and have been able to for weeks. And that is not even comparable to Gainesville, or Tallahassee, or Auburn, or Baron Rouge, or Austin, or Tucson, or Los Angeles. We just can’t compare ourselves to those teams on a year by year basis. It leads to surefire disappointment. We have had a great run for this decade, but coming from some big time luck. Our great run has largely been driven by these superstars: Moulton, Groenewagen, Partain, Lindaman, Fiser, and now maybe DenHartog. I think only Fiser was a top 100 recruit - and even that was closer to 100 than 1 (although by a few months before her Freshman season began I think everyone was drooling over Lindaman knowing she would be awesome). But let’s focus on the most valuable of all of them: Groenewagen. She was absolutely awesome (if I needed one out I can’t think of anyone else I would rather get it - change was NASTY). And how lucky are we that she became a Gopher because I think nobody else was interested in her. Her dominance drove this program to where it is, top of the Big Ten, but we are not going to be able to live off that 6 year old luck forever. We just have to stay good enough to compete with Michigan and Northwestern and Wisconsin for the next couple years. If we do, what comes after the Big Ten Tournament will take care of itself and that will just be gravy. Enjoy the games, we sure won’t win them all because all these southern schools have good softball programs, not just the schools with fancy football programs, so it is no big shame to lose to some of the teams we have lost to. Finally, I am just happy with how good Pease has shown herself to be. That is a plus. In addition, Hanson can hit his year whereas last year she couldn’t hit beach balls if they were pitched to her. She has really improved. And I sure am not expected Brandner to ever play again for the Gophers. I don’t have any inside information at all, but just speculating that life happens.
