Gopher softball 2023

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Chase the Rise said:
While the talent is there, let's not forget why she is probably leaving. There were issues on this team chemistry-wise, buying into "team". Most issues this season stemmed from two players, of which are now leaving. Addition by subtraction. While talent-wise Leavitt should land somewhere, I'm not sure what the market is for an outfielder or kids that didn't get time. The grass isn't always greener, but when you can get rid of your own weeds....the grass sure looks better.
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Interesting from the outside looking in I didn't realize there were "team issues"
 

Chase the Rise said:
While the talent is there, let's not forget why she is probably leaving. There were issues on this team chemistry-wise, buying into "team". Most issues this season stemmed from two players, of which are now leaving. Addition by subtraction. While talent-wise Leavitt should land somewhere, I'm not sure what the market is for an outfielder or kids that didn't get time. The grass isn't always greener, but when you can get rid of your own weeds....the grass sure looks better.
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Saying most issues stemmed from 2 players, who are now leaving, sounds interesting, but without names and evidence it seems like hearsay.
 

Hrothgar said:
Saying most issues stemmed from 2 players, who are now leaving, sounds interesting, but without names and evidence it seems like hearsay.
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Believe what you will. But I’m standing by my comment. If you have any connections to the team, ask, you’ll find the same answer.
 

Chase the Rise said:
Believe what you will. But I’m standing by my comment. If you have any connections to the team, ask, you’ll find the same answer.
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Having no facts or evidence, I don't believe or disbelieve anything. I'll leave it at that.
 

Sorry, if this was already posted somewhere....I just came upon this article.

bvmsports.com

Minnesota softball commit Sydney Schwartz ready for success as a Gopher

Chanhassen High School’s Sydney Schwartz has been one of the best softball players in the state over the last few years. The star pitcher can’t wait to stay and continue to represent Minnesota at the University of Minnesota.
bvmsports.com bvmsports.com
 


My two cents on all of this. The portal and NIL are creating a toxic environment for college athletes. Your never going to hear about a player who transfers and says “yea I came in with a bad attitude “ it’s always going to be the coaches or someone else’s fault. I think they will go after portal pitchers and I do think Delaney has the talent to play but that will be up to her. I really like Oakland , Schwartz, and the Florida OF. Also I think Kayla Chavez will make some big gains as she gets stronger. We’re gonna win the Big Ten.
 

Heres my way too early lineup for the 2022-2023 season:

1. Syd 2B (SR)
2. Nat CF (Super)
3. Jess SS (F)
4. Sara C (J)
5. Nani 1B (S)
6. Chavez 3B (S)
7. Delaney RF (SR)
8. Breezy LF (F)
9. DH spot open

Bench: Billi (F) can play OF, Maddy (J) can play INF, Addi (F) can play OF, 1 or 2 solid utility players from portal

Pitchers: Autumn (Super), Sydney S (F) can play somewhere when not pitching, 2 solid pitchers from portal, preferably J or SR.

That gives us a 17 players roster next year. Everyone gets more PT and experience.

B1G championship on the horizon.
 

Twocents said:
My two cents on all of this. The portal and NIL are creating a toxic environment for college athletes. Your never going to hear about a player who transfers and says “yea I came in with a bad attitude “ it’s always going to be the coaches or someone else’s fault. I think they will go after portal pitchers and I do think Delaney has the talent to play but that will be up to her. I really like Oakland , Schwartz, and the Florida OF. Also I think Kayla Chavez will make some big gains as she gets stronger. We’re gonna win the Big Ten.
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Hrothgar said:
Saying most issues stemmed from 2 players, who are now leaving, sounds interesting, but without names and evidence it seems like hearsay.
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Im with Hrothgar on this...for all we know maybe the problem player/coaches are still in place and they just chased away some very good players!
 

GopherAlum03 said:
Heres my way too early lineup for the 2022-2023 season:

1. Syd 2B (SR)
2. Nat CF (Super)
3. Jess SS (F)
4. Sara C (J)
5. Nani 1B (S)
6. Chavez 3B (S)
7. Delaney RF (SR)
8. Breezy LF (F)
9. DH spot open

Bench: Billi (F) can play OF, Maddy (J) can play INF, Addi (F) can play OF, 1 or 2 solid utility players from portal

Pitchers: Autumn (Super), Sydney S (F) can play somewhere when not pitching, 2 solid pitchers from portal, preferably J or SR.

That gives us a 17 players roster next year. Everyone gets more PT and experience.

B1G championship on the horizon.
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Interesting, but who is Jess (SS)?
 




GopherAlum03 said:
Heres my way too early lineup for the 2022-2023 season:

1. Syd 2B (SR)
2. Nat CF (Super)
3. Jess SS (F)
4. Sara C (J)
5. Nani 1B (S)
6. Chavez 3B (S)
7. Delaney RF (SR)
8. Breezy LF (F)
9. DH spot open

Bench: Billi (F) can play OF, Maddy (J) can play INF, Addi (F) can play OF, 1 or 2 solid utility players from portal

Pitchers: Autumn (Super), Sydney S (F) can play somewhere when not pitching, 2 solid pitchers from portal, preferably J or SR.

That gives us a 17 players roster next year. Everyone gets more PT and experience.

B1G championship on the horizon.
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Ok, I like this theorizing activity. I’ll play:

1. Jensen (7)
2. DenHartog (8)
3. Oakland (6)
4. Kinch (2)
5. Strelow (4)
6. Hansen (3)
7. Cox (DH)
8. Chavez (5)
9. Valencia/Leaschber (9)

Pitchers: Pease/Schwartz/Hollifield/Transfer
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
Ok, I like this theorizing activity. I’ll play:

1. Jensen (7)
2. DenHartog (8)
3. Oakland (6)
4. Kinch (2)
5. Strelow (4)
6. Hansen (3)
7. Cox (DH)
8. Chavez (5)
9. Valencia/Leaschber (9)

Pitchers: Pease/Schwartz/Hollifield/Transfer
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I am going to wait to play until all the transfers are known.
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
Ok, I like this theorizing activity. I’ll play:

1. Jensen (7)
2. DenHartog (8)
3. Oakland (6)
4. Kinch (2)
5. Strelow (4)
6. Hansen (3)
7. Cox (DH)
8. Chavez (5)
9. Valencia/Leaschber (9)

Pitchers: Pease/Schwartz/Hollifield/Transfer
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Hansen and Jensen both graduated and are not coming back
 





Hansen and Jensen have certainly left their mark and contributed their talents in loyalty to the Gopher softball program over these 4-5 years. If they are ready to go start their real lives… they have more than earned it, and this Gopher fan’s respect. It’s just that the transfer of both Densen and Evans (and Costa) have certainly opened up spots.

As for Burnett, I doubt she’ll be ready to contribute a ton of hits her freshman year given her not-off-the-charts hitting percentage (.391) her senior year down in Florida. She certainly will be a Replacement for Denson at pinch runner though because her steals numbers suggest she is fast.
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
Hansen and Jensen have certainly left their mark and contributed their talents in loyalty to the Gopher softball program over these 4-5 years. If they are ready to go start their real lives… they have more than earned it, and this Gopher fan’s respect. It’s just that the transfer of both Densen and Evans (and Costa) have certainly opened up spots.

As for Burnett, I doubt she’ll be ready to contribute a ton of hits her freshman year given her not-off-the-charts hitting percentage (.391) her senior year down in Florida. She certainly will be a Replacement for Denson at pinch runner though because her steals numbers suggest she is fast.
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I love Hansen and Jensen's Danish surnames, part of a pure Upper Midwest Scandinavian heritage, but it seemed they had less productivity at the plate each year as upperclassmen. Injuries maybe?
 

Ellee was a freshman in 2018. She has spent 5 years in the program. I don’t think she ever qualified for a medical redshirt year. Her eligibility has been used up. She has been one of my favorite players theses last few years and I wish her well in her future. It’s to bad she had so many injuries during her career
 

Hrothgar said:
I love Hansen and Jensen's Danish surnames, part of a pure Upper Midwest Scandinavian heritage, but it seemed they had less productivity at the plate each year as upperclassmen. Injuries maybe?
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I know Ellee suffered several injuries. She may have benn wearing down near the end of the year. I think that Emily also had some injury issues. I wish both of them well!
 

Gopher68 said:
I know Ellee suffered several injuries. She may have benn wearing down near the end of the year. I think that Emily also had some injury issues. I wish both of them well!
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They both battled injuries. It’s part of the game but too bad, I would have liked to see what they both could have accomplished had they had injury-free careers.
 

Hrothgar got it right, talked to a player and there was issues with team chemistry and I think it was obvious on the field. Don’t really know why y’all are expecting people to name drop with the information they have bc these are kids it would be unethical to throw them under the bus.. I’m hoping next year someone can step up as a leader and I’m hoping the coaches can address team connection and dynamic because at the end of the day it’s the coaches job to create a culture where kids are happy to play with each other and in practice have each others back. These kids are KIDS playing at the highest level. The desire to be the best is understandable but it can’t come at the expense of their teammates otherwise you’ll lose games you should win.
 

User1111 said:
Hrothgar got it right, talked to a player and there was issues with team chemistry and I think it was obvious on the field. Don’t really know why y’all are expecting people to name drop with the information they have bc these are kids it would be unethical to throw them under the bus.. I’m hoping next year someone can step up as a leader and I’m hoping the coaches can address team connection and dynamic because at the end of the day it’s the coaches job to create a culture where kids are happy to play with each other and in practice have each others back. These kids are KIDS playing at the highest level. The desire to be the best is understandable but it can’t come at the expense of their teammates otherwise you’ll lose games you should win.
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Uh, are you sure you were reading Hrothgar right? I took H's comments seem to be questioning this claim, without further evidence and specifics.
 
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Has anyone seen film of Leaschber? I heard she is powerful with a good swing but I can’t find anything on tape.
 

ClassOf98Gopher said:
Ok, I like this theorizing activity. I’ll play:

1. Jensen (7)
2. DenHartog (8)
3. Oakland (6)
4. Kinch (2)
5. Strelow (4)
6. Hansen (3)
7. Cox (DH)
8. Chavez (5)
9. Valencia/Leaschber (9)

Pitchers: Pease/Schwartz/Hollifield/Transfer
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I'll Play.

1. Oakland (6)
2. DenHartog (8)
3. Chavez (5)
4, Schwartz (3)
5. Kinch (2)
6. Strelow (4)
7. Cox (DP)
8. Leschber (9)
9. Burnett (7)

Pitchers:

Pease
Schwartz
Transfer 1
Transfer 2
Hollifield
 

let'sbeclear said:
Uh, are you sure you were reading Hrothgar right? I took H's comments to be questioning this claim, without further evidence and specifics.
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Correct, let's be clear. I questioned it as you say.
 

Twocents said:
Has anyone seen film of Leaschber? I heard she is powerful with a good swing but I can’t find anything on tape.
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sportsrecruits.com

Addison Leschber - Verbal to Minnesota's Softball Recruiting Profile

Watch Addison's recruiting video • 2022 • 1B, OF, RF, CF • Thrall, TX • Committed to University of Minnesota, Twin Cities • i love Jesus, I love softball, and I love ice cream! I'm known as Addi or mostly Big Country in the softball world. I live on a cattle ranch in Beaukiss, TX. I work hard...
sportsrecruits.com sportsrecruits.com

She combines HR power with an ability to drive it to the opposite field.
 

Chase the Rise said:
I'll Play.

1. Oakland (6)
2. DenHartog (8)
3. Chavez (5)
4, Schwartz (3)
5. Kinch (2)
6. Strelow (4)
7. Cox (DP)
8. Leschber (9)
9. Burnett (7)

Pitchers:

Pease
Schwartz
Transfer 1
Transfer 2
Hollifield
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3 freshman in the lineup and a pitcher playing another position in Schwartz? LOL, I can see you are new here and have not been following the team and the coaching philosophy. Pitchers pitch and if they can hit they’ll hit. They won’t play the field when not pitching. Not at Minnesota.
 

GopherAlum03 said:
3 freshman in the lineup and a pitcher playing another position in Schwartz? LOL, I can see you are new here and have not been following the team and the coaching philosophy. Pitchers pitch and if they can hit they’ll hit. They won’t play the field when not pitching. Not at Minnesota.
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OK..I'll bite.. Might want to read your "too early" lineup for next year posted above .

So who on the current roster has a better chance to hit leadoff than an unknown? DenHartog could do it, but I go with a highly recruited SS with a good bat. Burnett is athletically good enough to be an outfielder, is her bat good enough? Who knows? But again, who else do we have? Lastly, Schwartz can hit, so while she might not be at 1B she will probably be the DP, in a perfect world we get two transfer pitchers and can let Schwartz get acclimated to the college game as pitcher when they want her to. Also, hard to put a philosophy card in play when the coaches have been here two years.

I also do think it's hard for a freshman to step into the collegiate game, but the question still remains, who on the current roster is better?

Your lineup had 2 freshman in it, with no DP even listed and had Schwartz listed as "can play somewhere else" when not pitching Hmmm?. I can see Cox over Leschber

As much as I like Strelow, her .225 average doesn't look good at the top of the order.
 

Groenewegen did play 1B when not pitching in 2014. If you recall, she was hurt on a play at first in the Oregon super-regional and was unable to pitch (or play at all) in Game 2, and Oregon rolled to the sweep. That might be one reason why Allister didn’t play her in the field again, only DP.

We don’t know yet how Ritter will handle Schwartz, because she’s never had a two-way starting pitcher as a head coach. A lot depends on how integral she is to the pitching staff and whether or not we have a player who can’t hit but is very valuable on defense, who could be a defensive specialist.

Northwestern hasn’t hit Danielle Williams this season after letting her do dual duty, including playing OF, for most of her career. But they had more pitching depth in prior seasons, and this year they added Nieto at 2B which allowed Lewis to go to RF, where Williams had played a lot when not pitching. If they hadn’t added Nieto, we might have seen Williams hitting and playing RF at least part time. But with so little pitching depth behind her, I’m sure the coaches are happy they didn’t really have to consider playing her in the field this year.

So roster and circumstances will probably determine how much time Schwartz sees at a defensive position. If it were me, I would prefer to DP her if she is good enough to hit and she is pitching serious innings.
 
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