torre

Props to Coach VanDerveer for waiting until after the title game to announce - no distraction from the game.

Time to start noticing UCF. They beat KSt today for their 4th consecutive conference series win after being swept by OU to begin conference play. 21-8 overall, 8-7 in conference. #6 RPI, only B12 school in top 25 (25). Currently watching OkSt/OU (7-5 OKSt after 7). Like watching a CWS game with the crowd. They had 8K Friday and likely as many today. They need to continue that series.

Great series win, just don't lose focus. Czech's improvement from year to year has been phenomenal. Great job, Mike !

https://www.kxan.com/sports-general/horns-report/longhorns-drop-finale-vs-byu-lose-1st-big-12-series-of-the-season/ KXAN videos can't be embedded but article has a short Pierce interview. "evaluate" "Players upset, but don't always take it the way we do" "students" can't continue to beat it up, makes it tougher" "Grubbs did not have put away slider" Would be nice to see complete interview. Media does not do a good job with baseball and softball. Perhaps more coverage on the paysites.

Softball Goddess, Hometown Stamford, Tx (pop 3124)

Check the Fla/LSU game, no score after 4.5.

If not aware, Florida is hosting LSU at 5PM (CT) scheduled on ESPN before our 7PM game. Meaning the broadcast will likely start on the ESPN App. Per the schedule, ESPN2 and ESPN News have college baseball. Pray for a no hitter in Gainesville. Weather is good. Edit: ESPN+ shows a simultaneous broadcast with ESPN

The post directly above #2760. My bad, thought I recalled you posting Statesman articles.

@YGIFS Do you have a sub to the Statesman ? Would also like to read Mark's link. TIA.

Statesman. Excerpts: Article worth a read, player quotes and coachspeak. Interesting to see if he goes with Mac in game 1 to take pressure off Kavan. Mac took a 3-1 lead into the 7th last year but gave up a tying HR to Coleman. Citilaly relieved and gave up hits. “We're hoping that whatever happens here (this weekend) prepares us for even later in the season,” White said. “We can't win or lose the national championship this weekend.” “I mean, she (Morgan) has been there and done that before,” he said. “This is her third year, and she’s been in those big situations. Estelle is another one that's been there. Obviously, it's tough for a freshman like Kavan to be able to come out in that situation, but it's also a learning thing for her, too.” https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/softball/2024/04/04/texas-longhorns-softball-eager-for-top-five-showdown-with-national-champ-oklahoma-big-12/73163234007/

Statesman article today. Candid article. The writer, Calen Yum, may have his UT credentials revoked. Article worth a read. Excerpts: Bowman was tough on his student. He created difficult situations for Phelps in low-stakes situations so that he'd be better prepared for the future. For example, cracking his goggles on purpose, hiding them entirely, or arranging for late pickups so that Phelps would have to swim hungry. “When I think about my grandchildren, I don’t want them being angry at people all the time,” he said. “Then I go back to practice and I’m like, ‘Wow, these kids have a grandpa too. I wonder how he treats them?’ Probably a lot nicer than I used to treat my swimmers," Bowman said in an article by the Associated Press. Phelps once described him as "intense and insane." In 2018, texts were acquired by the Orange Country Register that detailed texts sent from Bowman to former Olympic swimmer Caroline Burckle in 2011. They contained what Burckle said were "aggressive" advances that were described as "sexually graphic." Despite details being sent to then-USA Swimming national team assistant coach Jack Roach and national team director Frank Busch, Bowman wasn't punished. ASU says they weren't aware of the texts before hiring him previously, and the coach apologized for them once it was revealed. "I regret the exercise of poor judgment in being involved one evening seven years ago with inappropriate communications," Bowman said in a text to The Associated Press. https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/2024/04/03/bob-bowman-texas-swimming-coach-michael-phelps-eddie-reese-longhorns/73179646007/

Like to glean the opponent's board for any pertinent info. Hard to disagree with this Sooner's analysis. He may have an undergrad degree from Texas. While I don't think it will make a lot of difference, I think the 2 losses to Oklahoma State work to our advantage just a bit. It's obvious the Horns didn't overlook OSU and those losses must have created some doubts for them. A bad weekend this week buries them into a 3rd place position in the conference that they probably can't dig themselves out of. That combination of doubt and fear could make them play tight. Texas still has some defensive question marks and when they play tight, those deficiencies get exposed. A strong showing by the Sooners Friday night could set the tone for the weekend. I think the first game is very important. The question for me is, do the Sooners have 2 pitchers that can keep the Texas hitters off balance in the manner that OSU did? Texas pitching is good enough to keep the run totals reasonably low. My prediction is the Sooners take 2 of 3. 7x National Champion Oklahoma Sooners Softball - DirtBurglars

Reviewing BYU roster, noticed Tyler Coolbaugh (son of former Texas 3B Scott Coolbaugh (mid 80's) MLB career Rangers, Padres, Cardinals) is an asst coach. Scott is now a hitting coach with the Padres. https://byucougars.com/staff/tyler-coolbaugh

HS All Star game tonight, 5:30PM, Toyota Center, ESPN2, featuring Jordan Lee and Justice Carlton. Said Texas head coach Vic Schaefer: “Justice Carlton may be the most physical high school player I’ve seen in a long time. Her ability to finish with contact is very unusual for a high school player. She punishes defenders as she finishes in and around the rim. She’s worked hard at expanding her game and can face up as well as finish with her back to the basket.” “Jordan Lee is an incredibly talented, big guard who can score at all three levels and can defend 1 through 4,” Schaefer said. “Her toughness and competitive spirit on both ends of the floor are off the chart. She possesses a great basketball IQ, understands the game and is a tireless worker. She is a gym rat.” 3 Texas Longhorns recruits playing in McDonald’s High School All-American games Tuesday | KXAN Austin

https://d1baseball.com/top-stories/d1baseball-weekly-chat-april-1-2/ D1 Baseball Chat if anyone interested. Will be put behind paywall shortly after conclusion.

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2021/8/13/general-video-review-challenges-approved-for-softball.aspx#:~:text=Under the new rule%2C each,the entirety of the game. Don't know if there are exceptions, seems like more. Official rule above says 2 reviews by coach the the entirety of game. The umpire can review after the 6th inning, the way I read. I think coaches sometimes ask for a review/player change if on offense only to disrupt the opposing pitcher's rhythm.

Should have mentioned, the RPI (first post) is from NCAA Softball. Which ranking carries the most weight ?

After an overall great Texas WBB season, full speed ahead for softball. Avoiding the sweep in Stillwater seems to have prevented RPI plunge. (first post) Softball America ranking poll (2nd post) only current one I could find. OKSt at #10 RPI seems low. LSU swept aggy this past weekend.

Nice story and info from KXAN. Excerpts: “Coach Conradt means the world to me,” he said. “It’s what I envisioned when I took the job, her coming into the office and us drinking coffee the morning after the game and talking over the game. Like, how can you not value that expertise, that wisdom? I may have been coaching for 39 years, y’all, but I’m smart enough to know I can’t do it by myself.” After she sat out of the Gonzaga game while in concussion protocol, forward Taylor Jones practiced Saturday, Schaefer said. That’s a step in the right direction for her to be available against the Wolfpack, but Schaefer didn’t confirm if she’ll play. Texas got great minutes from Amina Muhammad, DeYona Gaston and Ndjakalenga Mwenentenda in Jones’ absence, on top of Aaliyah Moore’s tremendous game with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Texas is going to need all of its low-block players to match up with the Wolfpack’s frontcourt. “They have a big, physical inside game, which we have to deal with a lot in the Big 12,” Schaefer said. “We’ve had to guard some really good inside players, and he (NC State coach Wes Moore) certainly has that. They’re so physical.” https://www.kxan.com/sports/chasing-the-standard-conradts-continued-involvement-paying-huge-dividends-for-schaefer-horns-in-ncaa-run/

MW postgame quote. Hopefully, he addressed hitting but was not published. We had 7 hits off Kilfoyl on Thursday, 2 today. She adjusted, we did not. The HBP by Czech was costly and added a runner with the error to set the stage for the 3 run HR. Hindsight always 20/20, but may have been a good time to visit circle since next batter Wang leads OKSt with 11 HRs and added another. No surprise OU swept Kansas. Neither team plays until the series next Friday. Team confidence took a hit in this weekend. https://texassports.com/news/2024/3/30/no-2-2-softball-concludes-series-in-stillwater.aspx

Down 3, why try to steal ?

Great win. Will be interesting to see the pitching decisions Saturday. Do they go back to game 1 starters, Or does MW go with Simpson, Mac, or Czech ? OkSt has used their 3 best (Kilfoyl, Rosenberry, Aycock). They have a freshman Katie Kutz with a 3.69 era. Kagan only threw 37 pitches, Kilfoyl 122.

@Pancho What is your opinion/prediction of the refereeing so far in the games you have seen ? Concern is they want let us play and accept our physical style. Buoyed by Vanderveer's previous critique.

Re: Pierce The below is from IT when he was extended in '21. Latest info afaik. Seems he would be safe (unless bottom drops) thru '24 and '25. Key would be if he receives extension in '25. https://www.on3.com/teams/texas-longhorns/news/new-contract-details-for-beard-pierce-elliott-on-board-of-regents-meeting-agenda/

A masterful job by their pitching coach. Only one pitcher faced 9 batters, 1 BB, 5 hits. When playing a more talented team, don't let them see the same guy twice. We need to give aggy Corpus credit along with our failure.