I've got the Birds stats and they are not so great to say the least. The Lady Crusaders came ready to play and the Birds seemed to go throu the motions. One of those games when you can tell just by watching infield who came to play and who didn't. You would think by the score that there were a lot of physical errors but just not the case. Mainly mental ones for the Birds. Missing cuts, lack of extra effort in the field and some poor choices with the ball gave the Cru a few extra outs in this one. Not to mention the hitting was pretty much non existent with the exception of Shelby. her laser to left was amazing. The only question was would it be high enough!!!

 

The Birds are having to fill four starting spots and I'm sure Rob and the staff will find out soon enough who wants those positions the most and get them on track. The offense needs to pick it up and understand that 4 hits are not going to win many ball games. Obviously not the outcome they expected but good to see some areas that need the work now than later in the season.

 

Congrats to the Cru on a solid game and clearly the better team last night as the players played with a mission and it showed.

 

Outside of the inconsistent strike zone ( equally for both sides I might add) there was only one other issue I noticed last night. Whoever the Cru's first base coach is may need to understand this is High School Softball and not "Bush League". Yelling "Down" loudly to clearly deceive the defense when there is no play requiring it, is a little out of line. especially from a base coach.

 

Have to agree with you here. Certainly being defending 9th Region champs and the number one rated team makes it a little easier for your opponents to be up for the game. You could tell the Cru was fired up watching infield and it seemed Highlands did not match that intensity. I am sure that will change as the year goes on. Both teams had mental errors in fielding, missing cuts, base running miscues that always seems to make the difference in close games. Hopefully both teams improve on that as the year goes on. The Cru put the bat on the ball from 1-9 last night though and that really made the difference in this one.

I've got the Birds stats and they are not so great to say the least. The Lady Crusaders came ready to play and the Birds seemed to go throu the motions. One of those games when you can tell just by watching infield who came to play and who didn't. You would think by the score that there were a lot of physical errors but just not the case. Mainly mental ones for the Birds. Missing cuts, lack of extra effort in the field and some poor choices with the ball gave the Cru a few extra outs in this one. Not to mention the hitting was pretty much non existent with the exception of Shelby. her laser to left was amazing. The only question was would it be high enough!!!

 

The Birds are having to fill four starting spots and I'm sure Rob and the staff will find out soon enough who wants those positions the most and get them on track. The offense needs to pick it up and understand that 4 hits are not going to win many ball games. Obviously not the outcome they expected but good to see some areas that need the work now than later in the season.

 

Congrats to the Cru on a solid game and clearly the better team last night as the players played with a mission and it showed.

 

Outside of the inconsistent strike zone ( equally for both sides I might add) there was only one other issue I noticed last night. Whoever the Cru's first base coach is may need to understand this is High School Softball and not "Bush League". Yelling "Down" loudly to clearly deceive the defense when there is no play requiring it, is a little out of line. especially from a base coach.

 

What do you mean by filling 4 varsity spots? I thought they only graduated three seniors last year and one of them played sparingly. I try to follow softball from afar, but curious to know who plays where on this team.

What do you mean by filling 4 varsity spots? I thought they only graduated three seniors last year and one of them played sparingly. I try to follow softball from afar, but curious to know who plays where on this team.

 

The Birds have to replace grads Kendall Turner LF (truly the inspirational leader from last year and Ashley Grosser CFand also now senior Peyton RF who decided not to return. All outfield starters. They also are without Haley Coffey SS ( great leader by example and picks it as well as any SS in the region, who will be out for an extended period of time early in the season with an injury.

 

Returning starters are:

Shelby Graybill C, 3rd

Whitney Quiilen 3rd, C, SS

Rachell Gabbard 2nd

Bailey Spencer P

Brennah Dutcher 1st

 

As of now players filling the other positions:

Morgan Coffey OF

Josie Daley OF

Taylor Baioni OF

Brooke Dill SS

Kara Fornash OF

Cloe Jansen OF

Miranda Mason P

So could it be said that this is a team in transition or is it customary to have so many young kids be thrust into playing at the varsity level?

My opinion about the whole thing is the Birds were Ranked #1 and that comes with a CURSE! :Blackalien:

It's early, the Birds will bounce back :thumb:

So could it be said that this is a team in transition or is it customary to have so many young kids be thrust into playing at the varsity level?

 

Every team in the 9th region lost some talent. I think it was perceived that we lost the least. This is probably the most uncertain the 9th region had been in a long time. In my opinion we won't really know much until half way through the season how good most teams are. .

Very True, when we played St. Henry I was expecting about the same team we played last year. Boy was I wrong! :isurrender: :isurrender:

So could it be said that this is a team in transition or is it customary to have so many young kids be thrust into playing at the varsity level?

 

Never understood the what grade kids are in should matter or if they're young or old, skill level over grade level. Play the best players Middle School - High School shouldnt /doesn't matter, it's not fair to the team not to play the best.

Never understood the what grade kids are in should matter or if they're young or old, skill level over grade level. Play the best players Middle School - High School shouldnt /doesn't matter, it's not fair to the team not to play the best.

 

14 to 5 certainly does not indicate that now does it?

14 to 5 certainly does not indicate that now does it?

 

The score indicates there is some work to do... Nothing to do with not playing what is felt to be the best line up.

I have yet to see a decision at the varsity level where someone is sitting or not playing if they are the best option at the time. I think I have missed about 3 games in the past three years. With the exception for reasons beyond playing ability. I.e. " zero tolerance" or missing games or practice. When filling four spots in this case, you really do not know how some players will react until they get into game situations. The holes are being filled with players that have very limited, if any, varsity time and it might take a bit for them to figure it out.

They will get it soon enough and if not, next lady up.... JV looked good for the little they played last night and the gap between Varsity and JV is closing which is a good thing for the program. Patience for the next week or two will be key.

14 to 5 certainly does not indicate that now does it?

Sure it does if the coach hadn't played the best players it would have been more than 14-5.

That girl is a beast! This is the last year my DD has to try and not get one hit out on her from Shelby. She hasn't yet but I think my DD luck is running out! :isurrender:

 

Had the fences not been set at 225' for the tournament, Shelby would have put 3 out tonight. Even into that head wind...

Had the fences not been set at 225' for the tournament, Shelby would have put 3 out tonight. Even into that head wind...

Funny thing was as I walking back from the bathroom the groundskeeper and I got to talking about the fence distance... He happened to let me know that fences were set at 225 ft at the request of the hosting team....why set fences at max knowing that colleges don't even set them that deep? Oh well saved from 2 home runs and a grand slam.... Just saying! Way to smash a ball Shelby!

Just for your info they set the fences at 225 because that's what they told me Ohio State tournament is set at. I called them about fence , bases, pitching circle , ect and that's what they told me they set them at. As far as Shelby she might be the best High School hitter I've ever seen and I've seen quite a few . She's fun to watch unless your coaching against her !!