Most of the seeded teams are doing well, but one has lost and two four others have squeaked by...No. 4 Georgia has fallen to NC State, 5-4.No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette needed a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to edge Texas, 3-2.No. 7 Oklahoma put across three in the bottom of the seventh to … [Read more...]
2014 NCAA Tournament Geospatial Map #NCAAsoftball
Here is my annual geospatial map of NCAA tournament teams, based on the official bracket. As I did last year, I created two separate maps, one for what I call "relatively compact" regionals (i.e., in which all or most of the teams come from contiguous states or even a single state) and one for … [Read more...]
PT Playbook: Softball 101
Softball is a direct descendant of baseball (sometimes referred to as hardball to differentiate the two), but differs from it in several ways, of which the chief four are: The ball is always pitched (thrown to the opposing team’s batter) underarm – in other words, it is released when … [Read more...]
Softball: Michigan Run-Ruled for First Time in 270 B1G Games
On April 22, 2000 (or April 23, according to some sources), B1G* softball power Michigan suffered a five-inning loss to Northwestern by a score of 12-0, via run-rule.From 2000-2013, Michigan's softball program won 10 regular-season B1G titles (nine outright and one tie), made the Women's … [Read more...]
Top Teams Struggle (#ncaasoftball)
National No. 1 UCLA avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of No. 3 Oregon today in Eugene, with a 6-1 win. The Ducks had taken the first two games of the series, 9-7 and 12-4 (run rule).No. 2 Tennessee likewise (and more unexpectedly) lost two of three this weekend, playing against unranked LSU. … [Read more...]
Bruins-Ducks Battle; Vols and Tide on the Rise (NCAA Softball)
No. 1 UCLA plays a three-game series at No. 3 Oregon this weekend, in the nation's marquee match-up. According to the UCLA news release, "With a 33-2 record, the Bruins are off to their best start since the 2001 season when they began the year 39-2."Tennessee, having risen to No. 2 in both of the … [Read more...]
PA Rebellion Select Dallas Escobedo as #1 Pick in 2014 National Pro Fastpitch Draft
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 31, 2014 - Stuart Williams, owner of the Pennsylvania Rebellion, the newest franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League loved spending a weekend seeing the sights in the Music City. He is bringing home some souvenirs not available in any gift … [Read more...]
Sweeps Characterize Big 12 Opening Weekend #ncaasoftball
I don't know how many fans took brooms out to Big 12 softball fields today, but it would have been appropriate, as all three of the conference's opening-weekend* series ended in three-game sweeps: Kansas over Oklahoma State (link); Oklahoma over Iowa State (all three wins via run-rule; link); … [Read more...]
SEC, Pac 12 Begin NCAA Softball Conference Play
Among the major conferences, league play begins this weekend in the SEC and Pac 12. In the SEC, national No. 1 Florida headlines the schedule with a three-game series at LSU (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). In the Pac 12, the marquee match-up is a three-game series featuring Arizona at UCLA, in an … [Read more...]
Michigan Hands UCLA its First Loss of the Year, Gains Split in Series (NCAA Softball)
The following Twitter tweet says it all... Ground out to Ramirez ends the game! U-M wins 9-4, handing UCLA its first loss of the season #GoBlue— Michigan Softball (@umichsoftball) March 6, 2014 Shortstop Sierra Romero led the Wolverines, falling a triple shy of the cycle (see box score and … [Read more...]