Agreed. UF and UM are clearly the best of the bunch. The Quacks seemed to get too much respect for winning what used to be the dominant conference.
Even the Super Regionals were hosed. No way Zero U should have paired with us. Both teams were worthy of a trip to OKC. More impressed with them than the Quacks.
Although it is ironic we usually take both of them out!
I honestly think they had it out for us this year because the SEC was so strong. I agree 100% that the PAC-whatever gets too much respect. People still act like they are a power conference in softball, and while they do have some strong teams I thought Oregon has been overrated for a while now. I thought UCLA was the better team of the two out of the PAC-whatever. I think it should have been:
1. Florida
2. Michigan
3. OU (yes I think they were that good)
4. LSU
5. Auburn
6. Bama
7. UCLA
8. Oregon
We do have one more year with mccleney and Runyon so hopefully that will help us next year. Osorio is only getting better, if we can get consistent at hitting and littlejohn can get back to how she was last year then it might be that special season all over again. But congrats to the tide ladies they played great this season and there were just a few too many great teams to beat for a young team going through growing pains. But my hat goes off to them and Murphy
I'm not sure Littlejohn can get back but I hope she does. Osorio proved she will be our #1 without a doubt and our go to pitcher and I imagine she'll get more innings next year as I truly think they were purposely keeping her innings low with her being a Freshman this year.
A look at our lineup next year (bold is returning starter, and their grade next year):
Pitcher: Alexis Osorio (Sophomore)
Catcher: Carrigan Fain (Sophomore)
1st Base: Leona Lafaele (Senior)
2nd Base: Demi Turner (Sophomore)
Shortstop: ???????????????
3rd Base: Marisa Runyon (Junior)
Left Field: Chandler Dare (Junior)
Center Field: Haylie McCleney (Senior)
Right Field: ???????????????
So that is 6 out of 9 coming back there including our best pitcher. I like those odds any day of the week! I imagine Right Field we end up with Andrea Hawkins who will be a Senior so that is not really hurting us either. Of course I'm probably missing someone for SS. That is still a pretty good lineup with still only 2 Seniors and possibly 3 if Hawkins starts. Murphy is doing one heck of a job! RTR, the future is bright!!!