Softball Thursday

[j2d2]

OU won 15-2 against N. Texas. Patty used 5 pitchers with Paige starting who drove in 3 runs. Girl can hit, too!! Nicole Pendly hit a homer as did another freshman. Against weak competition this team has really pounded the ball and the many pitchers have done very well. There's only one more game to go this fall (U of Arkansas). I expect great things from this team. http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209733679

 

[Speedy17]

OU won 15-2 against N. Texas. Patty used 5 pitchers with Page starting who drove in 3 runs. Girl can hit, too!! Nicole Pendly hit a homer as did another freshman. Against weak competition this team has really pounded the ball and the many pitchers have done very well. There's only one more game to go this fall (U of Arkansas). I expect great things from this team. http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209733679

Everybody faces weak competition in the Fall. Erin Miller hit another homer last night. Nicole Pendley was 3-4 - she is going to be almost impossible to get out because she brings sprinter speed, slapping and bunting ability, and lethal power. Come regular season expect it will be Paige Parker and Kelsey Stevens though Shelby Pendley has gained about 3-4 mph this year.

My projected Lineup as of 10-24-2014

CF Nicole Pendley
1B Lauren Chamberlain
SS Shelby Pendley
2B Georgia Casey
LF Kady Self
RF Erin Miller
C Whitney Ellis
DP Paige Parker
3B Kelsey Arnold

SP1 Kelsey Stevens
SP2 Paige Parker

Strangely enough, this team may be almost as good as 2013. They are deep because you have Leslie Miller, Tori Nirschl, Callie Parsons, and Macey Hatfield on the bench. They can all hit.

 

[tycat947]

Everybody faces weak competition in the Fall. Erin Miller hit another homer last night. Nicole Pendley was 3-4 - she is going to be almost impossible to get out because she brings sprinter speed, slapping and bunting ability, and lethal power. Come regular season expect it will be Paige Parker and Kelsey Stevens though Shelby Pendley has gained about 3-4 mph this year.

My projected Lineup as of 10-24-2014

CF Nicole Pendley
1B Lauren Chamberlain
SS Shelby Pendley
2B Georgia Casey
LF Kady Self
RF Erin Miller
C Whitney Ellis
DP Paige Parker
3B Kelsey Arnold

SP1 Kelsey Stevens
SP2 Paige Parker

Strangely enough, this team may be almost as good as 2013. They are deep because you have Leslie Miller, Tori Nirschl, Callie Parsons, and Macey Hatfield on the bench. They can all hit.

Yes, barring injuries, this team should really be in the thick of another NC. Injuries last year kept us from making a stronger run although we finished in Top 6. Kelsey should have strong help and Kady will provide a lot more help and hopefully, we can allow Lauren to DP a lot, especially when Paige is pitching.

 

[Speedy17]

Yes, barring injuries, this team should really be in the thick of another NC. Injuries last year kept us from making a stronger run although we finished in Top 6. Kelsey should have strong help and Kady will provide a lot more help and hopefully, we can allow Lauren to DP a lot, especially when Paige is pitching.

Lauren is going to play 1B, she will never DP unless she can hardly walk. OU doesn't really have a backup first baseman - last year they were lucky because Brittany Williams was still on the team. They tried Javen Henson at 1st before putting Brittany back over there. You can count on Nirchl, Leslie Miller, Callie Parson, Paris Townsend, or Macey Hatfield being the DP. Lauren is absolutely back to 100% so it is not an issue.

Last year, they had the two injuries to Kady and Lauren. I think it was Gasso's best coaching job ever because they had a bigger weakness than those two injuries. They entered the season with no pitching but Kelsey developed. The biggest problem was the fact that they had only one pitcher. Anytime they had to play a doubleheader, OU was in trouble. Yes, Shelby pitched but she was a fill in. A good example was in the World Series when Kelsey beat ULL 3-1 then they had to come back and play #1 seed Oregon. Shelby wasn't ready for that situation. The current team has Kelsey, Paige, and a vastly improved Shelby. The surprise is that Kelsey Arnold has played so well that she is in the starting lineup moving Shelby to SS. Jess Vest just has never been able to hit well enough.

 

[tycat947]

Lauren is going to play 1B, she will never DP unless she can hardly walk. OU doesn't really have a backup first baseman - last year they were lucky because Brittany Williams was still on the team. They tried Javen Henson at 1st before putting Brittany back over there. You can count on Nirchl, Leslie Miller, Callie Parson, Paris Townsend, or Macey Hatfield being the DP. Lauren is absolutely back to 100% so it is not an issue.

That's good to hear that's she's 100% because that's why I made the comment. Read somewhere that she wasn't back to 100% and may never be with back problems. That's why I was thinking we could rest her as much as possible by being DP when we could. I want her to break the HR record so bad and if she hadn't been injured (twice) she may have already eclipsed the record or for sure be very close before her senior season.

 

[Speedy17]

That's good to hear that's she's 100% because that's why I made the comment. Read somewhere that she wasn't back to 100% and may never be with back problems. That's why I was thinking we could rest her as much as possible by being DP when we could. I want her to break the HR record so bad and if she hadn't been injured (twice) she may have already eclipsed the record or for sure be very close before her senior season.

I know this may sound as a shock but don't be surprised if Shelby Pendley does not make a run at the record. She has been working out like a beast. She left everybody behind in the annual Triathlon. People forget that the record in 90 and while Lauren has 72 - Shelby has 60. I would not be surprised to see her hit 30 homers this year especially with Lauren back in the lineup. If Shelby just hits her average of 20 - she will be in the Top 6 all time.

 

[j2d2]

There's lots to be excited about this year: The softball team is full of hitters and pitchers who are GOOD; the women's basketball team is full of talent and options; the men's basketball team is (for OU) loaded with good players and has an outstanding coach. The basketball season looks to be a barn burner. Rarely has Sherri had the breadth of apparent talent she has now even if many of them are freshmen.

 

[atlantasooner]

j2d2, add in the detail that Gasso apparently has great recruiting classes incoming according to those that rank softball.
verbals extending out to 2018.

 

[j2d2]

j2d2, add in the detail that Gasso apparently has great recruiting classes incoming according to those that rank softball.
verbals extending out to 2018.

The lady is on a roll and I'm juiced!
I'm very glad to hear that Lauren is healthy. I, too, had read that she was still only 80% and didnt expect to improve. Now I'm really pumped!!

 

[Speedy17]

The lady is on a roll and I'm juiced!
I'm very glad to hear that Lauren is healthy. I, too, had read that she was still only 80% and didnt expect to improve. Now I'm really pumped!!

I'll just put it this way, Lauren has played every Fall game at 1B and made every play. I have seen her run and make a catch almost in the opposing team's dugout and will behind 1B. Her swing is fine - I saw her hit one over the flag pole in centerfield. She is not wearing a knee brace and is running the base fine. All that being said, Shelby looks like she has had a Summer with Schmitty.