Fall Softball 2017

[ConwayGamecock]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

After the fall - Some opinions on what we may have learned about the team during fall ball .

1. The infield looks set . Barring injury , of course . The starting infield should be Krystan White at 1b , Mackenzie Boesel at 2b , Kenzie Maguire at ss & freshman Jana Johns at 3b . This is a really solid group . Defensively I think Boesel is at least average and White and Maguire are plus defenders . From what I saw of Johns in 8 fall games , she is a plus defender as well . Offensively they are even better . Boesel is the team’s best hitter with Johns not far behind . Maguire had a good fall with the bat and may be the leadoff hitter . White has improved as a hitter every year and was second on the team in rbi last season . This group is the strength of the team .

2. The outfield has more question marks , but here’s how I think they may start the season . Kennedy Clark had a good fall and I think she begins the season in a corner spot , probably left field . Tiara Duffy didn’t seem to me to have a very good fall , but she had a good season last year so I’m plugging her in right field . I think Kamryn Watts will get the first shot at centerfield . Her offense is questionable , but she has excellent speed and looks to be a good defensive outfielder . When Drotar & Galvan pitch they can possibly bat for themselves so Watts would probably be defense-only in those games .

3. For catcher I have no clue . There are a couple of catchers who sat out the fall games - Alyssa Kumiyama & Alyssa Vanderveer , who may figure into the picture . Kumiyama is listed as an infielder on the USC roster , but in a radio interview last week Coach Smith referred to her when discussing the catchers . Coming off knee surgery , I’m not sure how much she will be able to catch , but if she is healthy it’s potentially another good bat in the lineup . Likewise with Vanderveer , who is recovering from ankle surgery . Senior Jordyn Augustus and freshmen Anna Vest & Alex Fulmer did the catching in the fall games . I like Vest best overall , but the experience Augustus picked up last season may get her more time .

4. Pitching is obviously a big key to how the season goes . Raley or Drotar may start the season as the number one starter , but I think freshman Kelsey Oh is talented enough to possibly be the Friday starter come SEC time . Oh still has some pitches get away from her at times - in the dirt , over the catcher’s head , etc. And she falls behind in the count a little too much . If she can clean that up some she has a chance to be really good . Victoria Galvan has a good drop or drop-curve and gets a ton of ground balls . I see her as more of a short term reliever until she adds another pitch or two .

That’s about all I have for now . If we stay reasonably healthy and the pitching falls into place it could be an exciting year .

Thanks for the review - very informative!!

[GaCocky]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

After the fall - Some opinions on what we may have learned about the team during fall ball .

1. The infield looks set . Barring injury , of course . The starting infield should be Krystan White at 1b , Mackenzie Boesel at 2b , Kenzie Maguire at ss & freshman Jana Johns at 3b . This is a really solid group . Defensively I think Boesel is at least average and White and Maguire are plus defenders . From what I saw of Johns in 8 fall games , she is a plus defender as well . Offensively they are even better . Boesel is the team’s best hitter with Johns not far behind . Maguire had a good fall with the bat and may be the leadoff hitter . White has improved as a hitter every year and was second on the team in rbi last season . This group is the strength of the team .

2. The outfield has more question marks , but here’s how I think they may start the season . Kennedy Clark had a good fall and I think she begins the season in a corner spot , probably left field . Tiara Duffy didn’t seem to me to have a very good fall , but she had a good season last year so I’m plugging her in right field . I think Kamryn Watts will get the first shot at centerfield . Her offense is questionable , but she has excellent speed and looks to be a good defensive outfielder . When Drotar & Galvan pitch they can possibly bat for themselves so Watts would probably be defense-only in those games .

3. For catcher I have no clue . There are a couple of catchers who sat out the fall games - Alyssa Kumiyama & Alyssa Vanderveer , who may figure into the picture . Kumiyama is listed as an infielder on the USC roster , but in a radio interview last week Coach Smith referred to her when discussing the catchers . Coming off knee surgery , I’m not sure how much she will be able to catch , but if she is healthy it’s potentially another good bat in the lineup . Likewise with Vanderveer , who is recovering from ankle surgery . Senior Jordyn Augustus and freshmen Anna Vest & Alex Fulmer did the catching in the fall games . I like Vest best overall , but the experience Augustus picked up last season may get her more time .

4. Pitching is obviously a big key to how the season goes . Raley or Drotar may start the season as the number one starter , but I think freshman Kelsey Oh is talented enough to possibly be the Friday starter come SEC time . Oh still has some pitches get away from her at times - in the dirt , over the catcher’s head , etc. And she falls behind in the count a little too much . If she can clean that up some she has a chance to be really good . Victoria Galvan has a good drop or drop-curve and gets a ton of ground balls . I see her as more of a short term reliever until she adds another pitch or two .

That’s about all I have for now . If we stay reasonably healthy and the pitching falls into place it could be an exciting year .

Thanks for the review. I didn't see all the games but you saw basically what I was thinking. Thanks for putting in the time and effort to keep us informed.

[scfastpitch]

A little "team bonding" on a ropes course in Black Mountain , NC .

[evilpoptart]

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/genrel/102517aab.html

Great article about the softball team volunteering in the community!

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by evilpoptart

http://www.gamecocksonline.com/genrel/102517aab.html

Great article about the softball team volunteering in the community!

Jordy Augustus is a senior but I see lots of freshmen in those pictures . Good group we brought in .

[scfastpitch]

A little softball note . I talked to some of the girls at the baseball scrimmage . I asked them what they knew about the non-conference schedule . They said we will be travelling to the home of defending national champs Oklahoma to play in a tournament there .