The Wichita State Mess
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2024 9:16 am
I love our Softball team. I am passionate about wanting them to succeed and achieve things no one could dream about before.
But what in the world did we witness last night up in Wichita?
I thought we had found that fire in the belly of the team again in the first two innings. I thought they looked motivated. It looked like the team that wanted that 4th ring was back.
But when we pulled the starters and started subbing in the bench players, with just a few remaining starters staying on the field...what happened? It almost looked like they lost all the drive I thought they had found in the first two innings. Did they think they could just "mail it in" at that point? I have absolutely no idea what possessed Coach Bredbenner to start her worst pitcher against the Sooners last night. Maybe she had lost all respect for the Sooners after our performance last weekend and she thought she could beat us with their # 4. And she left her in there for 2 innings! Finally, she woke up and put their best pitcher in. Thank heavens she didn't start her.
I guess I have not wanted to admit how thin we really are beyond the Magnificent Seven Plus Three. But we saw last night why Coach Gasso doesn't sub in the bench in Texas-Like games. I did think Hodge probably got a passing grade for her efforts. I get why Coach pulled the starters with a 7 run lead and gave the reins to the underclassmen to mop up. This was going to be their time to shine---give them an opportunity to show why they should come off the bench and vie for starting time---or at least more relief time. Earlier relief time. But instead what followed left me really disappointed.
KD was awesome. She is going to be fine. Even Keeney, though she had a couple of rocky moments, pitched her way out of jams and showed why she can be a good middle inning reliever, and even close some games.
And the defense? True to form and had a good game.
But the offense after inning number two? This just doesn't represent what a Championship team looks like when you have to dig beneath the starters.
I truly hope I am wrong. And I'm sorry for my tirade. I'm sure others will post a much more balanced review of the game.
But I did hear that Coach Gasso was not happy after the game.
And as the team was getting ready to head home last night, I'm betting Senior Captains Hansen and Jennings told the team, "Fasten your seat belts girls, it's gonna be a bumpy flight back to Norman."
But what in the world did we witness last night up in Wichita?
I thought we had found that fire in the belly of the team again in the first two innings. I thought they looked motivated. It looked like the team that wanted that 4th ring was back.
But when we pulled the starters and started subbing in the bench players, with just a few remaining starters staying on the field...what happened? It almost looked like they lost all the drive I thought they had found in the first two innings. Did they think they could just "mail it in" at that point? I have absolutely no idea what possessed Coach Bredbenner to start her worst pitcher against the Sooners last night. Maybe she had lost all respect for the Sooners after our performance last weekend and she thought she could beat us with their # 4. And she left her in there for 2 innings! Finally, she woke up and put their best pitcher in. Thank heavens she didn't start her.
I guess I have not wanted to admit how thin we really are beyond the Magnificent Seven Plus Three. But we saw last night why Coach Gasso doesn't sub in the bench in Texas-Like games. I did think Hodge probably got a passing grade for her efforts. I get why Coach pulled the starters with a 7 run lead and gave the reins to the underclassmen to mop up. This was going to be their time to shine---give them an opportunity to show why they should come off the bench and vie for starting time---or at least more relief time. Earlier relief time. But instead what followed left me really disappointed.
KD was awesome. She is going to be fine. Even Keeney, though she had a couple of rocky moments, pitched her way out of jams and showed why she can be a good middle inning reliever, and even close some games.
And the defense? True to form and had a good game.
But the offense after inning number two? This just doesn't represent what a Championship team looks like when you have to dig beneath the starters.
I truly hope I am wrong. And I'm sorry for my tirade. I'm sure others will post a much more balanced review of the game.
But I did hear that Coach Gasso was not happy after the game.
And as the team was getting ready to head home last night, I'm betting Senior Captains Hansen and Jennings told the team, "Fasten your seat belts girls, it's gonna be a bumpy flight back to Norman."