Cyclone Softball: 33-22, was ranked, first NCAA since ‘88, first NCAA wins

[CyclonesFan4ever]

Someone posted a slow-mo video of Mizzou pitcher Jordan Weber in the game. I think this is the reason why our softball assistant coach got ejected.

Our pitcher Saya Swain got pulled by the coaching staff in the last two games after throwing very few pitches due to illegal pitching.



This is a good educational video for softball pitching.

 

[GoldCy]

Didn't get to watch the game, but it has changed from when I umped H.S. games. Pitchers stride off the rubber used to be a reasonable length, not jumping off the rubber. It was amazing how a 5'6' girl could have a stride of 6' (physically impossible), but some coaches would go nuts over an illegal pitch call,

Any chance you can give us an explanation of an illegal pitch involving where the feet are allowed to go. As an uniformed observer that just read the rules, it looks like every pitch I saw mo pitcher make was technically illegal. Especially since they called our pitcher for it which I think affected her performance. Seems like umps are awfully subjective

 

[theshadow]

(2) UCLA beats Minnesota, 2-1, to advance. UCLA pitchers only needed 69 pitches for the game.

Bruins will host Virginia Tech.

 

[theshadow]

Of the 13 teams in the super regionals so far:

*Only 1 came out of the loser's bracket (#14 Kentucky)
*Only 1 was 2-0 and needed a second game to advance (#7 LSU)
*The other 11 were 2-0 and just needed one game today

 

[OKClones]

Illegal pitch for sure in your video!
I’m not really sure why a 4th umpire is necessary if illegal pitches aren’t going to be called and slappers stepping out of the box is continuing to be overlooked.
Save the money on a 4th umpire and bring instant replay into the game.
The problem is human error not umpires being in the right spot to make a call. The umpire can be in perfect position and still make a mistake. It happens but getting the call right is what’s important isn’t it?

 

[theshadow]

Washington wins 2-0, forces the second game with Michigan.

 

[theshadow]

Arizona comes back from a 6-0 deficit to win, 12-6, and advance. 'Cats will play at Arkansas.

 

[Cycsk]

Someone posted a slow-mo video of Mizzou pitcher Jordan Weber in the game. I think this is the reason why our softball assistant coach got ejected.

Our pitcher Saya Swain got pulled by the coaching staff in the last two games after throwing very few pitches due to illegal pitching.



This is a good educational video for softball pitching.

They just showed the final out on Soundoff. Just like in the clip above. Missouri pitcher gets closer and an extra step for power.

 

[theshadow]

Oregon walks it off in 8, 3-2, to force a second game with Texas.

Second game will be played yet tonight. First pitch at 11:15 p.m. CT.

 

[theshadow]

SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE (all times CT)

HOME	VISITOR	THU 5/27	FRI 5/28	SAT 5/29	SUN 5/30
(1) Oklahoma	(16) Washington		2:00 (ESPN2)	2:00 (ABC)	3:00 (ESPN)*
(8) Missouri	James Madison		8:00 (ESPNU)	6:00 (ESPNU)	11:00 or 1:00 (TBD)*
(5) Oklahoma State	(12) Texas		4:00 (ESPN2)	3:00 (ESPN)	5:00 (ESPNU)*
(4) Florida	Georgia		4:00 (ESPNU)	11:00 (ESPN)	11:00 (ESPN)*
(3) Alabama	(14) Kentucky		12:00 (ESPN2)	1:00 (ESPN)	3:00 (ESPNU)*
(6) Arkansas	(11) Arizona		6:00 (ESPNU)	4:00 (ESPNU)	8:00 (ESPN2)*
(7) LSU	(10) Florida State	6:00 (ESPN)	6:00 (ESPN2)	6:00 (ESPN2)*
(2) UCLA	Virginia Tech	8:30 (ESPN)	8:30 (ESPN2)	8:30 (ESPN2)*

*Game 3, if necessary

 

[NWICY]

SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE (all times CT)

HOME	VISITOR	THU 5/27	FRI 5/28	SAT 5/29	SUN 5/30
(1) Oklahoma	(16) Washington		2:00 (ESPN2)	2:00 (ABC)	3:00 (ESPN)*
(8) Missouri	James Madison		8:00 (ESPNU)	6:00 (ESPNU)	11:00 or 1:00 (TBD)*
(5) Oklahoma State	(12) Texas		4:00 (ESPN2)	3:00 (ESPN)	5:00 (ESPNU)*
(4) Florida	Georgia		4:00 (ESPNU)	11:00 (ESPN)	11:00 (ESPN)*
(3) Alabama	(14) Kentucky		12:00 (ESPN2)	1:00 (ESPN)	3:00 (ESPNU)*
(6) Arkansas	(11) Arizona		6:00 (ESPNU)	4:00 (ESPNU)	8:00 (ESPN2)*
(7) LSU	(10) Florida State	6:00 (ESPN)	6:00 (ESPN2)	6:00 (ESPN2)*
(2) UCLA	Virginia Tech	8:30 (ESPN)	8:30 (ESPN2)	8:30 (ESPN2)*

*Game 3, if necessary

Thanks for this.
OU has been in a couple of scares but their bats have came through for them.

 

[Tornado man]

Great effort all season long by the Cyclones. What a fantastic year.

But, burn those drab no-hit unis.

And let's finally install lights at the softball complex. Would improve the program.

 

[loyalsons4evertrue]

Ngl I don't know much about recruiting in softball, but watching OU yesterday against Wichita State was like watching a team on steroids compete against middle schoolers...and the thing is WSU is actually a very good team. In the 6th inning, OU scored 10 runs I believe including 3 home runs. I think every girl up to bat at least got a hit and it was just amazing to watch their offense..so I guess my question is, do only the traditional top programs stay at the top in softball? I get OU gets the top recruits, but I would be curious to know if Iowa State is capable of landing any of that caliber of talent.

 

[Neptune78]

Ngl I don't know much about recruiting in softball, but watching OU yesterday against Wichita State was like watching a team on steroids compete against middle schoolers...and the thing is WSU is actually a very good team. In the 6th inning, OU scored 10 runs I believe including 3 home runs. I think every girl up to bat at least got a hit and it was just amazing to watch their offense..so I guess my question is, do only the traditional top programs stay at the top in softball? I get OU gets the top recruits, but I would be curious to know if Iowa State is capable of landing any of that caliber of talent.

For those more in the know, how long has Iowa State concentrated on California kids? We had 13 on the roster this season?

 

[CY9008]

Ngl I don't know much about recruiting in softball, but watching OU yesterday against Wichita State was like watching a team on steroids compete against middle schoolers...and the thing is WSU is actually a very good team. In the 6th inning, OU scored 10 runs I believe including 3 home runs. I think every girl up to bat at least got a hit and it was just amazing to watch their offense..so I guess my question is, do only the traditional top programs stay at the top in softball? I get OU gets the top recruits, but I would be curious to know if Iowa State is capable of landing any of that caliber of talent.

So tough for northern schools that aren’t blue bloods to get high level talent, but there seems to be more parity than ever. Just like with any other sport, players that have a really good season at a maybe not so good school will transfer to a traditional power. Along with very high level transfers between bluebloods every year. For example, we’ve seen the kind of character Sami has had at ISU but many similar players would’ve bolted for greener pastures to play play for a more traditionally successful team especially after coaching changes.

Kendyl Lindaman out of Ankeny is a good example of that. Played for an up and coming Minnesota team but transferred to a top #5 Florida team. She could’ve been a high difference maker for the gophers this year.

 

[Mizzou Man]

I meant to drop in earlier, but congrats on a really good year for ISU softball. I talked to a lot of ISU fans/parents yesterday and the parents were really excited about the incoming recruiting class. I interacted with some other folks who had barely ever watching ISU softball before. They were big ISU fans and it was close enough that they made the drive. I think that is what is cool. That will carry over to future seasons. A lot of Cyclone fans were paying attention to the program for perhaps the first time this past weekend and I bet they will show up on a nice day in Ames next year and become softball fans. It's great for the sport.

It's nice to be about 10 years removed from the drama of conference realignment. I am glad to be in a place where it's a topic on the backburner. I totally get the animosity at the time but I think it is awesome that Mizzou wrestling is back in the Big XII as an affiliate member. ISU seems to be doing pretty well across the board and I am glad things ended up working out okay with the Big XII.

 

[GoldCy]

For those more in the know, how long has Iowa State concentrated on California kids? We had 13 on the roster this season?

Always. They have high caliber club programs. Iowa players suffer not being able to play club. Have to skip HS ball and travel to other states to play. It takes Iowa players a couple years to catch up.

 

[Mizzou Man]

@Mizzou Man, Thanks for stopping by. If the college FB scene ever explodes again I'd like to see you and Arky end up in the central states region again. Driveable road trips are fun. I was down to your old BB facility for a MBB/WBB double header. It was during the McDermott yrs the results came out opposite of what I thought going in, the women took the L and McD got one of his few road wins. We had seats 3 rows off the floor for the men's game there was a little old lady from Jefferson City sitting next to me, fun to visit with before the game, she was so mad when they lost she wouldn't speak afterwards. Is the Flat Branch brew pub still there? It was nice when I was down there.

Haha. That's a great story. Flat Branch is still around. Yep. Nice place.

I miss Big XII basketball a lot. The SEC has good players and some good teams in basketball, but it is really a boring basketball conference. You look at your schedule and you are playing Georgia on a Wednesday night and there just isn't any juice. We've had a pretty rough decade in men's hoops so maybe we were better off hiding out in a place that doesn't care as much about basketball.

One of the first Mizzou basketball games that I remember watching in full (on TV) was the I believe 1993 Big 8 semifinal where Mizzou played ISU. I get so nostalgic thinking about the old Phillips 66 commercials, Johnny Orr/Norm Stewart, Dave Armstrong saying Julius Michalik's name repeatedly. I don't think college basketball will ever be that perfect again. And it's not just realignment that has made things more bland and uninteresting, but it definitely played a part in it. I wish living through all that when I was younger, I would have had some appreciation for how special it all was. Sorry for the diatribe.

 

[Darius Bieber]

SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE (all times CT)

HOME	VISITOR	THU 5/27	FRI 5/28	SAT 5/29	SUN 5/30
(1) Oklahoma	(16) Washington		2:00 (ESPN2)	2:00 (ABC)	3:00 (ESPN)*
(8) Missouri	James Madison		8:00 (ESPNU)	6:00 (ESPNU)	11:00 or 1:00 (TBD)*
(5) Oklahoma State	(12) Texas		4:00 (ESPN2)	3:00 (ESPN)	5:00 (ESPNU)*
(4) Florida	Georgia		4:00 (ESPNU)	11:00 (ESPN)	11:00 (ESPN)*
(3) Alabama	(14) Kentucky		12:00 (ESPN2)	1:00 (ESPN)	3:00 (ESPNU)*
(6) Arkansas	(11) Arizona		6:00 (ESPNU)	4:00 (ESPNU)	8:00 (ESPN2)*
(7) LSU	(10) Florida State	6:00 (ESPN)	6:00 (ESPN2)	6:00 (ESPN2)*
(2) UCLA	Virginia Tech	8:30 (ESPN)	8:30 (ESPN2)	8:30 (ESPN2)*

*Game 3, if necessary

That Okie State vs Texas game might be a barn burner

 

[theshadow]

That Okie State vs Texas game might be a barn burner

Cowgirls are 4-0 against the Horns this year.

Sweep in Austin (3-1, 5-1, 6-4) and one more at the Big 12 tourney (3-2 in 9).