FSU Seminole Softball Sent Packing From NCAA Tournament
Posted by NoleCC
Before I get started, a quote from Tomahawk Nation:
Over the weekend the baseball team got the sweep and the softball team was eliminated from the NCAA tournament. If you’re really THAT interested in softball, I’d suggest you head over to ScalpEm to find out what happened.
THAT interested? Boys, boys, boys, YOU SHOULD BE THAT INTERESTED. Why? Because it’s better than baseball. Because there’s nothing better than a college woman that can hand you your ass in the batter’s box, or throw across a diamond with some zip on the ball. THAT is why you should watch, and get off the “I’m a real sports guy, I only watch MANLY MEN’S EXTREME SPORTS.” I mean, sure if you want to watch a bunch of guys in a pile, or watch a bunch of guys grabbing their junk and spitting more often that women, by all means, go ahead. It’s like saying watching women’s gymnastics wouldn’t have many people THAT interested.
Anyway, on to the news:
FSU Softball was eliminated from the NCAA tournament. In reality there’s not much that you need to know that you haven’t heard all season. The bats died out against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls twice, FSU pitchers (specifically Sarah Hamilton) kept it close, but the Seminoles’ offense was DOA for the tournament. That was pretty much their mantra against good to great teams through the 2009 season, and nothing changed over the weekend. I’m not really upset about it, it was a season of more ups than downs, and I’m thrilled with Coach Lonnie Alameda’s inaugural season.
Other thoughts about 2009 and beyond:
Kaleigh Rafter was a joy to watch. She looks like ballplayer behind the plate, and looks like she genuinely enjoys the game.
FSU Softball needs some bats desperately. This anemic offense against good pitching thing has to stop. I understand GREAT pitchers don’t give up a lot of hits or runs, but the FSU hitters need to get by the good ones if they plan to get back to the WCWS in the future.
The infield, in my opinion, should have new corners (Michelle Snyder graduates, and Brittany Joseph’s bat either needs to improve or she’ll be replaced) and possible an new 2B next season (McConn has a good glove though, and if there is improvement elsewhere in the lineup, I probably keep here there).
Cross your fingers that Robin Ahrberg returns to her pre-injury form next season.
I think Shayla Jackson will be an even bigger contributer next year.
Ashley Stager should hit double digit home runs next year, if anybody else can protect her in the lineup.
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Great wrap, and great coverage this season, hats off. I wonder if Coach A and her staff will have walk on try outs in the fall to try to find the next Crystal Bustos.
Also, I REALLY wanted a piece of Cal this weekend, we owe them for 5 years ago, not to mention their arrogant fan base.
Ed,
Thanks for the vote of confidence! Open tryouts never hurt anything, imho. Also, it’s only arrogance if you can’t back it up, lol. I wish I could have attended more games and taken more photos this year, but hopefully I can get out a bit more next spring!
Sports are sports. When its the NCAAT in any sport, I’m excited and paying attention. A big “tsk tsk” to TN.
Gee whiz, we must of really pissed off Nancy. Nancy we miss you :(
Oh come on CC, you know there was no harm intended in that one. You know as well as I do that most of our readership doesn’t really care about softball, right or wrong.
Btw… Gymnastics is different because of the related outfits.
Women’s field hockey might be athletically impressive, still doesn’t mean I’m going to watch it. Nor do I watch Men’s Lacrosse. I’m not sure where my sports line in the sand is, but Softball, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse are on the wrong side of it.
Well, at least until I have a kid and those are the only sports they want to play =\
MattD,
It’s all about how you phrase it though. It’s hard to make a cusp fan care when you phrase it the way you did. I’m sorry that you have to have a line in the sand for sports, but that just kind of plays into my empty accusation in the first paragraph of “manly, extreme sports” yadda, yadda, yadda. :)
I do agree through that most of your readership probably doesn’t care about softball. That’s a shame, but I believe it because they are the same people that soak up football recruiting info (believe it or not softball has fans that are crazy about recruiting info too) and it’s a football driven site. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, I’m just saying that it’s all in how you phrase your message about a team like FSU Softball. I brought my Dad to an FSU softball game for a few innings after an FSU baseball game, and he was shocked at the level of play by the softball team. Instant fan made that day. Will he go to every game? No, of course not, but women’s sports need to be presented to some males (my father not included, he’d watch whatever) in a certain way to get them to realize it doesn’t have to be men’s or women’s, that both can be appreciated for a high level of play.
It’s funny that you bring up the gymnastics outfit thing… obviously you can’t appreciate a good pair of softball pants. ;-)
I love what you wright about Seminole softball, I’m out there at like all the games and its my dream to play out there on that feild wearing a Semionle uniform. So I greatly appreacate what you do wrighting every thing and giving them good support!
Thanks, Please keep it up!
(I read this after EVERY game!)
ED , PLEASE, NANCY KNOWS WHO SHE IS… THATS WHY SHE IS NOT RESPONDING. THEY HAD GOOD PLAYERS AND THEY BLEW IT!
YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WENT ON THIS SEASON…. KNOWLEDGE IS GOOD
Alameda and staff did nothing special. Wasted some good hitters on the bench, and made a dumb move not starting Gilmore at first. This coaching staff was weak at UNLV and they will be weak at FSU.
@9 Thank you for the kind words, I’ll keep trying to do my best to bring my thoughts on the softball team to the site!
@12 I don’t disagree entirely with your points, but I do think that Alameda and staff did a better job than I thought they would, judging from their UNLV showing. I’m not ready to crown anybody yet, that will take a few more winning seasons and a progression in the NCAA tournament.
Eh… softball pants are ok. But volleyball shorts, THAT’S where the action is.
And it’s not a “manly, extreme sports” thing. I’m not really sure what it is. Baseball is my favorite sport yet I can’t watch more than an inning of softball.
And of course there’s the aforementioned affinity for gymnastics.
@ 12 Alameda did a wonderful job this season, but yes i agree Gilmore should have played first the whol time. but the girls are actully learning things, the coaches arent just hiting them ground balls but taking it back to the machanics. im excited to see what alameda will do with this program over the years.