Again, it could be very interesting this weekend. Sooner softball goes to Fayetteville for two Saturday and one Sunday.

[Plainosooner]

I don't think I ever heard of a baseball or softball game postponed because of anticipated wind. Hmmm. Probably hard to play when it's blowing 45. So the Sooner women will play 14 innings Saturday and a single game at noon on Sunday. Three games in 24 hours. This will certainly challenge the depth of both pitching staffs. And both teams can hit.

Arky is 20-3, but they only had one loss before their three-game series on the road last weekend at Oxford. For all games in the SEC, there were a lot of home wins. Oh, and BTW, undefeated ten days ago, South Carolina lost their fifth straight tonight. So maybe we're not quite as good as we think we are. We will find out a lot more in the next two days.

 

[Plainosooner]

I was wrong. The Sunday game is at 11. Saturday's games are at 1:00 and 4:00.

 

[iasooner24]

Liking the updates R, not the right/wrong ^^^

 

[Oklabama]

Two good wins Saturday in Fayetteville. It was good to see Sam Landry back. This freshman group continues to play extremely well. It’s hard for me not to think about the next few years…..I know that’s a no-no. Today’s game is at 11 am.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Two good wins Saturday in Fayetteville. It was good to see Sam Landry back. This freshman group continues to play extremely well. It’s hard for me not to think about the next few years…..I know that’s a no-no. Today’s game is at 11 am.

I listened to the game today on my way home from Branson and I still believe this team can get back to OKC snd make a run. Pitching though will have to improve behind Landry.

Deal is a real mystery to me. She just doesnt seem to be able to have any consistency on the mound. I am trying to figure out if the hitters are just getting better on opposing teams or PG just doesn’t have a clear cut number 2 like she has in the past.

I am just happy OU swept the Hogs because had the not and heaven forbid lost the series I would have caught grief all week from my Hog friends

 

[Oklabama]

Deal is a real mystery to me. She just doesnt seem to be able to have any consistency on the mound. I am trying to figure out if the hitters are just getting better on opposing teams or PG just doesn’t have a clear cut number 2 like she has in the past.

Totally agree.

 

[Plainosooner]

Deal isn't the real deal. She's a good but doesn't have quality control. The pitchers we've had in the past, won most of the confrontations they had with great hitters. She doesn't.

Landry can. I think Smith might come around and get there. But the difference is that she's not a rubber arm. Landry is. She's thrown in 4 games since Wednesday. Three in the last two days. Smith seems like she might be be a solid one game a weekend pitcher. But her effectiveness dwindles after the first outing. She's going to have to learn how to challenge good hitters.

We've opened the conference season with two really good hitting teams. But the conference has half the teams who are. We can't throw Landry in every game. And we're not likely to have many run rules. We're going to need 21 conference innings a week. I'm not sure we can get that.

But we're still undefeated. And we need to get Parker going again. I've seen her swing at pitches out of the zone this weekend that l've never seen her swing at those, that bad, before.

 

[Mitchell66]

I listened to the game today on my way home from Branson and I still believe this team can get back to OKC snd make a run. Pitching though will have to improve behind Landry.

Deal is a real mystery to me. She just doesnt seem to be able to have any consistency on the mound. I am trying to figure out if the hitters are just getting better on opposing teams or PG just doesn’t have a clear cut number 2 like she has in the past.

I am just happy OU swept the Hogs because had the not and heaven forbid lost the series I would have caught grief all week from my Hog friends

She has a clear #2 and it’s Lowry. She is managing her load because she knows late in the year she and Sam will be the main arms. She is using KD more in relief as her role will be that. Smith too. Smith cannot be a starter in the SEC. She can use Montacelli here and there for matchups or to bridge the gap. A mature vet like Landry will also be a closer.

 

[Mitchell66]

I don't think I ever heard of a baseball or softball game postponed because of anticipated wind. Hmmm. Probably hard to play when it's blowing 45. So the Sooner women will play 14 innings Saturday and a single game at noon on Sunday. Three games in 24 hours. This will certainly challenge the depth of both pitching staffs. And both teams can hit.

Arky is 20-3, but they only had one loss before their three-game series on the road last weekend at Oxford. For all games in the SEC, there were a lot of home wins. Oh, and BTW, undefeated ten days ago, South Carolina lost their fifth straight tonight. So maybe we're not quite as good as we think we are. We will find out a lot more in the next two days.

South Carolina beat #13 Georgia the last 2 games to win the series.

 

[Soonerborn59]

She has a clear #2 and it’s Lowry. She is managing her load because she knows late in the year she and Sam will be the main arms. She is using KD more in relief as her role will be that. Smith too. Smith cannot be a starter in the SEC. She can use Montacelli here and there for matchups or to bridge the gap. A mature vet like Landry will also be a closer.

I think Lowry is a solid P but do you have inside info that makes you think she is the clear cut number 2? Or are you basing this off your own assumption? I will say Lowry has been a little more dependable thus far though.

 

[Plainosooner]

I think Lowry is a solid P but do you have inside info that makes you think she is the clear cut number 2? Or are you basing this off your own assumption? I will say Lowry has been a little more dependable thus far though.

Still, we seem to have only one pitcher who can be effective more than once in a weekend, and that's Landry. Lowry had one great performance when we most needed it. But she's not been effective with less than three or four days rest. We need another one. And pray that Landry stays strong.

 

[Mitchell66]

I think Lowry is a solid P but do you have inside info that makes you think she is the clear cut number 2? Or are you basing this off your own assumption? I will say Lowry has been a little more dependable thus far though.

I have no “inside” info. My opinion is she has an elite arm and Patty has praised her as such. Deal has done well in the past but does not seem to be improving whereas teams are hitting better.

 

[coeSooner81]

Do players in softball get a set number of games to play before redshirting, like they do in football? I would like to that Sam Bordi pitch, she was the #1 pitcher in her class. I also hear shes in a relationship with Jeremiah Fears, if so maybe she can keep him in Norman for a few years.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Do players in softball get a set number of games to play before redshirting, like they do in football? I would like to that Sam Bordi pitch, she was the #1 pitcher in her class. I also hear shes in a relationship with Jeremiah Fears, if so maybe she can keep him in Norman for a few years.

In college softball, a player can participate in up to 4 games and still retain their redshirt freshman status, meaning they will not have used up a year of their four-year NCAA eligibility.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Redshirting in College Sports:
  A redshirt freshman is a student-athlete who attends classes as a sophomore but doesn't play in any games during their freshman year, thus preserving a full year of eligibility for future seasons.
  
  
• NCAA Rule Change:
  The NCAA implemented a rule change in 2018 that allows players to participate in up to four games in a season without using up a year of their eligibility.
  
  
• Softball Specifics:
  This rule applies to all NCAA sports, including softball, meaning a softball player can play in up to four games and still be considered a redshirt freshman.
  
  
• Medical Redshirt:
  A medical redshirt is when an athlete sustains an injury that is season-ending. They also cannot have played in more than 30% of the games during that season and the injury can't be after the halfway point of the season.

 

[Plainosooner]

In college softball, a player can participate in up to 4 games and still retain their redshirt freshman status, meaning they will not have used up a year of their four-year NCAA eligibility.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Redshirting in College Sports:
  A redshirt freshman is a student-athlete who attends classes as a sophomore but doesn't play in any games during their freshman year, thus preserving a full year of eligibility for future seasons.
  
  
• NCAA Rule Change:
  The NCAA implemented a rule change in 2018 that allows players to participate in up to four games in a season without using up a year of their eligibility.
  
  
• Softball Specifics:
  This rule applies to all NCAA sports, including softball, meaning a softball player can play in up to four games and still be considered a redshirt freshman.
  
  
• Medical Redshirt:
  A medical redshirt is when an athlete sustains an injury that is season-ending. They also cannot have played in more than 30% of the games during that season and the injury can't be after the halfway point of the season.

That is the opposite of what commentators on games say. I've heard it more than once, that the rule does not apply to softball. I don't know the rule. But It seems that someone would be talking about it. I have heard that if they play an inning, they lose a year. I'm claiming no authority. But I have heard on more than one broadcast, at least before this year.

 

[Plainosooner]

This is an article from the beginning of the school year, claiming the opposite. It says that the rule you are claiming only applies to football and wrestling. I don't know if it's changed since then, but if so, I have not heard about that.

Docs: NCAA considering applying football redshirt rule to athletes in all sports

The NCAA is considering more historic changes to its amateurism rules.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[iasooner24]

I would assume the 1st but prepare for the 2nd, Justin Case

 

[Soonerborn59]

This is an article from the beginning of the school year, claiming the opposite. It says that the rule you are claiming only applies to football and wrestling. I don't know if it's changed since then, but if so, I have not heard about that.

Docs: NCAA considering applying football redshirt rule to athletes in all sports

The NCAA is considering more historic changes to its amateurism rules.

sports.yahoo.com

I didn’t claim that was the rule. I posted that from an online source when I asked the question on google. So either that site it came from is wrong or other links just might not be correct that are posted.

Ask yourself this, why would the 4 game rule apply to other sports but not to softball? Seems to me that it would be stupid to allow it in some sports but limit it for others.

I will do some more searching to see what else I can find. However once again that answer came from an online google link.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Here is a different answer that contradicts that first one I posted below. So it would appear the 4 game rule only applies to FB and Wrestling from what I can gather. It is a stupid rule in this case and I am surprised this hasn’t been challenged by the other sports.

• Softball Eligibility:
  In softball, a player's eligibility is determined by the number of seasons they have participated in, not the number of games played.
  
  

 

[iasooner24]

NCAA is just another government agency that Trump should eliminate

 

[Plainosooner]

I didn’t claim that was the rule. I posted that from an online source when I asked the question on google. So either that site it came from is wrong or other links just might not be correct that are posted.

Ask yourself this, why would the 4 game rule apply to other sports but not to softball? Seems to me that it would be stupid to allow it in some sports but limit it for others.

I will do some more searching to see what else I can find. However once again that answer came from an online google link.

It doesn't apply to other sports. It only applies in football, and in some way to wrestling.

 

[Soonerborn59]

It doesn't apply to other sports. It only applies in football, and in some way to wrestling.

I am aware of that. I am not even sure you read what I wrote. If you had you would see I found another link that said it only applied to FB and Wrestling.

Something tells me you just either want to argue or just want to goat and say “ I was right - you were wrong.” Guess what, it isn’t the first time I posted something that turned out to be wrong but its life.

 

[Plainosooner]

I read your first post, and answered. I hadn't seen the second one until after I posted.

 

[Soonerborn59]

I read your first post, and answered. I hadn't seen the second one until after I posted.

It’s all good. I think the 4 game rule should apply to all sports as it would be great to see how the young players would do in the sports not currently allowed to use it

 

[Soonerborn59]

Pitching has become a real isdue for OU outside of Sam Landry. OU jumped on Wichita St in the 1st 8-0 after 1. Deal proceeded to give up 2 HR in bottom half.

In 2nd inning, OU extends lead to 10-2 only to see Deal give up another run to make it 10-3 after 2.

OU goes up 14-3 in 3rd, Deal gives up another HR that makes it 14-6 and in comes Monticelli who gives up a 3 run shot to make it 14-9 after 3.

OU goes 1-2-3 in 4th only to see Monticelli walk first 2 hitters but now Landry is on the mound.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Wichita St scores 3 more to cut the lead to 14-12. This Shocker team is flat out hitting tonight. They have scored in every inning.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Deal 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HRA

Monticelli. 2/3 IP, 3 BB, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HRA

 

[Soonerborn59]

Heading to bottom 5 , OU up 19-12

 

[Soonerborn59]

WSU 5 HR on the night. What a wild game as even Landry gives up a 3 run shot. Going to 6th, WSU cuts lead to 19-15

 

[Soonerborn59]

Sooners win slugfest 19-16. One crazy nerve racking game. Tennessee up next this weekend and plenty to be concerned about in regard to the pitching. It has to get better if this team is to repeat.

 

[Oklabama]

Yeah, I watched the game and soon began to wonder “just how much more can Sam pitch”. Seriously.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Yeah, I watched the game and soon began to wonder “just how much more can Sam pitch”. Seriously.

So true, the saving grace is this OU team can flat out hit which helps offfset the pitching or lack of. It is like watching some of OU past FB team where they just hoped they could outscore the opponent.

Tennessee will be a tough match-up this weekend for them.

 

[Plainosooner]

The longterm ramifications of the Wichita debacle will be massive. That it was a win was barely a consolation. Landry seems to be the only Sooner pitcher that can get a good batter out. We're going to wearing her out before too long. I've heard talk about the freshman star pitcher that they planned to redshirt, perhaps pitching. We have to remember that Deal was supposed to be the top pitcher in the country when she was a high school senior. As is often the case, that "greatness" is too often a product of overmatched competition.

I think we are dealing with some pitching arms who are worn down by a couple of six game weekends earlier in the pre-conference season. Right now, our only effective pitcher had a weekend off three weeks ago. But her performane last night, showed a vulnerability of her recent workload. This has the look of a soon coming dumpster fire. Will we get swept at home against UTenn? I promised you we won't likely score in the teens against the Vols' staff.

I wonder when was the last time OU softball gave up as many as 16 runs, and won? I got so sick of watching last night, that I kept up with the game for two innings via thet stat app on Soonersports.com. I switched back and watched part of the sixth and all of the seventh.

 

[Soonerborn59]

The longterm ramifications of the Wichita debacle will be massive. That it was a win was barely a consolation. Landry seems to be the only Sooner pitcher that can get a good batter out. We're going to wearing her out before too long. I've heard talk about the freshman star pitcher that they planned to redshirt, perhaps pitching. We have to remember that Deal was supposed to be the top pitcher in the country when she was a high school senior. As is often the case, that "greatness" is too often a product of overmatched competition.

I think we are dealing with some pitching arms who are worn down by a couple of six game weekends earlier in the pre-conference season. Right now, our only effective pitcher had a weekend off three weeks ago. But her performane last night, showed a vulnerability of her recent workload. This has the look of a soon coming dumpster fire. Will we get swept at home against UTenn? I promised you we won't likely score in the teens against the Vols' staff.

I wonder when was the last time OU softball gave up as many as 16 runs, and won? I got so sick of watching last night, that I kept up with the game for two innings via thet stat app on Soonersports.com. I switched back and watched part of the sixth and all of the seventh.

I watched the whole game and was amazed how bad the pitching was. I don’t believe either Deal or Monticelli can be counted on from this point on to close the door in tight games. Not even sure at this point if OU can count on the other pitchers either.

I want to believe it was just one of those nights where the Shockers hitters were seeing beachballs being thrown at them. It happens but in this case I think it had more to do with poor pitching. I feel bad for Deal because as you said she was the number 1 pitcher in her class. As you said though she has struggled being that pitcher she was in HS.

As for Tennessee, I hope OU finds enough pitching to keep the Vols under 4 runs as that would favor OU. If they can do that I believe OU takes the series but still lose at least 1.

Its not the end of the world if OU fails to win the SEC or even if they fail to win it all again. We as fans need to understand the run will eventually end. This may or may not be that year but I trust PG will find a solution that at least allows OU a shot at the WCWS again.

 

[Plainosooner]

Right now, I think a reasonable and attainable goal is to finish the season as a top 8 seed. That gets you home ice for the Supers if you get there. I can't imagine we wouldn't. But if we don't have an arm other than the four we seem to have, we won't likely get there. We need Lowry, or maybe Bordi in a week or two, and I mean full speed, ready to go or I don't think we'll get there.

One caveat. There was a hs baseball team I covered 51 years ago, that played one of those post season, pre-playoff series against the everntual state champ. For whatever reason, the coach ran their butts off the day before a double header, and they got trounced twice. They also made the state tournament in lost to that same state champ 2-1 in the semi's. Sometimes there are things going on, that we don't know about. There is something possible like that, that messsed with the Sooner staff. The whole squad looked a step slow on defense last night, and that certainly doesb't help the pitchers. But surrendering five gopher balls is hard fo account for. I wanted to puke.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Right now, I think a reasonable and attainable goal is to finish the season as a top 8 seed. That gets you home ice for the Supers if you get there. I can't imagine we wouldn't. But if we don't have an arm other than the four we seem to have, we won't likely get there. We need Lowry, or maybe Bordi in a week or two, and I mean full speed, ready to go or I don't think we'll get there.

I would be highly surprised if PG uses Bordi at this point. I think she would have alteady made that move if she thought Bordi was ready to help the team.

Sometimes there are things going on, that we don't know about. There is something possible like that, that messsed with the Sooner staff. The whole squad looked a step slow on defense last night, and that certainly doesb't help the pitchers. But surrendering five gopher balls is hard fo account for. I wanted to puke.

It is possible I guess but I just don’t see that being the case with a PG team. The players all seem to respect her. I do agree the D looked a little out of sync last night but maybe even after leading 14-3 they became a little to relaxed. For the most part to me the infield was a little out of positioning at times or WSU hitters were just finding open spots.

Maybe we as fans are just trying to read to much into this game. Sometimes as we all know baseball/softball players just have off nights. I want to believe this was the case with the defense but the pitching concerns have been present since early in the season.

However I don’t buy into the theory that some internal issue is going on inside the clubhouse as you hint at.

 

[Soonerborn59]

OU loses opener vs Tennessee in extras 5-2. Game 2 should be interesting as I doubt either team uses its best pitcher.

OU did have a shot of winning the game in bottom of 7 with 1 out but Coors was thrown out on a great one hop throw from the RF.

Some good news is Texas lost game 1 vs Miss St earlier today.

 

[Soonerborn59]

Props to Deal today as she pitched very well. Sanders 3 run homer was the difference in todays game. OU needs Ellie Parker to get out of her slump as I think the announcer said in the month of March she hitting below .200.

Looks like the rubber game tomorrow will be Pickens vs Landry. Should be a great pitching matchup.

 

[Oklabama]

Yeah, I’m really surprised that Parker has had so much trouble for so long. I’d like to see her take advantage of the wind blowing out to right field today.

 

[Plainosooner]

I would be highly surprised if PG uses Bordi at this point. I think she would have alteady made that move if she thought Bordi was ready to help the team.

It is possible I guess but I just don’t see that being the case with a PG team. The players all seem to respect her. I do agree the D looked a little out of sync last night but maybe even after leading 14-3 they became a little to relaxed. For the most part to me the infield was a little out of positioning at times or WSU hitters were just finding open spots.

Maybe we as fans are just trying to read to much into this game. Sometimes as we all know baseball/softball players just have off nights. I want to believe this was the case with the defense but the pitching concerns have been present since early in the season.

However I don’t buy into the theory that some internal issue is going on inside the clubhouse as you hint at.

I didn't mean to hint anything about problems in the clubhouse. If I made any indication of that, it was unintended. I do believe that even moreso with girls ball of any kind, there is a bigger chance of issues related to performance that nobody outside the clubhouse knows about.