I WAS WRONG!!!

[MiccoMacey]

I didn't see it. I didn't think our softball team was capable of being the best team in the nation, destroying all comers, and then beating the #1 ranked team with the #1 ranked pitcher in the nation. I thought we were good, maybe on the edge of being great, but still not good enough to play with the elite teams.

Boy, was I wrong!!! The next time I appear to doubt a Patty Gasso-led team, feel free to remind me of this past WCWS. Remind me how our girls fought for the equivelant of two plus games for a hard fought win in possibly the single greatest championship level game ever.

Great job, Sooners!

 

[bullmarket]

I didn't see it. I didn't think our softball team was capable of being the best team in the nation, destroying all comers, and then beating the #1 ranked team with the #1 ranked pitcher in the nation. I thought we were good, maybe on the edge of being great, but still not good enough to play with the elite teams.

Boy, was I wrong!!! The next time I appear to doubt a Patty Gasso-led team, feel free to remind me of this past WCWS. Remind me how our girls fought for the equivelant of two plus games for a hard fought win in possibly the single greatest championship level game ever.

Great job, Sooners!

As you probably know I felt the opposite of you. We had the same talent we had in 2016 and I thought the 2017 OU team was even much more improved over the 2016 OU team with more depth and more talent.

My reasons I truly thought we could repeat....
1. We had done it before facing the pressure of the National Championship a year earlier and succeeding while other teams had not felt this pressure and won.
2. Last season we had only 1 pitcher Paige Parker who pitched almost every inning of every game. This season we had added pitching depth adding Paige Lowery and Lopez. We also had Mendes who can pitch.
3. We added some key freshmen to our roster We added our best hitter for average Nichole Mendes and also Lopez our freshman pitcher who I believe was 16-1 this season
4. In 2017 we had over 100 steals,
5 I loved this OU teams toughness and never give up attitude and this appeared in several games before the WCWS.
6. Patti Gasso is a winner
7. Late in the season We had proved we could win. I believe we won 30 out of our last 32 games, All season we were undefeated playing our opponents at their home field. I think we won 29 away games in a row including winning 2 in a row vs. Auburn in the Super Regional at their home field. .

I truly honestly believed we would repeat and I posted this often this season for several weeks with my reasoning..

 

[Plainosooner]

I didn't see it. I didn't think our softball team was capable of being the best team in the nation, destroying all comers, and then beating the #1 ranked team with the #1 ranked pitcher in the nation. I thought we were good, maybe on the edge of being great, but still not good enough to play with the elite teams.

Boy, was I wrong!!! The next time I appear to doubt a Patty Gasso-led team, feel free to remind me of this past WCWS. Remind me how our girls fought for the equivelant of two plus games for a hard fought win in possibly the single greatest championship level game ever.

Great job, p Sooners!

If you have any crow left over, Save me a little, and don't forget the barbecue sauce. I love this group. And I thought we'd be challenged most by UDub, and then especially Oregon. I didn't think we win two against the Gators.

I believe that Patty Gasso's game managment in both games was pretty close to flawless. The positioning on the seventh inning fly might have been the exception.But her player excecuted and were absolutely brilliant on defense, which is Gasso's specialty.

I also think that we're incredibly lucky to have Coach Lombardi, who's reworking and remaking of Paige Lowary's countenance and delivery was the difference in this championship series. Shay Knighten's brilliance in the clutch was a huge huge factor. But Paige 2's unwaivering performance in game 1 was the difference in the series. And her ability to come back in game 2, and be even more dominant was every bit as incredible. If she doesn't keep us in the game until the 17th, Knighten doesn't 'get the chance to be brilliant in the clutch.

And after 139 pitches on Monday, if she doesn't shut down the Gators who by then feared her, on Tuesday, then who knows what might have come to pass. Lots and lots of kudos to go around. If you taped the game, it's the only way you can watch Clifton, injured on Monday, look like an Olympic 400 meter runner, scoring from 1st on Knighten's bases loaded double on Tuesday.

She and Arnold were so consistent, and so just pure dee wonderful at 2nd and short for really the last 80 games. A year ago, we were a struggling team making too many key errors against teams good enough to have that get you beat. Then Coach Gasso moved Knighten to first and put this freshman that nobody counted on to take a look at, at 2nd base. Since then, OU has been the best college softball team in America. She's one of three players who played every game this season. She got hit by a pitch to set up Knighten's game winner Monday. She worked a 3-2 walk with two outs Tuesday, to force in a run and set up Knighten's 3 run double on Tuesday. And this after, getting tackled by a 1st baseman twice her size in game 1. And being obviously hurt.

Love me some Clifton.

And this post season, the little sisters Pendley and Romero became hitters for elite pitchers to be concerned about.

I love this team. And coaching is the reason why. Love me some OU softball.

 

[bullmarket]

If you have any crow left over, Save me a little, and don't forget the barbecue sauce. I love this group. And I thought we'd be challenged most by UDub, and then especially Oregon. I didn't think we win two against the Gators.

I believe that Patty Gasso's game managment in both games was pretty close to flawless. The positioning on the seventh inning fly might have been the exception.But her player excecuted and were absolutely brilliant on defense, which is Gasso's specialty.

I also think that we're incredibly lucky to have Coach Lombardi, who's reworking and remaking of Paige Lowary's countenance and delivery was the difference in this championship series. Shay Knighten's brilliance in the clutch was a huge huge factor. But Paige 2's unwaivering performance in game 1 was the difference in the series. And her ability to come back in game 2, and be even more dominant was every bit as incredible. If she doesn't keep us in the game until the 17th, Knighten doesn't 'get the chance to be brilliant in the clutch.

And after 139 pitches on Monday, if she doesn't shut down the Gators who by then feared her, on Tuesday, then who knows what might have come to pass. Lots and lots of kudos to go around. If you taped the game, it's the only way you can watch Clifton, injured on Monday, look like an Olympic 400 meter runner, scoring from 1st on Knighten's bases loaded double on Tuesday.

She and Arnold were so consistent, and so just pure dee wonderful at 2nd and short for really the last 80 games. A year ago, we were a struggling team making too many key errors against teams good enough to have that get you beat. Then Coach Gasso moved Knighten to first and put this freshman that nobody counted on to take a look at, at 2nd base. Since then, OU has been the best college softball team in America. She's one of three players who played every game this season. She got hit by a pitch to set up Knighten's game winner Monday. She worked a 3-2 walk with two outs Tuesday, to force in a run and set up Knighten's 3 run double on Tuesday. And this after, getting tackled by a 1st baseman twice her size in game 1. And being obviously hurt.

Love me some Clifton.

And this post season, the little sisters Pendley and Romero became hitters for elite pitchers to be concerned about.

I love this team. And coaching is the reason why. Love me some OU softball.

Great post Plaino.
Don't forget Fale Aviu. All of our Sophomores were key in 2016 (then Freshmen) and in this WCWS as.Sophomores Knighten, Romero Clifton and Aviu and freshman Mendes were key.

Mendes saved our ass in extra innings in game one with that great throw to second base right on the money from the wall for the out to stop a Florida rally

 

[Plainosooner]

I highlighted Clifton and Arnold, because Mendes and Aviu had their national recognition during the finals' broadcasts. But Arnold and Clifton are so key in this group and that is seldom as noted. And besides, I truly believe that Caleigh entering the lineup transformed this team and she is my favorite player, on a team full of them.

 

[bullmarket]

I highlighted Clifton and Arnold, because Mendes and Aviu had their national recognition during the finals' broadcasts. But Arnold and Clifton are so key in this group and that is seldom as noted. And besides, I truly believe that Caleigh entering the lineup transformed this team and she is my favorite player, on a team full of them.

Clifton is great. She has a talent to get on base in many ways. She has a great eye and walks a lot. She gets hit a lot. by opposing pitchers She now hits to the opposite field
and she hit a key 2 run HR vs.Tulsa to tie & Romero followed with a 2 run HR for the win

I have many favorites on the OU team and I think Paige Lowery next season could turn out to be the best pitcher in America. She is adding new pitches and she will be the most feared hurler in America,

 

[Plainosooner]

Clifton is great. She has a talent to get on base in many ways. She has a grea eye and walks a lot. She gets hit a lot. by oposing pitchers She now hits to the opposite field
and she hit a key 2 run HR vs.Tulsa to tie & Romero followed with a 2 run HR for the win

I have many favorites on the OU team and I think Paige Lowery next season could turn out to be the best pitcher in America. She is adding new pitches and she will be the most feared hurler in America,

I'm more than a little concerned about Paige Parker for next year. I remember when we pitched Stevens too many innings because she was all we had, and she was never the same after. I fear the same thing for Paige 1. We have no additional pitchers coming in, and I fear we will have a less efficient pitching staff in 2018. We'll see.

But you're always the great optimist, and I'm almost always the cautious pessimist.

 

[iasooner1]

I was hopeful and very pleasantly surprised.

I believe in SOONER MAGIC but not unicorns

 

[Plainosooner]

I was hopeful and very pleasantly surprised.

I believe in SOONER MAGIC but not unicorns

Because we've both seen Sooner magic.

 

[bullmarket]

I'm more than a little concerned about Paige Parker for next year. I remember when we pitched Stevens too many innings because she was all we had, and she was never the same after. I fear the same thing for Paige 1. We have no additional pitchers coming in, and I fear we will have a less efficient pitching staff in 2018. We'll see.

But you're always the great optimist, and I'm almost always the cautious pessimist.

I big time differ with you about Parker. She has pitched great the last two months with the exceptions of two games.... North Dakota State and game 2 vs. Florida She was great in the Super Regional & in other games in the WCWS.
For you to question her is very short sighted my friend Plaino.
Did you forget Parker has 14 strikeouts and a shutout of a good Auburn team in the recent Super Regional on the road?
Parker in the WCWS vs. Washington pitched 6 innings giving up only 3 hits and 1 run & had 6 strikeouts.
And Parker vs.Oregon pitched 5 innings giving up only 2 runs & only 5 hits with 6 strikeouts.

I do think Paige Lowery plays a bigger role next season also Mendes pitching.
Paige Parker will also be a force next season.