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2017 Softball Season

Iowa loses in 5 in a run rule. A HBP on Mullarky in the first saved Iowa from having their second perfect game against them on the season. I was hoping Iowa would take momentum from the weekend into conference play. Hopefully Sunday will be a better day. Go Hawks
 
I didn't get there until it was already 7-0. I saw Wiegand pitching, Taylor at SS and 3 errors, figured just as well I wasn't on time. I'd assumed Starkenburg started the game and just was off her game, but turned out it was Doocy. I know Shayla started Monday and so Doocy would be next, but to me you go with your #1 to open conference season.

And now we have a dilemma at SS. Thompson leads the team in errors with 9, but when you sub in Taylor for her you replace a .290 bat with an .053 bat. :(
 
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I think Thompson will be good. Nervous freshman in conference opener.

I think maybe only 1 ball was hit out of the infield? I could be wrong.
 
I think the sad Part is, when you look at how long this Thread is, there is interest in Iowa Softball. Just not the kind that's good. And with BB being over, and Football not quite here yet, Softball and Baseball have a chance to gain fans. Baseball is doing its part with Heller, and softball used to with Gayle but now the product is so bad nobody wants to go watch. I feel having a sport like Iowa Softball used to be where it was competitive for the B10 championships and went to the College WS now and then helped Keep Hawkeye fans interested in Iowa Sports this time of year. Now only Baseball peeks interest. I Really want this softball program back in the B10 race. Now we are the doormat.
 
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I agree with you Drmac22. I started following Hawkeye softball in the early 2000s because they were a national power and wanted a championship caliber team to cheer for. After watching a couple games in person I was hooked on fast pitch and now love the sport, not just Hawkeye softball.

I don't question the coaching staffs desire to win or the players dedication and effort, but it is not resulting in many Ws. I hope we can get back to being an NCAA tournament caliber team some day, but it seems a long ways off. Until then I'll still follow and support them even if it means single digit wins.
 
There are some positives that I see. The women are finally swinging at 1st pitch strikes. There were many times in the past where I thought they were told to wait until a strike was thrown. They were almost always behind in the count.. They are more aggressive at the plate.

There is an obvious difference in physical size between our women and other conference teams. The difference in physical strength is monumental. The game has changed since they moved the rubber back. I think Coach Looper was behind in her tactics and she recruited the wrong body type her 1st few years. She now just can't catch up. There are some underclasspeople with potential. Pitching included.

I think Coach has improved her game day coaching. She cost the team victories in her 1st few years with poor coaching decisions. I had never seen a team run themselves out of innings more. She also doesn't attempt to sacrifice with 2 outs anymore.

I think Coach is a wonderful person. When I first met her, I thought she was defensive and stand offish (is that even a word?).When I relaxed, I think she was more relaxed. People that know her better than I do say she is warm and open.

One thing the team could improve upon is hitting the cutoff. The games didn't fall upon these mistakes, but it would be good to see better fundamentals.

I love softball and rarely miss a home game. I miss the past when I had to come an hour early to get my favorite seat. I'll continue to buy season tickets and support the team.
 
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Drmac22 said:
I think the sad Part is, when you look at how long this Thread is, there is interest in Iowa Softball. Just not the kind that's good. And with BB being over, and Football not quite here yet, Softball and Baseball have a chance to gain fans. Baseball is doing its part with Heller, and softball used to with Gayle but now the product is so bad nobody wants to go watch. I feel having a sport like Iowa Softball used to be where it was competitive for the B10 championships and went to the College WS now and then helped Keep Hawkeye fans interested in Iowa Sports this time of year. Now only Baseball peeks interest. I Really want this softball program back in the B10 race. Now we are the doormat.
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We are the doormat in just about every sport. So sad. Thanks Barta.
 
Bum Leer said:
There are some positives that I see. The women are finally swinging at 1st pitch strikes. There were many times in the past where I thought they were told to wait until a strike was thrown. They were almost always behind in the count.. They are more aggressive at the plate.

There is an obvious difference in physical size between our women and other conference teams. The difference in physical strength is monumental. The game has changed since they moved the rubber back. I think Coach Looper was behind in her tactics and she recruited the wrong body type her 1st few years. She now just can't catch up. There are some underclasspeople with potential. Pitching included.

I think Coach has improved her game day coaching. She cost the team victories in her 1st few years with poor coaching decisions. I had never seen a team run themselves out of innings more. She also doesn't attempt to sacrifice with 2 outs anymore.

I think Coach is a wonderful person. When I first met her, I thought she was defensive and stand offish (is that even a word?).When I relaxed, I think she was more relaxed. People that know her better than I do say she is warm and open.

One thing the team could improve upon is hitting the cutoff. The games didn't fall upon these mistakes, but it would be good to see better fundamentals.

I love softball and rarely miss a home game. I miss the past when I had to come an hour early to get my favorite seat. I'll continue to buy season tickets and support the team.
Click to expand...

Did I really read 'she also doesn't attempt to sacrifice with 2 outs anymore' please tell me this was a parody, joke, typo or just made up. Did this used to happen?
 
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No. It is not a joke. She attempted to sacrifice with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd 3x's. She was asked about it in an interview and stated that so much more can happen with a runner on 3rd than on 2nd.
 
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I suppose in her defense she was trying to play small ball, since our bats have been weak for a very long time, and we often have been desperate to get runs. And there are slap hitters who can lay down a bunt and simply outrun the throw (though I don't care for slappers generally).
 
Bum Leer said:
No. It is not a joke. She attempted to sacrifice with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd 3x's. She was asked about it in an interview and stated that so much more can happen with a runner on 3rd than on 2nd.
Click to expand...

And still employed? Almost as good as a coach who decided batting order by uniform number or time players arrived for pre game, but that was for 6 year olds.
 
I agree Row. But I think there would be a better chance of a miscue if a full swing was taken. The sacrificed women were out by at least 5 steps. Obviously squared around sacrificed bunts.They didn't try a drag bunt. End of inning. I would like to see a team go down swinging.

She knows it was a poor choice and has not repeated it. Even though our hitting has become progressively worse.

Plus, she also sacrificed Meagan Blank 2x's that year. A coach does not sacrifice a .400 + hitter in any circumstance. Many people in the crowd asked "What the?" in unison.
 
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Bum Leer said:
I agree Row. But I think there would be a better chance of a miscue if a full swing was taken. The sacrificed women were out by at least 5 steps. Obviously squared around sacrificed bunts.They didn't try a drag bunt. End of inning. I would like to see a team go down swinging.

She knows it was a poor choice and has not repeated it. Even though our hitting has become progressively worse.

Plus, she also sacrificed Meagan Blank 2x's that year. A coach does not sacrifice a .400 + hitter in any circumstance. Many people in the crowd asked "What the?" in unison.
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You are absolutely right.. No Way you Sac your best hitter. And trying to sac with two outs in D1 is just plain stupid. Players make the hard plays, and a sac bunt to try and trick a defense is not a hard play to make for them. Its Not 10u ball. I just think the head coach has to have responsibility for how their team plays on the field. You produced that product and if it sucks its your fault. Iowa softball has not been good for a few years now.
 
Bum Leer said:
I agree Row. But I think there would be a better chance of a miscue if a full swing was taken. The sacrificed women were out by at least 5 steps. Obviously squared around sacrificed bunts.They didn't try a drag bunt. End of inning. I would like to see a team go down swinging.

She knows it was a poor choice and has not repeated it. Even though our hitting has become progressively worse.

Plus, she also sacrificed Meagan Blank 2x's that year. A coach does not sacrifice a .400 + hitter in any circumstance. Many people in the crowd asked "What the?" in unison.
Click to expand...

The fact that she considered a sac bunt with 2 outs is amazing. Is that a softball strategy that has been used successfully at some level?
 
I want to reiterate that I want to see Coach Looper succeed. By all accounts she is a wonderful person and I enjoy seeing good people succeed. When watching her interact with the team, she seems to be more connected to them than in the past.

I talked to her parents when they visited and they were also great people.
 
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Bum Leer said:
I want to reiterate that I want to see Coach Looper succeed. By all accounts she is a wonderful person and I enjoy seeing good people succeed. When watching her interact with the team, she seems to be more connected to them than in the past.

I'm sure she is a good person Bum, but she has had plenty of time to prove herself at Iowa and it's not working. She needs to go.
Click to expand...
 
"I'm sure she is a good person Bum, but she has had plenty of time to prove herself at Iowa and it's not working. She needs to go."

I agree Hemi. It is not working. I only wanted to convey that I am continuing to be a supportive fan. When it comes to coaching, I sometimes have difficulty remembering there is a person behind what I'm being critical.
I think the admin is waiting for her contract to expire next year. If only to keep away the headaches the firing of another woman coach would be at this time. The only drawback to that is the team should be improved next year. If they improve to about 20 wins, does the dept. give her another year?
 
Bum Leer said:
"I'm sure she is a good person Bum, but she has had plenty of time to prove herself at Iowa and it's not working. She needs to go."

I agree Hemi. It is not working. I only wanted to convey that I am continuing to be a supportive fan. When it comes to coaching, I sometimes have difficulty remembering there is a person behind what I'm being critical.
I think the admin is waiting for her contract to expire next year. If only to keep away the headaches the firing of another woman coach would be at this time. The only drawback to that is the team should be improved next year. If they improve to about 20 wins, does the dept. give her another year?
Click to expand...
I'm rooting for them and coach is a very nice person, but what gives you the idea they'll be any better next year? We've gotten worse each of the six years coach has been here with the bottom falling through once Megan Blank (Blevins recruit) was done. We lose arguably our two best players in Shayla and Kaitlyn.

There's plenty cause for firing this year (unlike Griesbaum and Blevins) so there shouldn't be any headaches. Only question is how much administration values softball and whether they want to pay the buyout.
 
At some point, there are no more excuses or justification for keeping a coach around. I want every program and coach to succeed at Iowa, but...

2011: 27-24
2012: 27-26
2013: 30-24
2014: 16-30-1
2015: 19-40
2016: 13-39
2017: Currently 6-20

The numbers don't lie, even in her best year record wise, Iowa was 8-15 in conference play.
 
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LinusPF said:
I'm rooting for them and coach is a very nice person, but what gives you the idea they'll be any better next year? We've gotten worse each of the six years coach has been here with the bottom falling through once Megan Blank (Blevins recruit) was done. We lose arguably our two best players in Shayla and Kaitlyn.

There's plenty cause for firing this year (unlike Griesbaum and Blevins) so there shouldn't be any headaches. Only question is how much administration values softball and whether they want to pay the buyout.
Click to expand...
 
Oops, hit a wrong button.

I think the freshman pitcher from Texas (Makowsky?) has promise. I think Doocy will be a better pitcher than Shayla. I think Schmiederer will improve. Devin Cantu went 3 for 4 in the last Illinois game. Rozier can hit the ball hard. Wood has some power.

I agree that she won with Blevin's recruits in 2013. Also, if you watched the games that year, they lucked into more victories than I'd ever seen a team do. I've posted before that they won in spite of her coaching inadequacies. Obviously better teams somehow lost games to them.

I am not saying they are going to win even 20 games, but I think they will be better. They are beyond terrible this year.

The current environment for the athletic department is not something they want to draw more attention. There are articles out there that have shown women's groups have Iowa in their focus.

http://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11773583/what-heck-going-iowa-athletic-department

Plus, the $100,000 buyout may be more than they want to part with.

If you want to read the ridiculous, look at Iowa States firing of their softball coach.

$288,000 payout for the firing of an incompetent, socially inept coach.
 
1st B10 win for the Hawks today, Doocy with the shutout. We're now tied for 11th with Rutgers, we may want to petition the B10 to stop the conference season now ;)

Just noticed that the Mighty Wolverines have lost 7 games so far and have fallen to 20th in the rankings. Conference-wise, Wisconsin is 2-3 at the moment after losing two to Nebraska.
 
Nice game for Doocey and the Hawks. 6 of our 7 wins are on shut outs. Starkenburg threw well yesterday, but the defense faltered a little bit. Go Hawks.
 
Bum Leer said:
Oops, hit a wrong button.

I think the freshman pitcher from Texas (Makowsky?) has promise. I think Doocy will be a better pitcher than Shayla. I think Schmiederer will improve. Devin Cantu went 3 for 4 in the last Illinois game. Rozier can hit the ball hard. Wood has some power.

I agree that she won with Blevin's recruits in 2013. Also, if you watched the games that year, they lucked into more victories than I'd ever seen a team do. I've posted before that they won in spite of her coaching inadequacies. Obviously better teams somehow lost games to them.

I am not saying they are going to win even 20 games, but I think they will be better. They are beyond terrible this year.

The current environment for the athletic department is not something they want to draw more attention. There are articles out there that have shown women's groups have Iowa in their focus.

http://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11773583/what-heck-going-iowa-athletic-department

Plus, the $100,000 buyout may be more than they want to part with.

If you want to read the ridiculous, look at Iowa States firing of their softball coach.

$288,000 payout for the firing of an incompetent, socially inept coach.
Click to expand...
But I think they hit a HR on their hiring I believe their new Coach will be successful. I wish Iowa Would have done that and Hired Her.
 
BTN's Twitter page has video highlights of Iowa's series win today. The Purdue faithful have to be wondering what the hell happened :) REALLY nice facility they have there, makes Pearl Field look pretty modest.
 
But I think I saw attendance was around 450. During Iowa's good years, didn't we pull in 1000 or was that baseball.
 
twindman said:
But I think I saw attendance was around 450. During Iowa's good years, didn't we pull in 1000 or was that baseball.
Click to expand...

During the good years, it was between 750 and 900 actual fans. This year they are lucky to get 100. Box score has said close to 400 but they are counting season tickets, groundskeepers, players and coaches.

I know they said they were going to give away coffee mugs to the 1st 75 fans and they carried some to the press box. I estimate there was100 at the Illinois game a week ago.
 
I used to have to park across the street from Pearl and then watch the games from somewhere along the fence, but that hasn't been the case for several years, obviously. So if the team were to improve, Pearl would not be adequate for either parking or seating. With all of the other facilities work that's been done over the last 15 years (that the Athletic Dept. is still paying for), I'd guess Barta is not eager to take on a new softball diamond.
 
That was some nice wins over Purdue, but Iowa is in a battle with Them and Rutgers for the cellar. I hope from what I saw this weekend that things will be improving. Still not to the point to retain Looper but at least there is some hope.
 
Drmac22 said:
That was some nice wins over Purdue, but Iowa is in a battle with Them and Rutgers for the cellar. I hope from what I saw this weekend that things will be improving. Still not to the point to retain Looper but at least there is some hope.
Click to expand...

Anytime you can go on the road and win 2 out 3, that is a good thing. Hopefully that will give them some confidence moving forward.
 
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