2019 Softball
- Thread starter LinusPF
- Start date
I would have liked a preview article discussing projected starters and more in-depth get-to-know-you articles/videos of kids new to the program etc. Other programs do that. I follow Hawkeye softball as close as possible, but I know almost nothing about this team - with so much turnover. Doocy's going to pitch a lot. Bogar at SS. I have no idea who else is going to play and where.
Is Bogar playing SS for sure? She was often LF last fall, though that may have been an experiment. Hoping Thompson is healthy.
There have been Twitter & Instagram posts, especially of the Florida 'spring training' trip, but not much hard info. I figured there would be new uniforms for media day, but could be they aren't in yet
There have been Twitter & Instagram posts, especially of the Florida 'spring training' trip, but not much hard info. I figured there would be new uniforms for media day, but could be they aren't in yet
As LinusPF said it would be nice if there was a preview article. Doocey will be the ace of the staff. I was expecting Shaw to be #2, but she wasn't in Florida on the trip so I am thinking she may still have lingering injuries.
Thompson and Bogar will be somewhere in the field. I'd like to see them in the outfield to maximize their speed if Owens and Cecil are able to hold down the middle infield. I'd expect Killian and Mayhew in the line up somewhere. Maybe first and third. I'd guess with the catchers leaving the team that means De Sheilds will be at catcher or freshman Lien.
The games verses LSU are on SECN+ for a few. Live stats for Tulsa/Bucknell.
Thompson and Bogar will be somewhere in the field. I'd like to see them in the outfield to maximize their speed if Owens and Cecil are able to hold down the middle infield. I'd expect Killian and Mayhew in the line up somewhere. Maybe first and third. I'd guess with the catchers leaving the team that means De Sheilds will be at catcher or freshman Lien.
The games verses LSU are on SECN+ for a few. Live stats for Tulsa/Bucknell.
Great article about Bogar here
https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2019/2/7/softball-24-hawkeyes-to-watch-aralee-bogar.aspx
She'll be playing CF and 2B (!), so looks like the coaches are happy with whoever will be at SS, whether it's Cecil or someone else.
Per Twitter, here's the order for the first game:
1. Bogar, 2b
2. Monteer, LF
3. Killian, DP
4. Mayhew, 1B
5. DeShields, C
6. Owens, 3B
7. Lien, CF
8. Cecil, SS
9. Thompson, RF
https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2019/2/7/softball-24-hawkeyes-to-watch-aralee-bogar.aspx
She'll be playing CF and 2B (!), so looks like the coaches are happy with whoever will be at SS, whether it's Cecil or someone else.
Per Twitter, here's the order for the first game:
1. Bogar, 2b
2. Monteer, LF
3. Killian, DP
4. Mayhew, 1B
5. DeShields, C
6. Owens, 3B
7. Lien, CF
8. Cecil, SS
9. Thompson, RF
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Doocy 14ks, gave up 7 hits (most looked to be IF other than a double) and 2 of the three runs were earned.
Iowa with only 1 error.
Bogar two hits. Newcomers Cecil, Lein (rbi triple), Owens, and Mayhew with a hit.
Iowa with only 1 error.
Bogar two hits. Newcomers Cecil, Lein (rbi triple), Owens, and Mayhew with a hit.
Watching the streaming. Mayhew threw pretty well. An error, bad decision (trying to make an out at the wrong base) and a fluke miss hit to third that got kicked to the fence cost 3/4 runs. Dillinger got ejected. Announcers are not sure what for.
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For what it's worth, Abby Lien's fielder's choice in the 2nd inning should have been ruled a hit.
Ah, some home cooking so they can splash NO HITTER all over their Twitter page. We get another shot Saturday.
ETA - some lineup tweaks for today's 1st game vs Tulsa
DeShields to 3B
Lien to C
Thompson to LF
Hamilton getting the start at SS
Owens to RF
ETA - we got a hit and scored! Mayhew goes 3 innnings, charged with 7 runs. Riding comes in, lifted after 14 pitches, don't know why. Schulte finishes the 4th inning; LSU as the home team, did not need to bat in the bottom of the 5th.
Gonna guess that Looper scheduled this tournament; probably not really good for this team at this time.
ETA - some lineup tweaks for today's 1st game vs Tulsa
DeShields to 3B
Lien to C
Thompson to LF
Hamilton getting the start at SS
Owens to RF
ETA - we got a hit and scored! Mayhew goes 3 innnings, charged with 7 runs. Riding comes in, lifted after 14 pitches, don't know why. Schulte finishes the 4th inning; LSU as the home team, did not need to bat in the bottom of the 5th.
Gonna guess that Looper scheduled this tournament; probably not really good for this team at this time.
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Sunday was rough. Doocy pitched well and we got a few hits bunched together verses Tulsa but couldn't push a run across. LSU was a messy game. Hoping we can get some hits this weekend.
Go Hawks
Go Hawks
I believe it was Trena Praters' relationship with LSU. And Gillispie's time in Orlando is why we're in Orlando the next two weekends...though I guess both could just be a coincidence.
I think LSU was a good tournament to start with - an opponent we should beat (Bucknell), an opponent we match up with well (Tulsa) and an elite program to see where we stand against the best.
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Yeah she was hurt, She didnt pitch at all in the summer league and then nothing in the fall. I agree, would have let her face a more manageable opponent. Cool to see Softball on ESPN watched a couple games today. Its getting big!
Hawks lose to Villanova 4-2. Mayhew takes the loss giving up three in 4.1 innings. Doocy gives up an unearned run in relief. Hawks only get two hits.
Iowa rebounds with a 2-1 win over Kansas. Doocy a complete game, but it got dicey in the 7th where KU scored one and left runners on the corners. Freshman Ketchum two hit and scored both runs. Schulte and Lein RBI singles.
Tomorrow Mizzou and St. Joe's. Go Hawks
Iowa rebounds with a 2-1 win over Kansas. Doocy a complete game, but it got dicey in the 7th where KU scored one and left runners on the corners. Freshman Ketchum two hit and scored both runs. Schulte and Lein RBI singles.
Tomorrow Mizzou and St. Joe's. Go Hawks
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Well, 11 runs in 7 games and 4 innings! I have to assume the players are working hard and the coaching staff just got here, but this could get really painful. Difficult situation. I hope the team has the fortitude to stick with it! Please, let there be some players coming in next year...
As I'm sure Donirae would be the first to say, Juco is nothing like D1. Gillespie needs to go out and get proven, quality transfers to overhaul this team.
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DRay with a bomb in the 7th to lift the Hawks to victory today! Nice win! 5-3 over uMass https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2019/2/17/softball-mayhews-7th-inning-bomb-lifts-iowa-over-umass.aspx
We purchased the FloSoftball live stream and watched the games this weekend.
Leah hit a homer verses St. Joe's to keep us from getting shut out. I didn't know she had power. The announcers on Flo said Coach Gillepie said she gives Doocy the most problems in practice and they're waiting for that to translate into games.
Overall, our hitting was dismal, but we did hit the UMass pitcher well who is a strong pitcher incluing DRay's two run homer. She about hit another one out in an earlier game, but it hit the fence for a long single. Ball got out there so quick she couldn't advance to second.
Hamilton had some good plays at SS and Ketchum in LF. Kethchum had some nice hits as well. The announcers said she was injured for the LSU tourney.
The announcers talked a lot about our emphasis on keeping in state talent. Mentioned Looper never even contacted Minnesota's Fiser and we'd be a potential WS team if we kept all the instate talent.
Back in Orlando this weekend. The FloSoftball coverage wasn't great, but excited to see another full slate of games this weekend.
Go Hawks.
Leah hit a homer verses St. Joe's to keep us from getting shut out. I didn't know she had power. The announcers on Flo said Coach Gillepie said she gives Doocy the most problems in practice and they're waiting for that to translate into games.
Overall, our hitting was dismal, but we did hit the UMass pitcher well who is a strong pitcher incluing DRay's two run homer. She about hit another one out in an earlier game, but it hit the fence for a long single. Ball got out there so quick she couldn't advance to second.
Hamilton had some good plays at SS and Ketchum in LF. Kethchum had some nice hits as well. The announcers said she was injured for the LSU tourney.
The announcers talked a lot about our emphasis on keeping in state talent. Mentioned Looper never even contacted Minnesota's Fiser and we'd be a potential WS team if we kept all the instate talent.
Back in Orlando this weekend. The FloSoftball coverage wasn't great, but excited to see another full slate of games this weekend.
Go Hawks.
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Looper never contacted Molly Jacobsen either., i heard Coach Blevins tried to convince Looper to pick her up but she didn't. To Bad too, she is kicking butt at Ole Miss. I think Natalie Halverson who is pitching for Depaul could have helped Iowa as well. Missed out on Fiser, Shaffer at Michigan. Could have had a hellva Pitching Staff. Glad to see Coach Gillespie is working on keeping Iowa girls. Not saying they all have to be but it helps to keep the top talent in the state here. And believe me there are some pretty good players around Iowa.
I don't believe Looper didn't see the potential in the Iowa recruits who are now having success elsewhere. I believe she heard through the circuit she had very, very little chance getting those guys to come to Iowa, so she concentrated on realistic targets. Kirk and Fran do the same thing. That's not a bad strategy.
I don't believe she had an anti-Iowa bias, despite what that Gazette article said. Afterall, every year she had just about as many Iowans on the roster as Blevins. I think, for whatever reason, she was just a lousy recruiter.
I don't believe she had an anti-Iowa bias, despite what that Gazette article said. Afterall, every year she had just about as many Iowans on the roster as Blevins. I think, for whatever reason, she was just a lousy recruiter.
I disagree with this. Looper by the time she was into her 4th year at the helm of iowa she pretty much phased out Iowa players. Had a total of 2 in 2014 where Gayle had 11 in her last year as Coach. Looper honestly felt Iowa Girls were not good enough to play D1 softball. She said it herself, they are not D1 ready. Maybe so but there is an end game to softball and They do develop as the years progress. She missed out on a ton. Maybe they would not have gone to Iowa even if she offered but if she had put out some kind of Vibe that she actually wanted Iowa Kids they would have been more receptive to coming play for her. I am getting that vibe with Coach G. Hope it pans out.
That's pretty selective statistics. I'll play that game. Blevins' 2nd to last season she had eight Iowa kids. Looper's last season she had six. If she didn't think Iowans could play softball why would she have six on the roster? Makes make sense Looper would start her Iowa recruiting where she had connections -- OK/TX/CA. That explains her drop in Iowa kids initially.
Regardless, the problem was she couldn't recruit..period..no matter where she tried. And they didn't develop them when they got here (at least the position players). If she had gotten decent hitters from TX/CA/VA wherever, we wouldn't be having this conversation. And I really don't care where Gillespie gets her recruits -- as long as they are good players/people.
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Because she was getting big heat from Iowa Fans about NOT having Iowa players on the roster.
She hardly tried to recruit girls from Iowa until the pressure built and then she had already alienated herself from Iowa softball players and coaches. Your right if she had won without Iowa players then yes nobody would have said much, but she didn't. An lets face it, if you want to put fans in the seats at Iowa softball games, having a good number of Iowa girls on the team helps because their familys/friends can come watch. If your whole team is texas and Cali then you can see where they are not showing up.
She was in the flex position. I watch a lot of softball and still have no idea how the flex position works!
Donirae pitched really well. Defense (and offense) really let her down. Riding finished and really pitched well too.Whoop! Spoke too soon. We ain't done yet!
Speaking of pitching, Doocy needs to come in now and get the save!
OK, I hadn't heard of the flex position either. If I read correctly, that allowed Mayhew as the DP to come in and pitch without it being considered a substitution, because in effect Riding and Mayhew were just exchanging 'defensive' positions. IE, if the DP plays in the field, the flex player is considered to be in the game, but her 'position' is the bench. It's a poor day when you don't learn something
Nice wins for the Hawks. Watched the games on Flosoftball.
Hawks pick up a good win over UAB. A couple base running mistakes may have cost us a run or two.
Fordham's team batting average is .329 and they have 4 players over .400 with 11 home runs in nine games. Mayhew and Riding pitched very well. All three runs were unearned as there was one inning the infield had multiple errors. Riding threw very well in relief. A couple seeing eye singles and no one covering first on a bunt loaded the bases for Bogar to clear them Exciting win
It looks like Doocy isn't getting pitches called in from the bench, but the others will look occasionally at wrist bands. I was wondering if they would let Doocy call her own game.
5-6 record. Better than I expected at this point.
Go Hawks
Hawks pick up a good win over UAB. A couple base running mistakes may have cost us a run or two.
Fordham's team batting average is .329 and they have 4 players over .400 with 11 home runs in nine games. Mayhew and Riding pitched very well. All three runs were unearned as there was one inning the infield had multiple errors. Riding threw very well in relief. A couple seeing eye singles and no one covering first on a bunt loaded the bases for Bogar to clear them Exciting win
It looks like Doocy isn't getting pitches called in from the bench, but the others will look occasionally at wrist bands. I was wondering if they would let Doocy call her own game.
5-6 record. Better than I expected at this point.
Go Hawks
A couple shut out wins today. Riding goes into the 6th with a perfect game verses Morgan State and Doocy into the 6th with a no-hitter verses Fordham. Riding, Doocy and Lehman each gave up a single hit on the day. Mayhew and Cecil hitting the ball well. 7-6 with a big game verses Notre Dame tomorrow. We're looking much more fundamentally sound than last year.
Go Hawks
Go Hawks
Don't follow softball all that closely, so appreciate the discussion here. Minor disagreement on the point being made here. Yes, Kirk/Fran do concentrate on realistic targets, but if the player is from Iowa both of them pretty much go all in on that player until that player signs with another school. Even with the ones that end up not going to Iowa. Duggan (going to TCU), Pierschbacher (Alabama), the WR who is at Michigan, Kirk was all in on them until they told him no. Fran was the same with DJ Carton and now with Xavier Foster. If you are the head coach at Iowa, you have to put in the effort on Iowa kids if you want to be successful. It doesn't mean most of your team has to come from Iowa, but if you ignore the state you'll miss out on the good talent the state does occassionally produce.
Big comeback win for the Hawks in game 2 today. Trailing 3-5 in the 7th, Hawks bat around and score 5 to win 8-5!
