things are looking good for the future of USC softball

[lilhornet]

Oh haha my bad. I didn't know that lost to Florida A&M.

[lilhornet]

I can't listen to the game, apparently they are having audio troubles.

[scfastpitch]

I'm just checking live stats , but I've got to head out to baseball pretty soon . So far we're stinking it up today trailing 3-0 in the third . Sarratt has already relieved Marks .

[lilhornet]

Lost 9-6

Hawkins had a two run shot and Garcia had her 5th triple on the year.

Complete recap here:
http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sport...021713aaa.html

[Luke Skycocker]

Terrible weekend for us

[lilhornet]

That it was.

Hopefully the girls will rebound next week and get back on track.

[scfastpitch]

Pitching has to get better or it will be another dismal season , and you may start to hear some call for Beverly Smith to be fired . This is her third year and at some point there has to be some improvement in the won-loss record . The Kentucky coach was able to build that program up BEFORE they got their new facility . They move into a 9 million dollar facility this season and are hosting the SEC tournament . I would love to host the SEC tournament, but I wouldn't want to host it if we're not likely to be in it .
I like this coaching staff and I'm pulling for them hard . I think they will get at least one more season regardless . But once we are moved into the new place, there won't be any excuses any more.

[USCBASEBALL1]

My Daughter is a Sophomore this year and I have emailed and tried contacting this Staff on numerous occasions to no avail. We are going up to visit UT within the next two weeks as they seem interested. I sure hope this Staff will take advantage of the talent instate unlike the previous Staff but I am not certain that is going to be the case.

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by USCBASEBALL1

My Daughter is a Sophomore this year and I have emailed and tried contacting this Staff on numerous occasions to no avail. We are going up to visit UT within the next two weeks as they seem interested. I sure hope this Staff will take advantage of the talent instate unlike the previous Staff but I am not certain that is going to be the case.

There are 8 in-state players on the USC roster . There are 4 who start and all 4 have done well so far . For a state with a small population, I don't think you can expect much more than that . There are more in-state travel teams nowadays that try to play in the top national tournaments so players are more likely to get seen .

I have no problem with USC's recruiting other than pitchers .USC needs the kind of pitcher who can give the team a chance to win almost every time out . Best pitcher in the state in the last few years was Leslie Jury and she's behind an all-american at Alabama . She certainly could help USC but she committed to Alabama long before Beverly Smith arrived in town . Ashley Czechner was very good at Maryland and then in JC ball and is now at LSU . She could probably help USC as well, but she appears to be the #3 pitcher for LSU .

[soreshins]

Scfashpitch--you need to calm yourself. You sound ready to fire Bev Smith. Anyone knowledgable about the program realizes what she inherited was not a good team or close to being a good team. If you want to panic in year 3 (after 9 games) you are not doing the program a service.

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by soreshins

Scfashpitch--you need to calm yourself. You sound ready to fire Bev Smith. Anyone knowledgable about the program realizes what she inherited was not a good team or close to being a good team. If you want to panic in year 3 (after 9 games) you are not doing the program a service.

I think you have a reading comprehension problem . I said I like this coaching staff and I'm pulling for them hard . But the fact is, if this turns out to be another year with 3 or 4 wins in the SEC , there will be a lot of grumbling . I hope none of those doing the grumbling are big money contributors . Eight million dollars for a new facility, at some point they will expect results .
Next year will be year 4 . I hope our current pitchers improve . I don't want the future for this coaching staff to depend on the arm of one freshman pitcher coming in next season .

[USCBASEBALL1]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

There are 8 in-state players on the USC roster . There are 4 who start and all 4 have done well so far . For a state with a small population, I don't think you can expect much more than that . There are more in-state travel teams nowadays that try to play in the top national tournaments so players are more likely to get seen .

I have no problem with USC's recruiting other than pitchers .USC needs the kind of pitcher who can give the team a chance to win almost every time out . Best pitcher in the state in the last few years was Leslie Jury and she's behind an all-american at Alabama . She certainly could help USC but she committed to Alabama long before Beverly Smith arrived in town . Ashley Czechner was very good at Maryland and then in JC ball and is now at LSU . She could probably help USC as well, but she appears to be the #3 pitcher for LSU .

My question is are they getting the best players instate. A kid getting interest from UT certainly should be able to get interest from USC. I just don't see them doing anything in the Upstate but hope they prove me wrong. I would like nothing more to see USC Softball Program compete Nationally.

[FlorenceCock]

I think what we really need is our own version of a Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Taryn Mowat, Danielle Lawrie....well you get the picture. We need one dominate pitcher for this team to build around for years to come. It will go a long way to help building the program. Who knows this freshman Katie Marks could be that pitcher. She is still young and has plenty of time to prove herself.

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by USCBASEBALL1

My question is are they getting the best players instate. A kid getting interest from UT certainly should be able to get interest from USC. I just don't see them doing anything in the Upstate but hope they prove me wrong. I would like nothing more to see USC Softball Program compete Nationally.

I can't tell you if they are getting the right players or not . They have a lineup full of .300 plus hitters right now, so it's hard to criticize the position players . Three of those starters I mentioned are from the upstate .

Tennessee ain't perfect . Kentucky has a freshman pitcher from the state of Tennessee that has already beat two nationally ranked teams . Either they out-recruited Tennessee or out-evaluated them . Kentucky also has a couple of position players from South Carolina who are starting a lot . I would imagine we saw them play because I think USC leftfielder Alaynie Page played on the same travel team . I'm happy to have Page, but maybe we should have went after the other two harder . Time will tell .

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by FlorenceCock

I think what we really need is our own version of a Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Taryn Mowat, Danielle Lawrie....well you get the picture. We need one dominate pitcher for this team to build around for years to come. It will go a long way to help building the program. Who knows this freshman Katie Marks could be that pitcher. She is still young and has plenty of time to prove herself.

It doesn't have to be someone that good . The Audrey Broyles of her freshman year (before shoulder surgery) would be fine . Audrey gave us a chance to win most of the time . We beat Alabama two out of three that year, and I'm pretty sure Broyles had a win and a save that weekend . Unfortunately she has never been quite the same since the surgery .

Or the JC pitcher that came in in 2007 and helped us reach the super regional . I can't even remember her name now, but she had some great games .

[Gamecock#22]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

I can't tell you if they are getting the right players or not . They have a lineup full of .300 plus hitters right now, so it's hard to criticize the position players . Three of those starters I mentioned are from the upstate .

Tennessee ain't perfect . Kentucky has a freshman pitcher from the state of Tennessee that has already beat two nationally ranked teams . Either they out-recruited Tennessee or out-evaluated them . Kentucky also has a couple of position players from South Carolina who are starting a lot . I would imagine we saw them play because I think USC leftfielder Alaynie Page played on the same travel team . I'm happy to have Page, but maybe we should have went after the other two harder . Time will tell .

Those two kids were recruited at USC and were not interested. One wanted Alabama and the other liked Kentucky. Both had already verbally committed to Kentucky before Coach Smith had even accepted the job at USC. I’m pretty sure Coach Smith accepted the job on July 15, 2010, which is one month before classes started for her 2011 softball season. Most all the top softball recruits have already verbal by their tenth grade year of high school. Plus most college coaches recruit based on team needs and money available. Next year’s recruits are all on Coach Smith and her staff.

[FlorenceCock]

Originally Posted by Gamecock#22

Those two kids were recruited at USC and were not interested. One wanted Alabama and the other liked Kentucky. Both had already verbally committed to Kentucky before Coach Smith had even accepted the job at USC. I’m pretty sure Coach Smith accepted the job on July 15, 2010, which is one month before classes started for her 2011 softball season. Most all the top softball recruits have already verbal by their tenth grade year of high school. Plus most college coaches recruit based on team needs and money available. Next year’s recruits are all on Coach Smith and her staff.

Boo is playing good this year. You should be proud.

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by Gamecock#22

Those two kids were recruited at USC and were not interested. One wanted Alabama and the other liked Kentucky. Both had already verbally committed to Kentucky before Coach Smith had even accepted the job at USC. I’m pretty sure Coach Smith accepted the job on July 15, 2010, which is one month before classes started for her 2011 softball season. Most all the top softball recruits have already verbal by their tenth grade year of high school. Plus most college coaches recruit based on team needs and money available. Next year’s recruits are all on Coach Smith and her staff.

Good info . Thanks .

[USCBASEBALL1]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

I can't tell you if they are getting the right players or not . They have a lineup full of .300 plus hitters right now, so it's hard to criticize the position players . Three of those starters I mentioned are from the upstate .

Tennessee ain't perfect . Kentucky has a freshman pitcher from the state of Tennessee that has already beat two nationally ranked teams . Either they out-recruited Tennessee or out-evaluated them . Kentucky also has a couple of position players from South Carolina who are starting a lot . I would imagine we saw them play because I think USC leftfielder Alaynie Page played on the same travel team . I'm happy to have Page, but maybe we should have went after the other two harder . Time will tell .

Ughm UT has been a National Power in Softball for a while. USC has basically been recruiting players from one particular Travel Team. While that Travel Team is good they do not have the best players in this State. They have the best players who were able to afford to play for that Team. I am not going to get into USC and their players other than saying if they are not in the Upstate checking out what is their over the next 2 to 3 years they are no better than the previous Staff.

[lilhornet]

I just hope the girls get back on track this weekend and refocus.

They are playing in Charleston this weekend, so no long road trips etc.

It'll be interesting to see how the team handles adversity after loosing some games.