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Barring a surprise season, we've got to start asking some serious questions about the future of our softball program. Facilities, coaching, etc.
Another losing season in the SEC wouldn't feel too good. I obviously sure hope we beat this prediction.
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Of course she did!!!
Haha
That event turned out so amazing!!
Hope to hang out with you again soon!!
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Of course its ultimately about the postseason but finishing in the bottom half suggests we're on track for another bow out in the regional round, maybe the super regional.
We've not been to the Super Regional since 2013 and we got our butts whipped.
We've not sniffed the World Series since 2011 and of course have not been there since 2008.
Yes, the SEC is very good. Yes, 9th place in this conference still means you've got a good team that could be pretty competitive in the post-season, but the bottom line is we have not been all that competitive and another similar year would just make it that much more obvious that our program is clearly a rung below a number of SEC (and non-SEC) programs.
I've been a big supporter of this program and its coaches for a long time; and I'm not assigning blame on anything in particular. But I don't think its arguable that our program has not been where any of us as softball fans want it to be.
Looking forward to the season. Just about 3 weeks away. We'll get a good test with UCLA coming to town in the first tournament of the season.
quote:That I don't know. They've been talking about a new facility for years, but at this point we've gone far enough down the road not to think something will be done in the next few seasons. As far as a specific timeline I don't know. The last I had heard was that they had purchased property across the street to move the Penberthy fields and that a budget was submitted to the board of regents. We were sent a rendering last year and asked for donations for the project. Someone I know who works at the school and is involved in construction projects on campus (He was directly involved in remodeling the Bright Complex this past year) told me that the board of regents had voted last year to go forward with the fundraising for a new softball facility.
How far on the horizon is that new facility? Is there an actual timeline or just a vague sometime in the future? I know we need a new/upgraded facility, but I haven't really heard anything that makes me feel it is really on the horizon.
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Kelly is so good, she's the rare recruit who can wait to the last minute to commit to a school, which is what she did in late October as she picked the National Champion Florida Gators over Stanford. Realistically, Kelly could have gone anywhere she wanted because her physical tools and skills are unmatched. She throws consistently in the 69-70 mph range and has hit the low 70's many times this year, but it's not just heat she throws--she has a rise and drop that are tough to lay off of and when batters start anticipating her speed she'll buckle knees with a brutal change-up. She has improved the last year in her consistency and confidence in throwing all her pitches. Kelly is also a blue-collar workhorse who's tough and durable, carrying her team deep into tournaments and nationals. At PGF Nationals she threw 31 innings with a 0.90 ERA and 64 strikeouts versus only four walks in 31 innings. Kelly also dominated this fall in the Georgia high school scene and was 28-5 with a 0.26 ERA heading into the final weekend of championship play. She also surpassed the 500-strikeout mark for the season, setting the all-time Georgia record set in 2002.
