Less than a week away from Game 1, I predict this team to be the SEC Dark Horse. No ones sees em coming but they will trample a few and surprise some big names.

Here's my predicted starting 9

1 Koko
2 Keely
3 Trinity
4 Bre Warren
5 Morgan
6 Rylen
7 Shaylee
8 Julia
9 Alana

What's your lineup look like?

Softball is still about pitching and I don't know if we have enough top flight pitchers yet given the SEC and tougher non conference slate we have planned this year.

Bri is no longer on the roster. It was discussed in another post

(corrected) Bre Warren

For clarity:

Bre Warren is on the roster.

Bri Evans ( a transfer from Okla St.) is not on the roster

Not to be selling my own thread but this would have been a perfect subject for the 2023 Softball season thread.

https://texags.com/forums/8/topics/3358517

We don't have a season thread for baseball that everything is expected to go it. Why for softball? I would much rather have threads on specific topics so I know what is being discussed.

SeenNotHeard said:

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We don't have a season thread for baseball that everything is expected to go it. Why for softball? I would much rather have threads on specific topics so I know what is being discussed.

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This isn't agreeing or disagreeing with the notion of a season thread per se, but did you notice sometimes softball threads get lost here among the roughly 20-1 baseball to softball ratio? The notion a single thread that is marked well pops to the top more visibly is also a feature of Soccer, NFL, NBA, and Other Sport forums so it's possible it would work here. Belton sponsors it just so some sticky information helps the "net promoter score" of the thread be as high as possible. But he can't make you do it…

That is fair. I would personally prefer different threads. But I see the logic.

SeenNotHeard said:

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We don't have a season thread for baseball that everything is expected to go it. Why for softball? I would much rather have threads on specific topics so I know what is being discussed.

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In that other thread I stated that I made it because, as Greg said below, softball threads tend to get ratioed. Last year we had 3 or so main softball threads that would get bumped at different times and they would eventually fall off the front page and you had to go search them out. So my goal with that thread wasn't to cut down on the number of softball threads on the forum. It was more akin to how they handle the Astros and Rangers seasons on the MLB board. A single thread that is constantly being bumped and stays near the top of the board and is easy to find and fosters quicker discussion, in my opinion.

But I agree with you, I'd be happy to see lots of different softball threads on this forum. It would mean the team is doing well. That's good for all of us.

I don't follow softball recruiting so I can only guess where the freshmen will come in to play, but on starting day I'm thinking the lineup will look a bit like this:

1 Wooley, 2nd
2 Wiggins, 3rd
3 Cannon, 1st
4 Cotrill, C
5 Smith, RF
6 Valentine, DP
7 Harper, SS
8 K Williams, LF
9 Warren, CF

As the season goes on and Warren gets back in rhythm after being off for more than a year I think she moves into the second slot and the lineup changes.

Belton Ag said:

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I don't follow softball recruiting so I can only guess where the freshmen will come in to play, but on starting day I'm thinking the lineup will look a bit like this:

1 Wooley, 2nd
2 Wiggins, 3rd
3 Cannon, 1st
4 Cotrill, C
5 Smith, RF
6 Valentine, DP
7 Harper, SS
8 K Williams, LF
9 Warren, CF

As the season goes on and Warren gets back in rhythm after being off for more than a year I think she moves into the second slot and the lineup changes.

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After hearing Coach Ford talk about Cottrell, I think this is likely really close to what we end up seeing.

Belton Ag said:

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I don't follow softball recruiting so I can only guess where the freshmen will come in to play, but on starting day I'm thinking the lineup will look a bit like this:

1 Wooley, 2nd
2 Wiggins, 3rd
3 Cannon, 1st
4 Cotrill, C
5 Smith, RF
6 Valentine, DP
7 Harper, SS
8 K Williams, LF
9 Warren, CF

As the season goes on and Warren gets back in rhythm after being off for more than a year I think she moves into the second slot and the lineup changes.

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Thank you for using the last names as it is less confusing.

I was at practice on Friday and IMO I see Ferguson in CF, Warren in LF, Smith in RF, Wiggins at 3B, Harper at SS, Wooley at 2B, Cannon at 1st, Cottrill at C. Snow at DP.


Lineup:

Wooley 2nd
Wiggins 3rd
Cannon 1st
Cottrill C
Smith RF
Coleman DP
Warren LF
Harper SS
Ferguson CF

Cottrill, Warren, Coleman, Cannon, Wooley very good hitting. Not sure about Harper at SS but, she will probably be there.. I put Star Ferguson in CF b/c she is very fast. She made an outstanding diving catch in left center to rob a double.

Again just my 2 cents. We got some excellent transfers. Anyone know what happened to Bri Evans from Oklahoma State? I forgot to ask Julia Cottrill about her when I talked to her..

IMO
Pitchers my ranking:
1) Kennedy
2) Preston
3) Uribe
4) Leavitt
5) Ackerman

I hope Shaylee will move up after she pitches a few games. I put Preston up at second only because of experience.

Looking forward to a very good year.

Bri Evans is no longer playing softball. She posted a video on social media in December talking about how her relationship with God has grown and changed her priorities. She no longer has the same passion for the game.

Opening day lineup 2/9:
1) SS/2B Wooley
2) C Cottrill
3) 1B/3B Cannon
4) RF Morgan Smith
5) DP Aiyana Coleman
6) CF Enright
7) LF Keely Williams
8) 2B Harper
9) 3B/SS Wiggins

P) Leavitt

Looks like the biggest surprise was Enright in CF instead of Star?

Was surprised at first to see Cottrill in the 2 hole, but seeing how good she is at getting on base it makes sense.