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2017 Griz softball year in review

alabamagrizzly

Well-known member
Year three in the books and boy what a year it was. A 2nd place conference finish in the regular season which was a new team best, a 3-0 record and a BSC championship in the con tourney on rival and perennial conference power Weber States home turf, and a trip to the Seattle regional for our first College World Series. We improved our record from 29-27 in '16 to 35-24 this year, good for a +10 win/loss increase from year 1 to 2 and a +4.5 increase from year 2 to 3.
The individual awards on the other hand were a bit of a let down. Coach Pinkerton did receive his second consecutive Coach of the Year award but many thought Delene Colburn would bring home the conference MVP, not to mention finally winning 1st Team honors, non of which she did. What she did do was earn 3rd team NCAA regional only to finish behind Oregon and Washington's SS's which did help some with the Big Sky snub. Still two 1st teamers in Bethany Olea and Michaela Hood and Delene's 2nd team honors, Ashlyn Lyons and Madison Saacke and Gabby Martinez with honorable mentions ain't all bad(first time honors for Gabby and Saacke). After all, the four All Tourney Team selections for Sydney Stites, Olea, Colburn, and Hood and a Tourney MVP for Hood were what helped with the most important part of winning the conference championship. Hood's domination in Weber was impressive. In three starts, she threw 21.1 innings, not allowing an earned run through 20.1 innings. She struck 13 and finished with a 0.95 era. Damn good stuff.

Record Improvements
Once again this year our overall record improved from last year. We have gone from year one with a 34% winning percentage to 52% in year two to 59% this year. That's with continuing to play a tuffer non-con schedule each year. Last year we seen two nationally ranked opponents although Arizona State had fallen out of the rankings by years end. This year we seen 3 that were ranked when we played them including a top 5 team plus another that was ranked by the years end. We played another top 5 ranked team in the World Series and for the most part fared pretty well against all of them even though we lost every game. Against the top 100 in the RPI rankings, we fared about the same as last year going from 3-11 to 2-12, notching a victory against #77 Wichita State as our highest ranked win. In last years recap I said where we really needed to improve was our record against the teams ranked between us and #100 and we definitely did that. Of course it's against a smaller pool of teams since our RPI ranking improved from #184 to #124. We still improved from 6-14 to 6-2 though which is a very good indicator of how far we have come in our improvement. However our record against teams ranked below us did decline some from 18-3 last year to 24-11, thanks largely to Omaha(0-2) and Seattle(3-2).
However, the most significant and important improvement was against our conference foes. We improved our con record from 14-7 last year to 15-6 this year(18-6 counting the con tourney games). Not a huge increase but what was different was winning the weekend series against each team. Last year we were 5-2 losing a series to Idaho St and Sac St. This year we were the only BS team to win every series against their conference foes. That includes road series wins at the #1 and #3 seeds in the con with Weber St and Sac St.

Ranked Opponents
This year we played even tuffer ranked competition then last year.
In our weekend invite to Honolulu, we took on #5 ranked Oregon and even though we lost, it was probably our game of the year. Colleen Driscoll started the game and despite giving up a hit in the 1st and a hit in the 2nd, she faced the minimum amount of at bats through 3.2 innings due to Saacke throwing out one base runner on a stolen base attempt and Gabby and Ashlyn Lyons turning a double play on the other. In the bottom of the 4th though after getting the first two batters out, Driscoll allowed a single, a hit batter, and an rbi single before finally getting the third out. It would be all Oregon would get the rest of the game but all they needed. Maddie Stensby would pitch one hit ball over the last two innings but the Griz just couldn't get a run across the plate. The Griz would have an opportunity in the 5th with a leadoff double by Alex Wardlow but the next three batters would go three up three down. Again in the top of the 7th Olea would hit a one out double but Oregons finalist for National Freshman of the Year would come in and strike out the last two batters.
#16 Utah was another good showing for the Griz in a loss. With plenty of opportunities to score, we gave the Utes a real good game with Driscoll and Stensby teaming up again. Delene started the top of the first with a two run two out homer followed by two more base runners before the third out was registered. Utah got one back in the bottom of the first from a couple singles and a wild pitch. Then they tied it up in the bottom of the third with a solo homer. The score stayed 2-2 tell the bottom of the sixth when Utah chased Driscoll out of the game with a lead off solo homer followed by a single. Stensby then committed a throwing error on the next batter putting runners on 2nd and 3rd, followed by a sac hit scoring one and an RBI double by Utah's All American scoring another before recording the final two outs making it 5-2. Montana certainly had their chances to score more runs in the first five innings. The Griz stranded base runners including in four of those five innings, the runner was at second and they even had an inning with runners at first and third with one out. Like too many times this year, hitting with runners in scoring position was an issue and runs couldn't get pushed across the plate.
#19 California was close tell the 6th also but another big inning and a lack of hits by the Griz proved too much. Cal tried to open it up in the 2nd with the bases loaded and no outs but after a heads up play by Fr Anne Marie Petrino where she caught a fly ball and picked the lead runner off at third. A line out back to Stensby who got the start ended the threat. In the third Cal manufactured a run with a couple of bunts and a passed ball. After being held hitless through three, UM finally got some base runners with back to back one out walks in the forth but a k and a pop out later ended the threat. Cal loaded the bases again in the bottom of the forth after Stensby got the first two batters out but then Pinkerton brought in Stephenson who got her first batter to ground out and end the threat. In the sixth Montana stranded another runner at 2nd after Olea hit a 2 out double followed by a Colburn fly out. All hell broke loose in the bottom of the sixth though. After Stephenson retired five of the first six batters she faced before giving up a one out double. She then struck out the next batter for the second out but then gave up a walk and an rbi double leaving runners on 2nd and 3rd before Hood entered making it 2-0. Hood then proceed to have possibly her worst outing of the year. She faced four batters who went 2 RBI single, single, walk, and 2 RBI double before she was replaced by Haley Young. One more RBI single later, Young finally got the 3rd out but it was already 7-0. Montana would make one last push in the top of the 7th loading the bases with one out but two k's later would end any hopes of a miracle comeback.
Tulsa was not ranked at the time of playing them but by seasons end they had climbed to #23. Michaela started the game and after a ruff first inning, dialed it in to pitch a complete game. Unfortunately the first inning was too much to overcome for our untimely anemic offense. Two singles, a triple, a sac fly, a sac bunt, and a wild pitch would give Tulsa a three run first. They would get one hit the rest of the game. Twice we stranded runners at 2nd and we stranded another at third so we had our opportunities, we just weren't able to capitalize on them.
#6 Washington was a game that we weren't quite mentally prepared for and they definitely were, at least that's what the final score would say. 8-0 in five innings. It was our first ever World Series appearance and Washington's 24th. It was also a home game for them. Their ace pitcher threw a no hitter against us in our first ever game under the bright lights of ESPN. In four of the five innings the score was actually 0-0 but in one inning UW sent 12 batters to the plate, knocked out 8 hits and scored 8 runs, being way to much for the Griz to handle. Valuable experience was gained in this trip though that will carry over to next year where all but one athlete will return.

Team Improvment/Decline
There were some drastic improvements this year in the pitching staff, thanks largely to the Fr sensation Michaela Hood, but some drastic declines in the offensive production. Luckily the pitching was enough to counter the offensive woes.
The team improvements in pitching were just insane. The team era dropped over 2 runs a game from 5.26 to 3.09. Complete games improved from 15 to 19 and Michaela alone had 16. The k/bb totals increased/decreased from 220/183 to 303/126. That's almost going from just over one strike out for every walk to just under three strikeouts for every walk. The opposition batting average also plummeted from .327 to .270; all of this thanks largely to Michaela Hood. The team defense of course was stellar again. Last year we finished 4th in fielding percentage but were only .005 points off of 1st. This year we claimed 1st in the con with a .968 percentage.
Offense on the other hand most of the time just barely did enough to win games, or not enough sometimes. Five of our losses came when we lost by 2 runs or less while the opposition scored only 3 runs or less. Now four of those five, we were outhit but in another five losses, we outhit our opponents but still lost. Getting runners on base for us was usually not a problem. Getting them across the plate sometimes was.
As for a statistical declines, the team slash line went from .326ba/.401obp/.444slg to .280/.358/.390. Runs scored dropped from 322 to 264 and stolen bases dropped from 47 to 33, mostly due to loosing MaKenna McGill half way through the year. The team homer total also dropped from 32 to 28 which isn't bad considering last years power hitting BSC 1st Team catcher Lexi Brennies leaving the team with two years to play and Sydney Stites going through a sophomore slump. How much of all of these declines can be attributed to not having Lexis .400 avg and power in the line up, I can't say but I'm sure it affected some.
Hitting with runners in scoring position wasn't a constant problem but definitely an issue. The team batting average dropped to .277 with runners in scoring position. Colburn(.419), Anne Marie Petrino(.333), and Dani Walker(.323) were the only girls to up their avg when runners were on second or third. Even the normally clutch Olea's average fell from .416 to .389. This should definitely be something we need to work on.

Position Improvment/Decline
Last year it was a case where pretty much every position improved which you would expect with experience. This year that was not the case. Here's a position breakdown with improvements and declines.
1B Ashlyn Lyons-Once again Ashlyn was Ms Consistentcy batting just around .300 just like every other year. She produced the same amount of rbi's at 28 despite playing in almost 20 more games, a consistent theme throughout the lineup. Her fielding was even better then her usually dependable self going from .978 to .991 committing only 4 errors all year. She did start a little sluggish in non con play but once in the con schedule, she batted an outstanding.365. Let's hope that carries over to her Sr year next year.
2B Gabby Martinez-This years winner for the highest increase in batting average from .226 last year to .261 this year. Her stolen bases did get cut in half from 13 to 7 which tied the team lead still and her fielding percentage fell from .989 to .962 but those are still good numbers.
3B Bethany Olea-The lone Sr on this years squad stepped up and helped lead this team to its first con championship. She upped her BA from .408 to .416 but like almost everyone else, her rbi's dropped from 27 to 20 and hits fell from 96 to 74 due to less at bats from the overall decline in the team's offensive production. She slugged at nearly the same rate as last year going from .550 to .545. Her steller play at third, earning a .949 fielding percentage was great too. The one moment I will always remember is seeing her getting emotional standing on 1B after hitting a single in her last collegiate at bat versus Fresno State in the regionals of the National Tournament. She was a main contributor to building the foundation that will make Montana one of the great teams in the future.
SS Delene Colburn-As awesome as Delene was her Fr and So year, this year was even better, which many Montana's thought was MVP worthy or at least BSC 1st Team which apparently the rest of the league didn't. Nationally she was recognized as a 3rd Team region SS only behind Oregon and Washington's SS's which made up for the Big Sky snub some. She upped her average from .344 to .397, good for 4th in the league. Her homers have climbed every year from 10 to 12 to 14, which was one off the con lead. Her 58 rbi's and mind blowing .749 slugging percentage were topped by no one. Her fielding percentage slipped a bit from .953 to .910 with her error count rising from 9 to 18, the same amount she had as a Fr. Next year should be a land mark year for her also. Even though the con is only five years old, Delene is the only active player in the top 10 in homers and rbi's. She's in third in homers but catching 1st will be a daunting task since she is 22 off the lead which would also be a single season con record(20). The rbi mark is deffenetly attainable though where she is only 39 off the record, a number she has blown away both her So and Jr year and reaching 38 her Fr year. A good portion of those rbi's though were Olea who's bat will definitely be missed.
LF Anne Marie Petrino/McKenzie Phillips-Well, as I had predicted at the beginning of the year, a Fr ended up taking over the starting roll in LF, only due to an injury though. Wardlow had the edge on the starting spot tell she was forced to slide over to center when MaKenna McGill was lost for the year to injury opening the door for Petrino. Petrino started out strong having a .300+ BA after the first couple of weeks but began to fall off and was eventually replaced by Phillips who was re-replaced by Petrino at the end of the year. Petrino had the better overall BA hitting .247 compared to Phillips's .200 but in con play where Phillips started 7 of the teams 21 con games, she out hit Petrino at a .250 to .167 rate. Petrino seemed to be the better fielder though not committing an error on 24 putout attempts to Phillips 1 error on 8 attempts.
CF MaKenna McGill/Alex Wardlow-Until McKenna's season ending injury, she was in the middle of a season long slump. After raising her average from .311 to .375 last year, she was hitting only .195 this year. She still finished the season tied in the team lead in stolen bases with seven. She was also in the process of completing her second error free season. When Wardlow stepped in, she was dependable, already platooning with Petrino in left, she hit .246 on the year starting the last 31 games in center. She finished the year with a .938 fielding percentage committing two errors in left and one in center. It will be interesting to see if she can take left over next year for her Sr season if MaKenna comes back healthy.
RF Sydney Stites-Stites just finished off a text book sophomore slump season. After an amazing Fr year where she hit .383 with 12 homers and 47 rbi, many Montana's were already crowning her a future MVP. This year however her average fell to .256 and her slugging percentage fell from .672 to .426. She did however bat .286 during the con schedule but only hit two of her seven homers. It's not that she struck out more, 37 this year to 34 last year which both times lead the team. I think she was just pressing too hard. Hopefully she will take the offseason to find out how to get herself back on track. She also may move back to the infield and take over the 3 bag spot left open by the graduating Olea.
C Madison Saacke-Saacke not only couldn't match last years production from the catcher position by Lexi Brennies, which replacing a BSC 1st Teamer is tuff, she fell drastically from her own offensive production as the DP last year. Brennies's .397 BA and .564 slugging percentage were not expected to be matched but Saacke's own BA fell from .355 to .251 but she did add some pop to her bat hitting 4 HR's after only hitting one as a Fr and 0 as a So. She did up her rbi total from 22 to 34, being one of the few who did. Defensively, she was slightly above Lexi but Michaela Hood's pitching prowess may have attributed to that. Her .992 fielding percentage was just above Lexi's .985 and she picked off runners at nearly the same 18% clip that Lexi did last year finishing with 17%. The main difference was Lexi allowed 45 stolen bases and Saacke gave up only 29.
DP Tori Lettus/Dani Walker-Well Saacke's previously mentioned numbers in the Designated Player position from last year were pretty hard to match but I think more was deffenetly hoped for then what was produced. Throughout the year Pinkerton used 10 different ladies in this slot, some like Colburn and Stites to keep them in the lineup but give other girls a chance to start in the field. Mostly though he was just looking for someone to step up and lock it down. Most of the year the job belonged to Lettus and her .188 BA. Towards the beginning of con play though Walker came in and had a couple of big games and pretty much took the position over. When she wasn't playing catcher, she started the last 15 games except the WSU series where Lettus started and went 0-12. Walker's overall average wasn't a lot better at .205 but she tripled Lettus's RBI production with 12 compared to Lettus's 4. This is a spot where one of our incoming Fr could step in though if they show they can bring their great high school bats to the collegiate level.

Newcomers Performances
This years Fr class didn't quite have the impact last years did, save one who arguably carried this team to the College World Series. Michaela Hood's dominance in the circle was exactly what this team needed with the offensive decline too many players suffered this year. This year was the first year a Grizzly Fr didn't win the con Fr of the Year due to Weber States Takesha Saltern and her absolutely insane .456 BA, 9 triples and 24 stolen bases. Here is a summary of what each Griz Fr did accomplish on the field.
Michaela Hood P-Michaela not only established herself as the ace of the staff early in the season, she's already solidified herself as the greatest pitcher in Montana's short history setting program marks in era(2.31), wins(18), complete games(16), shutouts(5), innings pitched(190.2), and strike outs(178). Those are also tops in career marks, not just single season. She finished in the top three in the con in every one of these categories including 1st in k's. She also threw three 3 hitters and a 1 hit shutout with 13 k's against Northern Colorado, also a Griz single game record. Her .244 BA against and 4 homers allowed were also top 3 con marks. With three more years to go, she may set some program marks that will stick around a looooong time.
Anne Marie Petrino LF-Petrino stepped into the starting spot in left the 15th game of the season and started out very hot hitting .421 over the next seven games. She may have then lost the spot if MaKenna didn't go down four games later. She then preceded to hit .097 over the next 15 games and was eventually replaced by Phillips. The last 12 games of the year she was put back in and hit .321 to close the season. Overall she started 39 games of the 43 she played in including 37 in left while hitting .245 with 13 runs, 6 rbi's, and 3 stolen bases while completing the year without committing a single error. Given McGill's healthy return, Wardlow may have the edge starting in left next year being a Sr, but depending on who takes third, RF might open up also.
Kylie Hayton PR/OF-Hayton who is very fast was primarily used as a pinch runner this year showing up in 27 of the 31 games she played in in that role, far more then anyone else. She scored 11 runs as a PR and was 1 of 2 on stolen base attempts. She started one game in left and one as the DP going 1 for 5 plus 2 walks. She may not see an expanded roll next year due to all the OFers returning but in her Jr year she's the most likely to take over CF.
Morgan Johnson PH/C-The Missoula Big Sky product was the primary pinch hitter this year, appearing in 22 games, more then twice as much as the next most used. In that roll she was only 3 of 16 with a double and 3 rbi's but she added 6 walks also giving her a .409 obp as a pinch hitter. She also got 4 starts as a DP going 1 for 13. Primarily a catcher in high school with a much better bat then was seen this year, it will be interesting to see if she wins the starting job as a Jr when Saacke and Walker graduate or if our incoming Fr, the very highly touted Jessica McAlister can take the job.

Conference Recap
Here is a list of the Big Sky teams, their con tourney finish, their national ranking(will be updated after the World Series is over), our record against them(home, away, neutral), and total points scored.
Weber State(2nd)-#102, 4-1(4-1a) 29-17
Montana(1st)-#124
Sacramento St(4th)-#196, 2-1(2-1a) 9-9
Southern Utah(6th)-#227, 2-1(2-1h) 13-7
North Dakota(5th)-#224, 2-1(2-1h) 11-7
Idaho State(3rd)-#194, 3-1(2-1h 1-0n) 18-8
Northern Colorado(na)-#217, 3-0(3-0h) 21-9
Portland State(na)-#245, 2-1(2-1a) 7-6

Stat Recap
Here's a Stat breakdown of each player by position.
Infield
1B Ashlyn Lyons Jr 58/58g honorable mention team
.298ba/.351obp/.367slg 56h 20r 28rbi .991f%
2B Gabby Martinez Jr 59/59g honorable mention team
.261/.330/.295 46h 31r 7sb .962f%
3B Bethany Olea Sr 59/59g 1st Team All Con
.416/.514/.545 74h 47r 20rbi 33bb 9k .949f%
SS Delene Colburn Jr 59/59g 2nd Team All Con
.397/.481/.749 71h 38r 58rbi 192b 14hr 27bb 13k .910f%
IF Tori Lettus Jr 20/32g 19/22gDP
.188/.269/.217 13h 9r 4rbi
Outfield
LF Anne Marie Petrino Fr 39/43g
.245/.336/.266 23h 13r 6rbi
CF MaKenna McGill Jr 25/25g
.195/.287/.234 15h 14r 6rbi 7sb 1.000f%
CF Alex Wardlow Jr 45/50g 34/35gCF
.246/.341/.263 28h 18r 7rbi .938f%
RF Sydney Stites So 59/59g
.256/.326/.426 50h 33r 38rbi 7hr 37k .948f%
OF McKenzie Phillips Jr 8/19g 7/9gLF
.200/.304/.200 4h 5r .875f%
OF Kylie Hayton Fr 2/31g 27gPR
.200/.429/.200 1h 13r
OF Katie Jo Waletzko Jr 5/27g
.118/.286/.294 2h 8r 2rbi
Catcher
C Madison Saacke Jr 57/59g 41/45gC honorable mention team
.251/.289/.366 46h 12r 34rbi 4hr .992f%
C Dani Walker Jr 32/32g 15/15gC
.200/.253/.275 16h 3r 12rbi 1.000f%
C Morgan Johnson Fr 4/31g 24gPH
.129/.289/.161 4h 3rbi
Pitcher
P Michaela Hood Fr 28/37g 1st Team All Con
18-7 4sv 2.31era 190.2ip 16cg 5sho 178k 58bb 4hr
P Colleen Driscoll So 14/25g
6-5 2.98era 82.1ip 2cg 33k 12bb
P Maddy Stensby So 9/26g
5-7 3.13era 62.2ip 1cg 39k 20bb
P Sara Stephenson So 5/17g
5-4 4.80era 46.2ip 41k 27bb
P Haley Young Jr 3/9g
1-1 7.56era 16.2ip 12k 9bb

Looking Forward
Now that year three is in the books and the Griz have already reached the top of the conference, it's time to start reaching for more. I know these girls won't be happy with only winning the con and going 0-2 in the World Series. With great accomplishments come higher expectations and I know this team is ready to embrace them. With Bethany Olea graduating, she was such a huge part of this program that it may feel a bit like a rebuilding year but there are still plenty of pieces in place and new ones coming in that are going to accomplish a lot of great things here. Can't wait for next year to start. Go Griz!
 
Great write up Bama, my question is...How long can we hold on to Pinkerton and his staff? That and the loss after the graduation of 11 seniors next year might be the beginning of a couple of down years. Any thoughts?
 
logchain20 said:
Great write up Bama, my question is...How long can we hold on to Pinkerton and his staff? That and the loss after the graduation of 11 seniors next year might be the beginning of a couple of down years. Any thoughts?

I think after another year or two, it's gonna start to become pretty tuff to keep Pinkerton. Every program that's trying to build or rebuild should have him in their radar. He has a proven track record with more then a couple of teams now of turning them into contenders. I think that if he goes though, his assistant, Melanie Meuchel who's a home grown Missoula Big Sky grad would be more then happy to take over the reigns and may be a lifer. It's also a safe bet that the recruiting classes over the next couple of years before Pinkerton is eventually dragged away should be pretty strong and help continue to build a solid foundation for a very bright future. Next years class has another dynamite pitcher that may be as good or better then Hood, a four year starter at C and 3B for the currently #12 nationally ranked team from Albuquerque, and two steller middle infielders with a high average, a lot of pop, and one of them with a lot of speed. I firmly believe if Pink does leave, the future is still real bright. I have been known to where maroon glasses at times though.
 
Don't ya just love our established take on Griz coaches? A modicum of success and we anguish how soon they'll be spirited away in the middle of the night by some predatory program with its hands full of cash.We really need to start focusing on hiring coaches whose records can be expected to linger around 50/50.

"We're not worthy...we're not worthy!"
 
Silvertip said:
Don't ya just love our established take on Griz coaches? A modicum of success and we anguish how soon they'll be spirited away in the middle of the night by some predatory program with its hands full of cash.We really need to start focusing on hiring coaches whose records can be expected to linger around 50/50.

"We're not worthy...we're not worthy!"

We need to start focusing on getting into a conference in which we can BE one of those programs with a hand full of cash.
 
EverettGriz said:
Silvertip said:
Don't ya just love our established take on Griz coaches? A modicum of success and we anguish how soon they'll be spirited away in the middle of the night by some predatory program with its hands full of cash.We really need to start focusing on hiring coaches whose records can be expected to linger around 50/50.

"We're not worthy...we're not worthy!"

We need to start focusing on getting into a conference in which we can BE one of those programs with a hand full of cash.
I'm sorry, but UM is never going to be a program "with a handful of cash." God knows, I wish that would be the case, but no matter which conference in which the Griz may be, UM is simply not going to be one of the rich ones. We're a state with not a lot of financial resources and a legislature which has no intention of funding the university system as it should. Sadly, we are stuck with those realities.
 
'68griz said:
EverettGriz said:
Silvertip said:
Don't ya just love our established take on Griz coaches? A modicum of success and we anguish how soon they'll be spirited away in the middle of the night by some predatory program with its hands full of cash.We really need to start focusing on hiring coaches whose records can be expected to linger around 50/50.

"We're not worthy...we're not worthy!"

We need to start focusing on getting into a conference in which we can BE one of those programs with a hand full of cash.
I'm sorry, but UM is never going to be a program "with a handful of cash." God knows, I wish that would be the case, but no matter which conference in which the Griz may be, UM is simply not going to be one of the rich ones. We're a state with not a lot of financial resources and a legislature which has no intention of funding the university system as it should. Sadly, we are stuck with those realities.

Well, we're never going to be an Ohio State. But if we were to join a real conference with television and NCAA basketball revenue, at least we could pay a coach enough to keep most of them.
 
EverettGriz said:
'68griz said:
EverettGriz said:
Silvertip said:
Don't ya just love our established take on Griz coaches? A modicum of success and we anguish how soon they'll be spirited away in the middle of the night by some predatory program with its hands full of cash.We really need to start focusing on hiring coaches whose records can be expected to linger around 50/50.

"We're not worthy...we're not worthy!"

We need to start focusing on getting into a conference in which we can BE one of those programs with a hand full of cash.
I'm sorry, but UM is never going to be a program "with a handful of cash." God knows, I wish that would be the case, but no matter which conference in which the Griz may be, UM is simply not going to be one of the rich ones. We're a state with not a lot of financial resources and a legislature which has no intention of funding the university system as it should. Sadly, we are stuck with those realities.

Well, we're never going to be an Ohio State. But if we were to join a real conference with television and NCAA basketball revenue, at least we could pay a coach enough to keep most of them.

And that conference would be??? It would be terrific to be in that mythical conference of which you speak, but I don't where it is coming from. I don't believe MWC is interested and Pac-12 isn't feasible, so ...?
 
So because there doesn't appear to be an option currently available we should abandon the goal? You'll note I said we need to focus on that as an objective (although FWIW, I don not necessarily agree with your premise that the MWC isn't interested).

And failing that, then we DEFINITELY need to push the bsc to improve. Having 9 basketball teams with RPIs in the 300s is a joke. And Montana is far too good to be associated with a joke conference.
 
Enough with this exodus to softball ... hurling is where the surefire national championships are for Griz fans.
 
Fat Bruno said:
Enough with this exodus to softball ... hurling is where the surefire national championships are for Griz fans.
There's an entire forum for "Softball," and related minor sports, specifically called "Grizzly Sports and Beyond," but somebody felt that not enough people were reading their "brilliant" observations on softball there, and so brought the threads over the a forum entitled, oddly enough, "Montana Grizzlies Basketball." The inaptly named "
moderators," who formerly would have quickly moved the offending threads to the appropriate forums, are apparently paralyzed by their hero worship of certain of their friends, and allow the practice to continue, in violation of the posted rules.

Any wonder why a "forum" allegedly with 15,000 members has only five or six regular contributors, loyal sad-sacks, saying the same things over and over and being wrong every time, but with the sure-fire arrogance of posters who believe so strongly in their own opinions that "facts" cannot convince them otherwise?
 
UMGriz75 said:
Fat Bruno said:
Enough with this exodus to softball ... hurling is where the surefire national championships are for Griz fans.
There's an entire forum for "Softball," and related minor sports, specifically called "Grizzly Sports and Beyond," but somebody felt that not enough people were reading their "brilliant" observations on softball there, and so brought the threads over the a forum entitled, oddly enough, "Montana Grizzlies Basketball." The inaptly named "
moderators," who formerly would have quickly moved the offending threads to the appropriate forums, are apparently paralyzed by their hero worship of certain of their friends, and allow the practice to continue, in violation of the posted rules.

Any wonder why a "forum" allegedly with 15,000 members has only five or six regular contributors, loyal sad-sacks, saying the same things over and over and being wrong every time, but with the sure-fire arrogance of posters who believe so strongly in their own opinions that "facts" cannot convince them otherwise?
Welcome back 75--I see you' haven't learned a damn thing from your vacation. You like classic movies, perhaps you can learn from this guy's mom?


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Thanks for the excellent season review, alabamagrizzly! I don't have anything to add, but maybe a couple of questions regarding next year: specifically, who will replace Bethany Olea? And -- if Sydney Stites does slide to the infield @ third, who will fill the gap in right field?

As I see it now, Montana will have a powerful pitching lineup. No weak spots there.

As a result, this team should be considered the favorite in the Big Sky next year, but HOW they fill important slots could also make them a MUCH better team. As you indicate, some very promising young incoming freshmen may compete for those positions.

Often, in situations like this (I'm most familiar with basketball) you'll see one or two players that did not get much playing time, opt to transfer to a team where they'll have get those chances. I'm assuming it's too late for that to take place... but if that does happen at Montana (this is pure guesswork on my part; I am a fan and NOT an insider) this is a team that might get a big boost out of a player with two seasons of JC experience who could come in and provide something the team needs (a bat with punch, for instance, to solidify the offensive lineup in Olea's departure).

Otherwise, the only other thing I'd like to see is a top-of-lineup batter that provides a serious drag-bunting threat.
 
grizzlyjournal said:
...who will replace Bethany Olea? And -- if Sydney Stites does slide to the infield @ third, who will fill the gap in right field?

...this is a team that might get a big boost out of a player with...experience who could come in and provide something the team needs (a bat with punch, for instance, to solidify the offensive lineup in Olea's departure).

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if contending for next years' 3B job is a Savanna Voyles out of CMR. a left-handed hitter that has hit 30 or so HRs over the past two seasons with a .553 BA (89-196). Playing SS, 2B and LF at the high school level shoudn't hurt in a transition to 3B. At least potentially a possibility.
 
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