🏈 Softball Opens World Series with 5-3 Win Over Tennessee

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Alabama wins the World Series opener for the second straight year.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The number two seed Alabama softball team (56-7) had a big first inning that led to a 5-3 victory over Tennessee (52-13), in its opening round game of the Women's College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Thursday evening. With the win, the Crimson Tide moves into the winner's bracket for the second consecutive year.

Sophomore pitcher Jackie Traina improved to 38-2 on the year, tying Shelley Laird for the most victories in a single season. Traina threw a complete game five-hitter, giving up the three runs while striking out eight batters. Ivy Renfroe took the loss for Tennessee, dropping to 25-9 on the season.

The Crimson Tide cranked out five hits, including three by junior Kayla Braud, who also scored two runs. Senior Jennifer Fenton reached base for the 14th consecutive game with a walk in the first inning and moved her hitting streak to 11 with a hit in her third at bat.

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[RTB X Bot]

tommydeas: RT @grahamhays: Total attendance for Day 1 at WCWS: 16,384. That's only 1,819 behind Game 3 of Spurs-Thunder in OKC tonight.

tommydeas: RT @grahamhays: Total attendance for Day 1 at WCWS: 16,384. That's only 1,819 behind Game 3 of Spurs-Thunder in OKC tonight.

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[doemasters]

great game yesterday, should be a good one today as well against Arizona State

 

[TerryP]

great game yesterday, should be a good one today as well against Arizona State

Those pictures (sic) you were so enamored with yesterday certainly did well. :icon_twisted: :tongue-new:

 

[doemasters]

maybe i will keep saying that, the girl at Arizona State is something, I watched their game last night and I think it is best to jump on her early in the count but then again they said she had control problems so it might be good to take a few if she is struggling early

 

[TerryP]

maybe i will keep saying that, the girl at Arizona State is something, I watched their game last night and I think it is best to jump on her early in the count but then again they said she had control problems so it might be good to take a few if she is struggling early

In light of the talks going on in Destin, one thing that crossed my mind this morning watching the replay is today is literally a final four. I was going to look it up but happened to come across an article that answered the question for me.

Since the WCWS went to the format we have now, it's the first time all the top seeds—1 through 4—are in the winners bracket together in the WCWS. It's truly the best teams in college softball meeting this afternoon.

As to Escobedo, it's impossible to forget she was the winning pitcher last year in the WCWS. I don't know what her record is this season but I do recall she only lost three games last year. Their win against UF was against a Gator team that was
BIG on the long ball. We'll need to play small ball today to get to Saturday evenings games the way I see it: and we can.

I wasn't "rooting" for OU, but I have a high opinion of their team this year and they certainly didn't disappoint.

 

[TerryP]

tommydeas: RT @grahamhays: Total attendance for Day 1 at WCWS: 16,384. That's only 1,819 behind Game 3 of Spurs-Thunder in OKC tonight.

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That's amazing.

 

[Bo]

It's just hard for me to understand how these ladies can pitch as often as they do and still be effective. I mean I know that the underhand throw is more natural than the overhand like in baseball, but you would still think that arm would still be to tired to pitch well the next day.

 

[TerryP]

It's just hard for me to understand how these ladies can pitch as often as they do and still be effective. I mean I know that the underhand throw is more natural than the overhand like in baseball, but you would still think that arm would still be to tired to pitch well the next day.

You've answered your own question Bo.

I do believe if you want to separate the two you can fault dads and Little League coaches who don't have a clue what a natural throwing motion is.

 

[Bo]

You've answered your own question Bo.

I do believe if you want to separate the two you can fault dads and Little League coaches who don't have a clue what a natural throwing motion is.

I've always wanted to see how a MLB pitcher that threw completely underhanded would do. Glen Garber with the Braves back in the 80's did pretty good as a relief pitcher. He didn't pitch completely underhand, but it was pretty dang close.

 

[UAgrad93]

I've always wanted to see how a MLB pitcher that threw completely underhanded would do. Glen Garber with the Braves back in the 80's did pretty good as a relief pitcher. He didn't pitch completely underhand, but it was pretty dang close.

Kent Tekulve with the Pirates was another from the late 70s early 80s. As you said Terry, so many of these Dad's and Little League coaches are hurting these kids arms by not stretching and then teaching them to throw curve balls and then allowing them to throw too many pitches. Son just finished season at 9-10 yr olds and saw kids throwing 100+ pitches a game. Arms won't be worth squat by the time they are 13-14 yrs old.

 

[TerryP]

Kent Tekulve with the Pirates was another from the late 70s early 80s. As you said Terry, so many of these Dad's and Little League coaches are hurting these kids arms by not stretching and then teaching them to throw curve balls and then allowing them to throw too many pitches. Son just finished season at 9-10 yr olds and saw kids throwing 100+ pitches a game. Arms won't be worth squat by the time they are 13-14 yrs old.

One thing I don't know is how much these girls are pitching before their time in collegiate ball.

At what age do they start fast pitch softball?

IF we see it played as young as we see Little League, will we see arm problems in college in the near future.