Gopher Softball 2019

When you have to explain sarcasm, it didn’t work
 









Hate to jinx, but she's on pace to flirt with the home run record.

Was she so highly touted out of high school? I wouldn't know because I pay no attention to high school sports. But in fall ball 2018 for the Gophers she looked pretty special on the field.
 




Was she so highly touted out of high school? I wouldn't know because I pay no attention to high school sports. But in fall ball 2018 for the Gophers she looked pretty special on the field.

She was a good HS player and played for the Minnesota Speed in 16U club ball and then the top Minnesota A's 18U team which are arguably the top teams in Minnesota in their age groups. Hopkins went to state so she was highly recognized in Minnesota. The Speed would have played in all the right tourneys to get her recruited nationally and the A's seem to churn out Gophers every year. I think she initially committed D2 but then got the Gopher offer.
 
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She was a good HS player and played for the Minnesota Speed in 16U club ball and then the top Minnesota A's 18U team which are arguably the top teams in Minnesota in their age groups. Hopkins went to state so she was highly recognized in Minnesota. The Speed would have played in all the right tourneys to get her recruited nationally and the A's seem to churn out Gophers every year. I think she initially committed D2 but then got the Gopher offer.

Thanks!
 

Question for those who understand RPI and statistical rankings stuff. Could the Gophs RPI actually drop by playing Maryland, Purdue, Iowa, MI State and Nebraska (all with terrible RPI) even if they win those games? Northwestern and Illinois are both in the top 25 and WI is 45, but the rest are shockingly bad.
 



Question for those who understand RPI and statistical rankings stuff. Could the Gophs RPI actually drop by playing Maryland, Purdue, Iowa, MI State and Nebraska (all with terrible RPI) even if they win those games? Northwestern and Illinois are both in the top 25 and WI is 45, but the rest are shockingly bad.

In previous years - absolutely. But that was when MD and Michigan State had an RPI in the 200s. Right now Maryland is 63. So playing and winning these games might not help us a lot, but they definitely won''t hurt. Iowa and Purdue are also inside the top 100. Overall the conference is up and that will help. What will also help is that NDSU and SDSU are having good seasons. It is a shame, though, that we never seem to have a series with Michigan.

James Madison dropping a game to Elon this weekend will hurt us. JM is currently #23 in RPI so we get bonus points for that top 25 win, but I highly doubt that JM will remain in the top 25 for much longer. Their conference makes the BIG look like the SEC.
 
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She was a good HS player and played for the Minnesota Speed in 16U club ball and then the top Minnesota A's 18U team which are arguably the top teams in Minnesota in their age groups. Hopkins went to state so she was highly recognized in Minnesota. The Speed would have played in all the right tourneys to get her recruited nationally and the A's seem to churn out Gophers every year. I think she initially committed D2 but then got the Gopher offer.

DenHartog was selected as the Athena (best female) athlete in the TC by the STB.
In an interview a year or so ago she presented the mindset of a coach not merely a player. This mindset is undoubtedly due to her father, head FB and an assistant SB coach at Hopkins. Natalie also related how her father worked with her to increase the bat speed in her swing. Bet he's one proud papa.
 

Taylor Chell has had an injury plagued career. 6 at bats in 2016. 18 in 2017. And exactly one at bat last year. I am extraordinarily happy to see that she is now healthy enough to get consistent at bats. She went 3 for 4 today. A healthy Taylor Chell could be the shot in the arm this team needs.
 

Taylor Chell has had an injury plagued career. 6 at bats in 2016. 18 in 2017. And exactly one at bat last year. I am extraordinarily happy to see that she is now healthy enough to get consistent at bats. She went 3 for 4 today. A healthy Taylor Chell could be the shot in the arm this team needs.

Agreed. Taylor hasn't seen as much time as she would probably like, but has been pretty productive for someone who has been banged up a lot of the time. Nice to see her have a good day at the plate.
 

Easy to agree with. She can hit with power, plus she active in the community, too.
 

I can't believe no one has mentioned that the ladies swept this weekend and are in 1st place in the BIG. Way to go!!
 

Week 2 RPI for the BIG. Gophers moved up two spots to number 10.

10 Minnesota Big Ten 22-9-0 8-5-0 14-4-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
15 Northwestern Big Ten 22-6-0 3-4-0 16-2-0 3-0-0 0-0-0
20 Illinois Big Ten 20-7-0 6-0-0 10-5-0 4-2-0 0-0-0
25 Michigan Big Ten 19-10-0 2-4-0 10-6-0 7-0-0 0-0-0
32 Ohio St. Big Ten 18-9-0 2-4-0 13-5-0 3-0-0 0-0-0
34 Indiana Big Ten 25-9-0 6-4-0 16-3-0 3-2-0 0-0-0
46 Wisconsin Big Ten 22-5-0 7-3-0 15-2-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
73 Purdue Big Ten 22-10-0 1-3-0 19-6-0 2-1-0 0-0-0
77 Maryland Big Ten 16-15-0 2-6-0 10-4-0 4-5-0 0-0-0
85 Iowa Big Ten 15-11-0 2-4-0 13-7-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
113 Rutgers Big Ten 15-14-0 2-8-0 13-6-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
125 Nebraska Big Ten 10-16-0 2-9-0 8-7-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
157 Michigan St. Big Ten 11-18-0 2-6-0 8-10-0 1-2-0 0-0-0
161 Penn St. Big Ten 16-14-0 3-4-0 12-9-0 1-1-0 0-0-0
 

Thanks for posting MNsoftballfan. I hope the B1G can maintain some decent RPI numbers throughout the season. It is good for the conference, gives the champ a betyer chance to host, and will get us morw teams in the tourney. Multiple hosts would be a good conference goal.

Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk
 

Week 2 RPI for the BIG. Gophers moved up two spots to number 10.

10 Minnesota Big Ten 22-9-0 8-5-0 14-4-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
15 Northwestern Big Ten 22-6-0 3-4-0 16-2-0 3-0-0 0-0-0
20 Illinois Big Ten 20-7-0 6-0-0 10-5-0 4-2-0 0-0-0
25 Michigan Big Ten 19-10-0 2-4-0 10-6-0 7-0-0 0-0-0
32 Ohio St. Big Ten 18-9-0 2-4-0 13-5-0 3-0-0 0-0-0
34 Indiana Big Ten 25-9-0 6-4-0 16-3-0 3-2-0 0-0-0
46 Wisconsin Big Ten 22-5-0 7-3-0 15-2-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
73 Purdue Big Ten 22-10-0 1-3-0 19-6-0 2-1-0 0-0-0
77 Maryland Big Ten 16-15-0 2-6-0 10-4-0 4-5-0 0-0-0
85 Iowa Big Ten 15-11-0 2-4-0 13-7-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
113 Rutgers Big Ten 15-14-0 2-8-0 13-6-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
125 Nebraska Big Ten 10-16-0 2-9-0 8-7-0 0-0-0 0-0-0
157 Michigan St. Big Ten 11-18-0 2-6-0 8-10-0 1-2-0 0-0-0
161 Penn St. Big Ten 16-14-0 3-4-0 12-9-0 1-1-0 0-0-0

Out of curiosity, could #10 be the Gophs highest ever RPI ranking? I believe they ended 2017 at #12 if I recall correctly. Not that it means much in the scheme of things...
 

3-0

I can't believe no one has mentioned that the ladies swept this weekend and are in 1st place in the BIG. Way to go!!

and for our friend whom will remain anonymous. Ohio State swept Indiana.
 

Out of curiosity, could #10 be the Gophs highest ever RPI ranking? I believe they ended 2017 at #12 if I recall correctly. Not that it means much in the scheme of things...

It certainly didn't in 2017, as we all found out. :(

But in terms of overall RPI ranking, I believe you might be correct. Perhaps someone with more historical knowledge of the program knows for sure, but I can't recall a higher RPI ranking than #10.
 

Pretty sure we were top 8 the week before we won the Big Ten tourney in 2017 (seems like 6th by memory) We were #1 in the coach’s poll and then we won the Big Ten tourney and dropped to 17th when the committee made selections. We were set to not only host a Regional but potentially a Super. But instead we had to travel to Alabama.

But I’m not bitter....
 

The best way to destroy a good RPI is losing to teams you should beat. So far the Gophers've beat everybody they should beat, except maybe FGCU. That's why focusing totally on Purdue this coming weekend is all that should matter, as I see it.
 

Pretty sure we were top 8 the week before we won the Big Ten tourney in 2017 (seems like 6th by memory) We were #1 in the coach’s poll and then we won the Big Ten tourney and dropped to 17th when the committee made selections. We were set to not only host a Regional but potentially a Super. But instead we had to travel to Alabama.

But I’m not bitter....

Ya, I'm not either. ?*(&$ F****NCAA
 

I wonder if Saturday's game will get pushed to a doubleheader Friday or Sunday. Most of the day will be below freezing.

Screenshot 2019-03-26 08.54.10.jpg
 
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Pretty sure we were top 8 the week before we won the Big Ten tourney in 2017 (seems like 6th by memory) We were #1 in the coach’s poll and then we won the Big Ten tourney and dropped to 17th when the committee made selections. We were set to not only host a Regional but potentially a Super. But instead we had to travel to Alabama.

But I’m not bitter....

Ya, I'm not either. ?*(&$ F****NCAA

Those committee members do not want to pass me on their way to hell as I am on my way to heaven or they are in for "what for" from me :mad:
 

Question/Thoughts

I wonder if Saturday's game will get pushed to a doubleheader Friday or Sunday. Most of the day will be below freezing.

View attachment 6067

Is there a rule in the Big Ten that if the temp is below a certain amount that they can’t play?

The Purdue #1 pitcher looks like an upgrade from Maryland. Hopefully we can get the bats rolling
 




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