D1 Softball Picks Cajuns To Finish Fifth

[VObserver]

With the players that we just signed for next year. Our offense philosophy will remain small ball.

You can't win big playing small ball anymore, even with very good pitching. Too many girls have learned to hit well.

As to us bringing in small ball players; I seriously doubt the staff sees Mac Hranicky as a small baller. She benches 165, squats 360 and deadlifts 375.

[VObserver]

Interesting. I'm assuming the three slappers you are referring to are Williams, Liscano and Ardoin. Last year the trio had 84 hits. Only 11 of those hits were extra base hits. The three combined to drive in 15 runs. To be honest, I'm really not understanding where you're seeing they have gap power. I think you pointed out in one of your posts, numbers don't lie.

I say they have gap power, not necessarily HR power, for several reasons. First, we are dealing with 200' fences, not 375'. Second, on those [few] occasions that they did not hit as slappers, all hit the ball with authority. Third, power is derived from core strength in the thighs, glutes and abs being transferred through the upper body to the bat. This power cannot be transferred without the hitter having a solid contact between the back foot and the ground throughout the swing. Slapping, by definition, kills power, as there is no base to anchor the drive through the body to the bat, and hence the ball. All three of our slappers have above average core strength, so I believe all three can be effective conventional hitters if given the opportunity and training to do so.

[RoarMan]

I say they have gap power, not necessarily HR power, for several reasons. First, we are dealing with 200' fences, not 375'. Second, on those [few] occasions that they did not hit as slappers, all hit the ball with authority. Third, power is derived from core strength in the thighs, glutes and abs being transferred through the upper body to the bat. This power cannot be transferred without the hitter having a solid contact between the back foot and the ground throughout the swing. Slapping, by definition, kills power, as there is no base to anchor the drive through the body to the bat, and hence the ball. All three of our slappers have above average core strength, so I believe all three can be effective conventional hitters if given the opportunity and training to do so.

I understand what you're saying and I hope you are correct. I do believe Shipman will do a very good job with the hitters.

[VObserver]

Other than 2025, since 2000 we have only scored less than 320 runs twice: 2018 [263] and 2020 [143, in a season shortened to 24 games]. I see no reason to think that our run production will not return to at least 300 runs for the 2026 season.

I totally agree with you about Shipman.