Softball Offseason

[Cajunchuck]

With the current NIL market, you have to pull athletes up from below your program that have performed very well and that can help your program. This holds true from Football and Baseball as well. If you can get an athlete from a major program its usually because they were lost in the shuffle or didn't feel comfortable. Either way this is where this program needs to make hay and continue to sign quality HS athletes.

Very good point.

[JMV JustMyView]

You mean interaction with Glasco?

No with Alyson. She has no issues with Glasco.

[JMV JustMyView]

With the current NIL market, you have to pull athletes up from below your program that have performed very well and that can help your program. This holds true from Football and Baseball as well. If you can get an athlete from a major program its usually because they were lost in the shuffle or didn't feel comfortable. Either way this is where this program needs to make hay and continue to sign quality HS athletes.

I like this approach but retaining and re-recruiting the current roster will always be a challenge if the players are good players.

[CajunT]

Talk to any coach today and they will tell you their most important job in today's climate is ROSTER MANAGEMENT. You must understand that HS recruiting and development is the key and finding the right balance between those athletes and the portal is what the staff has to work at all year long. It applies now to college softball more than anything and as players develop there is a good chance they will leave your program. The CULture nonsense is a thing of the past in my opinion. Relationships matter, but money and opportunity seem to matter more today.

[RoarMan]

Emilee Boyer, the D2 player of the year and a finalist for Honda Women's Athlete of the Year, is in the portal. A 6'1" RHP/Outfielder, she was 28-4 in the circle with a 2.40 ERA and a WHIP of 1.05. She also hit .470, scoring 59 runs and driving in 90, with 35 extra base hits [22HR].

Her catcher, Lauren Granger is also in the portal. A D2 All-American, Granger hit .413, scoring 56 runs and driving in 47, with 39 extra base hits [16 HR].

PLEASE! No more community college or division II transfers! No matter how well they might have done at those levels, most of them have proven they cannot compete effectively at the division I level. Players like the two you mentioned have incredible numbers at the lower level, but, once they advance to Division 1, their offensive numbers are sometimes cut in half and sometimes pitcher's ERAs double.

[ridinsuicide]

I do agree with Mark. There are so many layers to why athletes decide to enter the portal but stats or innings pitched/played from previous seasons can't necessarily be taken as absolute when evaluating whether a prospect is suited to fill a need.

Sure, it gives fans the warm and fuzzy to hear a kid hit .400 with 16 HRS however, what was the school's schedule? Who did they play? All things equal a .230 SEC kid can go to, lets say a northern school (even some P4 schools) and hit .460 due to the different level of competition they are seeing. Obviously those are just random numbers but point being the stats are relevant to the competition. IMO, The tools of a player and history with an athlete (softball is a small world) is typically more important. These coaches have watched MANY of the kids in the portal over the years through high school / travel ball. Often times have potentially tried recruiting them out of HS.

Having possibly coached softball for +/- 15 years I can tell you that environment, development, confidence, opportunities, confidence, and did I mention confidence play an incredibly huge part in these young ladies' success or lack there-of.


My personal opinion on today's recipe for success (outside of schools with unlimited funds) is to recruit and develop the top in-state talent while giving them OPPORTUNITIES which not only help you win but will be the best possible way to limit the portal exits, although some will still happen I think it becomes less and utilize the portal for key areas (pitchers, catchers, etc.) as well as recruiting Nationally. But hey, what do I know? I'm just someone with an opinion.

[JMV JustMyView]

PLEASE! No more community college or division II transfers! No matter how well they might have done at those levels, most of them have proven they cannot compete effectively at the division I level. Players like the two you mentioned have incredible numbers at the lower level, but, once they advance to Division 1, their offensive numbers are sometimes cut in half and sometimes pitcher's ERAs double.

One D2 All American just signed with Ole Miss. Will be curious to see how this pans out. If you cut Boyers numbers in half she would have lead the team in rbi and second in homeruns. If you doubled her era she would have been our #2 pitcher.

[JMV JustMyView]

I do agree with Mark. There are so many layers to why athletes decide to enter the portal but stats or innings pitched/played from previous seasons can't necessarily be taken as absolute when evaluating whether a prospect is suited to fill a need.

Sure, it gives fans the warm and fuzzy to hear a kid hit .400 with 16 HRS however, what was the school's schedule? Who did they play? All things equal a .230 SEC kid can go to, lets say a northern school (even some P4 schools) and hit .460 due to the different level of competition they are seeing. Obviously those are just random numbers but point being the stats are relevant to the competition. IMO, The tools of a player and history with an athlete (softball is a small world) is typically more important. These coaches have watched MANY of the kids in the portal over the years through high school / travel ball. Often times have potentially tried recruiting them out of HS.

Having possibly coached softball for +/- 15 years I can tell you that environment, development, confidence, opportunities, confidence, and did I mention confidence play an incredibly huge part in these young ladies' success or lack there-of.


My personal opinion on today's recipe for success (outside of schools with unlimited funds) is to recruit and develop the top in-state talent while giving them OPPORTUNITIES which not only help you win but will be the best possible way to limit the portal exits, although some will still happen I think it becomes less and utilize the portal for key areas (pitchers, catchers, etc.) as well as recruiting Nationally. But hey, what do I know? I'm just someone with an opinion.

Just an ole ball coach.

[CajunT]

My personal opinion on today's recipe for success (outside of schools with unlimited funds) is to recruit and develop the top in-state talent while giving them OPPORTUNITIES which not only help you win but will be the best possible way to limit the portal exits, although some will still happen I think it becomes less and utilize the portal for key areas (pitchers, catchers, etc.) as well as recruiting Nationally. But hey, what do I know? I'm just someone with an opinion.

My personal opinion on today's recipe for success (outside of schools with unlimited funds) is to recruit and develop the top in-state talent while giving them OPPORTUNITIES which not only help you win but will be the best possible way to limit the portal exits, although some will still happen I think it becomes less and utilize the portal for key areas (pitchers, catchers, etc.) as well as recruiting Nationally. But hey, what do I know? I'm just someone with an opinion.

This is the most important element of maintaining your program period. IF you do not sign and develop from your camps and state HS programs, you can't have a consistent program long term unless you have major money to buy in the portal. Every coach that I spoke with in recent years have told me the same when it comes to football, baseball, basketball and now I believe softball will be no different.

[Cajunrunner]

PLEASE! No more community college or division II transfers! No matter how well they might have done at those levels, most of them have proven they cannot compete effectively at the division I level. Players like the two you mentioned have incredible numbers at the lower level, but, once they advance to Division 1, their offensive numbers are sometimes cut in half and sometimes pitcher's ERAs double.

Is it different baseball vs softball in this department? Because it seemed Coach Robe had some decent success of guys coming in from LSU-E and being contributors.