The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) gives out honors in different ways than other organizations, where things are broken down into specific regions for accolades. A lot of times, like for the All-American teams, they release regional teams and then end up making a national conglomerate. For coaching staffs to be honored, that’s a little more difficult to surmise. But that takes nothing away from the fact that Purdue and Michigan’s coaching staffs were rewarded from the organization as being the best in their respective regions. Read the rest of this entry »

Northwestern and Michigan have pretty much been the class of the Big 10 in terms of softball for the entire 2008 year. Sure, Iowa looked pretty good at times, but the Wildcats and Wolverines certainly dominated when it came down to it. So it really wasn’t a huge surprise when the two players that got individual honors as first team All-Americans from the Big Ten were from these two respective teams. I am frankly surprised there wasn’t more… Read the rest of this entry »

We all knew that the Big 10 was strong in softball, but how’s this for a number: 13. That’s how many players were selected by the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) to the All-Region teams that are broken down into nine regions across the country. This once again gives credibility to the strength that the conference has in terms of having quality players and teams not only top to bottom, but also on a national level. Read the rest of this entry »

This just in: Samantha Findlay is good. The Michigan Wolverine sophomore, who went 6 for 10 over the weekend against Michigan State and Northwestern, not only got timely hits for her team, but she also extended her hitting streak to seven games. For her efforts, she has nabbed her second Big 10 player of the week honor for women’s softball, and it’s her third time winning the award overall.

Out of the six hits, one of them was a monstrous grand slam against the Spartans (it was one of two against MSU). Although her hits this weekend were probably the biggest showing offensively for Michigan, it’s not as if she’s the only star on this team, which has a gaudy 44-5 record and 16-2 in conference play. They are really playing great ball and should be a tough opponent to anyone they face come NCAA tourney time.

It’s expected that you will have to go into extra innings with baseball at least a few times a year. But for the Michigan Wolverines softball team, it did this two games in a row–against the same team. How’s that for an even matchup? For the 12th-ranked Wolverines, it was a little too close for comfort. But don’t be dismayed, Big 10 fans–Michigan defeated them both times.

Frosh Dorian Shaw had a clutch single in the ninth to drive in the go ahead and winning runs to prevail over Central Florida 3-1.  The hit couldn’t have come at a better time after the Golden Knights limited Michigan to just five hits all day. Another freshman, Jordan Taylor, lead the way on the mound with 11 whiffs and one unearned run. She completed the game despite the extra innings and struck out the final two she faced to close out the victory.

Michigan is 12-2 on the year and will be heading to the NCFA Leadoff Classic in Georgia. While they were playing on UCF’s home field, to only beat them in extra innings both time against a team that is not exactly a powerhouse (they are now 10-9), Michigan maybe need to look into what is going downward so that they can continue to pile up the wins. Maybe they just need rest Perhaps they can just stick to the regular schedule and not have to go to overtime; but these cardiac kids are prone to definitely do it again!

Although Oklahoma was thisclose in the rankings, a preseason poll has the Texas A&M women’s softball team picked to win the Big 12 conference for the third straight year. And obviously with good reason–they are returning 8 starters from a team that was a dominating 46-14 and made its sixth straight NCAA appearance. Not too shabby by any means.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, will really give the Aggies a run for their money in the standings. They return seven starters from a staggering 55-8 record that won the conference last year and finished second in total wins, only behind the 200 squad that won it all.

Let’s get it on, girls!