They are 4-0 in a rain-shortened Fall season, with four lopsided wins against Kent State, IUP and Frostburg State (2).
Unlike Hermanek, who basically destroyed the program Holly had built by ignoring recruiting good pitching, our new coach has tried to address the woeful pitching she inherited. She has added 2 freshmen and one JC transfer to the staff, to go with the 3 seniors left from last year’s team. That probably is 2 or 3 short of the optimum number of pitchers needed (in its first year playing softball, Clemson made the NCAA tournament with 9 pitchers on the team, one of whom was ACC freshman of the year), but it’s an improvement. Of course, with all 3 returning pitchers being seniors, she will have to recruit at least 2 or 3 for next year too.
I know nothing about any of the five transfers (including the P) she has signed or the 5 of the 6 freshmen on the squad. One freshman pitcher was Pitcher of the Year in her conference in Ohio for all 4 years of high school. But — and it’s a big but — her high school plays in the smallest school division in Ohio, so she was unlikely to have played against many good players. Two of the others are from Southern California, which is encouraging because Aprile recruited that area so well. Hopefully, as a former pitcher she recognizes pitching talent and recruited pitchers with real potential.
Besides taking advantage of the portal, did we lose anymore players to the portal? After Lyke finally fired Hermanek, we lost a number of our starters to the portal. Lyke had met with the team after she fired Hermanek, talked with them about her background in softball, and reportedly promised them that she would have a top-notch coach signed by a specified date. She urged them not to enter the portal before that date. When she didn’t have a hire in place, a number entered the portal.
I don’t know anything more about the newcomers or how our new coach is regarded as a recruiter. Anyone have any inside info?
Unlike Hermanek, who basically destroyed the program Holly had built by ignoring recruiting good pitching, our new coach has tried to address the woeful pitching she inherited. She has added 2 freshmen and one JC transfer to the staff, to go with the 3 seniors left from last year’s team. That probably is 2 or 3 short of the optimum number of pitchers needed (in its first year playing softball, Clemson made the NCAA tournament with 9 pitchers on the team, one of whom was ACC freshman of the year), but it’s an improvement. Of course, with all 3 returning pitchers being seniors, she will have to recruit at least 2 or 3 for next year too.
I know nothing about any of the five transfers (including the P) she has signed or the 5 of the 6 freshmen on the squad. One freshman pitcher was Pitcher of the Year in her conference in Ohio for all 4 years of high school. But — and it’s a big but — her high school plays in the smallest school division in Ohio, so she was unlikely to have played against many good players. Two of the others are from Southern California, which is encouraging because Aprile recruited that area so well. Hopefully, as a former pitcher she recognizes pitching talent and recruited pitchers with real potential.
Besides taking advantage of the portal, did we lose anymore players to the portal? After Lyke finally fired Hermanek, we lost a number of our starters to the portal. Lyke had met with the team after she fired Hermanek, talked with them about her background in softball, and reportedly promised them that she would have a top-notch coach signed by a specified date. She urged them not to enter the portal before that date. When she didn’t have a hire in place, a number entered the portal.
I don’t know anything more about the newcomers or how our new coach is regarded as a recruiter. Anyone have any inside info?
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