slot canyon

War Eagle Invitational https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/8/24/auburn-volleyball-kicks-off-2023-with-war-eagle-invitational.aspx Games on TV, SEC+.

Georgia Tech and AU played 5 sets at Tech last night. AU was defeated 4 - 1 winning only the final set 16 -14. Tech won the first four by scores 25 - 18, 29 - 27, 25 - 14, and 25 - 14. Stats up on Tech VB site. Wish we had a more positive start but it was an exhibition game.

Your observations and comments are in line with what coach said in his "This Week in Auburn Volleyball" session. https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/8/15/this-week-in-auburn-volleyball.aspx

Here is the link from the AU Softball site. Whiskey actually has it covered above. https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/8/18/softball-releases-2023-fall-schedule.aspx

Facial recognition not a strong point for me. I was able to identify 7 of the team members. Good group that created some good memories. Never forget Whitney Jordan flying around the bases in 2016, after hitting a HR in the world series vs OK in game 2. Most people "trot", she was going full torque.

AU duo takes the win. Also noticed Montevallo well represented. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/auburn-duo-from-birmingham-wins-bass-college-national-championship/ar-AA1fgOwl?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=3846bda8d71643bf85d9f9d21c1f2674&ei=24

Announced 8/1/2023 ......... After five seasons as a member of the Auburn softball coaching staff, including serving as the program's assistant coach for the last three seasons, three-time All-American, Olympian and Auburn softball alumna Emily Carosone was elevated to associate head coach on Tuesday. https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/8/1/emily-carosone-elevated-to-associate-head-softball-coach.aspx

2023 Volleyball Schedule: https://www.al.com/auburn/2023/07/auburn-volleyball-unveils-schedule-for-2023.html Also posted on AU VB website. I was hoping they might have the tournament again at UAB but being held in Mobile this year with AU, UAB, Samford and South Alabama. Might be a opportunity to eat some good seafood.

I would like to think so also. Team seems hungry. Last year the schedule was released in late June but not posted to date. Season begins late August. The sport appears to be gaining momentum in terms of fan interest (just my impression). The preseason All SEC team had Kentucky with 4, Arkansas, Georgia and LSU with 2 each and AU, FLA, Ol'Miss Tenn and TAM with 1 each.

Akasha Anderson picked preseason All SEC volleyball. AU picked to finish "mid-pack" in SEC. https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/2023/07/12/auburn-volleyball-akasha-anderson-named-to-all-sec-team/ Also, Vandy has reinstituted their VB program hiring the Kentucky associate HC: https://www.secsports.com/article/35311008/vandy-announces-nelson-program-volleyball-coach

New Assistant VB assistant coach: https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/7/5/jack-burton-joins-auburn-volleyball-staff-as-assistant-coach

Hannah Sparks new assistant SB coach Fresh off helping Oklahoma to its third consecutive national championship, Hannah Sparks joined Auburn softball as an assistant coach on July 3, 2023. Sparks served as the volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater during the 2023 season, during which the Sooner staff was honored as the National Fastpitch Coaching Association Division I Staff of the Year. Sparks helped the Sooners to a 61-1 record, the best winning percentage in NCAA Division I softball history and Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. Oklahoma led the country in multiple categories, including earned run average (0.96), batting average (.367) and fielding percentage (.988). The Sooners’ title run included a 53-game win streak, which set the NCAA record, 35 shutouts, 29 wins by run rule and a 28-0 record versus ranked opponents to set program records. A nation-leading five Sooners were named NFCA First Team All-Americans during Sparks’ stint while eight student-athletes earned All-Big 12 accolades. Prior to returning to Oklahoma, Sparks spent three seasons as the hitting and catching coach and recruiting coordinator at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi. During the 2021 season, PRCC slugged 43 home runs and held a team batting average of .335 under Sparks. Sparks began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. A 2018 graduate of Oklahoma, Sparks was a national champion with the Sooners as a catcher in 2017. The Thomasville, Alabama, native made over 70 appearances at Oklahoma after transferring from Northwest Florida State College where she was an All-American at the NFCAA Division I level. She helped Northwest Florida State to the 2016 Panhandle Conference championship. additional info from her local paper: Hannah Sparks, from Thomasville and a Thomasville High School graduate, played college softball at Oklahoma in 2017 and 2018. The team won a national championship in 2017. Sparks is now on the coaching staff for the team she played for. Her title is volunteer assistant coach (but it is a paid position!). She coaches first base, catchers and hitters. The team recently won another national title, defeating Florida State so Hannah has come full circle, winning national championships as both a player and a coach!

Carlee was one of my favorites. Loved her play at 2nd base. She always seemed to have great knowledge of the game. Appreciate what she gave to softball at Auburn.

https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2023/06/crouch-earns-five-year-contract-extension-as-auburn-volleyball-coach

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/softball/2023/6/17/23764764/ncaa-softball-rules-committee-proposes-sweeping-changes-including-relaxing-illegal-pitch-obstruction **please include at least a portion of the article and not just a link** NCAA softball rules committee proposes sweeping changes, including relaxing illegal pitch rules By K Doss Jun 17, 2023, 4:15pm PDT 16 Comments / 16 New The inconsistency around enforcement of illegal pitches has been the bane of NCAA softball fans, coaches, and players for years. The NCAA Softball Rules Committee has recommended addressing that by making fewer pitches eligible for an illegal pitch ruling. It was one of several changes suggested on Friday that could go into effect next season. The new rule would allow pitchers to lift both feet off the ground at the same time, in effect leaping towards the plate without dragging the toe of the back foot. The rule change would not allow the pitcher to replant and push off a second time. That would remain an illegal pitch under the new rule. The proposal has been met with differing levels of support by the softball community. Texas A&M and softball broadcasting great Amanda Scarborough commented, “Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.” That thought was backed up by former Arizona great and current Fullerton pitching coach Danielle O’Toole, who acknowledged that there were positives about the possible change but there were also drawbacks. One former Arizona star had no such hesitations. Kenzie Fowler was 100 percent behind the change. Fowler’s feelings are understandable. In 2010, she was called for eight illegal pitches in a Women’s College World Series game against Tennessee. Three of those were in the first at-bat. The Vols went on to win that game 9-0. AD The proposed rules would reduce the time allowed between pitches from 25 seconds to 20 seconds after the pitcher receives the ball. In addition, the batter must be ready to hit within 10 seconds of the pitcher receiving the ball. Teams can also choose to put an action clock on the field, but they are not required to do so. In addition to the pitching changes, the rules committee has suggested changes to the obstruction rule, video replay, and park dimensions, among other things. The biggest change to the obstruction rule would be leaving it to the umpire to decide if the runner was “clearly” going to be out anyway. In this case, there would be no obstruction. Obstruction would also not be called if the defender was in possession of the ball or is making a legitimate movement towards a thrown ball. Video review would be expanded. Perhaps the biggest change has to do with dead balls. Under the current rules, dead ball plays cannot be reviewed. Under the proposed new rules, that restriction would disappear. Another big change that is related to the dead ball change is that all home runs can be reviewed. Under the current rules, a fair/foul play can be reviewed unless it was a home run over the height of the foul pole. This cost Arizona a possible home run in a 2022 postseason game, although the Wildcats still advanced to the WCWS. In addition, current rules do not allow a review to take place if the call on the field is home run. The thought process behind this is that it requires the umpires to place runners on the bases if they overturn the home run call. The catch/no-catch ruling could be reviewed under any circumstances if the new rules are adopted. Under existing rules, if there are runners on base, a no-catch call on the field can only be reviewed if overturning the call would result in the third out. The proposal also includes a host of additional changes according to the NCAA’s press release: Allowing the use of a double first base on the field to help prevent collisions. This would be a permanent change after the double first base was allowed on an experimental basis in 2022-23. Requiring that newly constructed fields have a fence distance in left and right fields of 200 feet. Removing the one-quarter-inch bat knob protrusion requirement so bats with tapered, flared, or cone handles can be used. Prohibiting assistant coaches from leaving the dugout or bullpen area to appeal, question, or argue any play on the field. Allowing one-way communication devices to be used during play. Allowing batters to use either on-deck circle. Allowing the pitcher to throw to any base one time during warmups. Allowing a postgame review of ejections that include a suspension. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will meet on Aug. 10 to discuss the proposed changes. The panel must approve any changes before they can go into effect.

I would agree that the Pacific theater is generally overlooked compared to the European battleground. Thanks for the link to the podcast. A number of years ago I watched Band Of Brothers and The Pacific. I especially took interest in the later because of Eugene Sledge from Mobile, Alabama being a prominent character. I got his audiobook With the Old Breed : At Peleliu and Okinawa. In my opinion a tremendous read or listen. Unbelievable description of the horrible conditions these men endured. After the war he earned a biology degree at Auburn and a Masters then a PhD at Florida and later taught at Montevallo. When he enrolled at Auburn University, the clerk at the Registrar's office asked him if the Marine Corps had taught him anything useful. Sledge replied: Lady, there was a killing war. The Marine Corps taught me how to kill Japs and try to survive. Now, if that don't fit into any academic course, I'm sorry. But some of us had to do the killing—and most of my buddies got killed or wounded. He was troubled as to why he came through the war basically unscathed when so many of his fellow marines were wounded or killed. These thoughts apparently persisted long after the war ended and he did not write his book (With the Old Breed) unril 1981 (publish date). His wife had encouraged him to do so as a way to deal with his experiences. I liked this book much better than Helmet for my Pillow by Robert Leckie.

This from the SEC meeting last March: BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (March 14, 2023) - The Presidents and Chancellors of the Southeastern Conference approved future regular season schedule and post-season championship formats for seven Southeastern Conference sports during a meeting at the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville last week. The future formats were approved in preparation for the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC beginning with the 2024-25 athletic year. Volleyball Regular season: Format to be determined. SEC Volleyball Tournament: A Conference tournament will be conducted for the first time since 2005. All Conference teams will participate. Still to be determined is whether the SEC Volleyball Tournament will resume following the 2024 season or following the 2025 season.

Carlee has long been one of my favorite players but as Golden Eagle stated, Roach seemed to be better option toward season end. Carlee is a senior and Roach a sophomore. During the Clemson broadcast, the announcers stated that Bryant was initially listed as starting but name pulled just prior to game time. She was in dugout and out on the field a couple of times. Made me wonder if some sort of discipline issue but I have not heard anything to that effect. As an aside, I wish the broadcasters and camera crew would not feature so much of the "antics" in the dugout as it seems to just encourage more of the same. My interest in someone in a Viking head piece, stuffed toy or bubble machine begins to wane after the many repeats we get to see. I want people to have fun but this curmudgeon gets tired of the excess exposure.

I thought the catch by Tresvik in the top of the 4th was big. There were runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Appeared she had the option to take the ball on the bounce which would have advanced the runners or attempt to make a good running catch with risk of missing and ball going into outfield. Also, thought some good "digs" by Ellis at 1st.

AU wins series vs South Carlina via run rule by score 10 - 0. Gamecocks had 3 errors which is not typical for them. They used 5 pitchers. For AU, McCrary , who did not start, had 2 hits as did Tresvik which included a HR. Penta 77 total pitches with 9 SO and 2 BB.

With Shelby not pitching any today, makes me think either she is not able or CMD wants to use her tomorrow in combination with Penta in hopes of taking the series. Regardless, we need some offensive help. Today just ended up being an "experience day" for Widra and Rolfe. We allowed players who are not known for hitting the long ball do exactly that. Gobourne is a very good pitcher but very disappointed we could not get a single hit today. Pretty much my only AU highlight today was Lisenby throwing out the runner attempting to steal 2nd.

Forgot to give credit to Ellis for hustle to dive and catch the attempted pop up bunt and the very good grab in CF by Packer in bottom of 6th inning. There was runner on 1st with 2 outs so she was in motion with the contact and had likely chance to score if got over Packer's head.

Agree that likely Gobourne today. I doubt we would have seen her last night if it had not been a 1 run game going into 7th inning. Looking at her season stats, she has been prone to give up BB but if we are not able to get our bats going it won't make a differencee. Last night, the SC pitching staff individually pitched to 6,9,9 &3 Auburn batters.

Not that it makes and difference but I don't think it was intentional. The same batter did the same thing reaching for an outside pitch in her previous at bat with no "steal" in progress. Agree with above, wonder why not called without the need for a challenge or prompt by Lisenby.

After that game I feel like I need a vacation.........DRAINED! Who In the AU batting order would you guess would be least likely to hit a HR?