slot canyon

Based on the first game, we may have expected to run rule Austin Peay but the starting pitcher (Benefiel) had not pitched in the first game. She is by far their #1 with ERA 2.9 compared to first game pitchers Miener at 11.16 and Martin at 5.48. This season, Benefiel has pitched 3X the innings of the next most active pitcher. I thought she was fairly effective and their hitters did a good job of making contact. Maybe not Pentas best stuff but mama said there would be days like this. Looking at the brief game review on the AU Softball site I believe the Blaine "HR" actually went over/behind the glove of the outfielder, hit in the crack and angled off sharply to her left. Very good all out effort by Blaine. Looking at a couple of plays at 1st base (tried to freeze the action), they were very close, and we may have been fortunate to get the call. Not saying they were wrong, but to me they could have gone either way. The 1st base coach did not appear to disagree with the call.

Widra is able to be in the batting order in many ways; when she pitches, playing infield, as DP or even as sub. I would say our main options as DP have been Blaine, Goodwin and Widra. You could have all three in the game for hitting with Widra (P), Goodwin (C) and Blaine (DP). Also, we have had fielding issues at 3rd base (Bryant and Roach have been snake bit). Cox has better fielding numbers but less of a hitter than Widra who can also play 3rd. I feel Widra will help us in the circle but we know who the #1 and # 2 are at this point.

I believe rule was changed late last year: "11.2.5 Legal Position in the Batter’s Box: At the moment of bat-ball contact, the batter may not contact the pitch when any part of her body is touching the ground outside the lines of the batter’s box. EFFECT – Delayed dead ball is signaled. The coach of the defensive team shall choose either the result of the play or the standard effect for illegal contact, which is a strike on the batter and all base runners must return to the base legally occupied at the time of the pitch. If it is the third strike, the batter is declared out. I believe this happened in one of our earlier games with McCondichie and she was safe at 1st but had stepped on the batter box line and was called back to plate with a strike. I like this better than the severity of the older rule.

https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/lists/auburn-softball-tv-channel-tiger-invitational-preview-dayton-villanova-austin-peay-mickey-dean/

This seems to be a generous article by Phillip Marshall at this point in the season. I hope coach is correct. The teams we played this weekend came out of the tournament with the following records. 2022 all game win % in parentheses. St Johns 1 - 3 (.255) Fordham 1 - 4 (.577) Pittsburg 3 - 1 (lost to Indiana) (.341) Indiana 3 - 1 (.551) Illinois 2 - 3 (.607)

In terms of new players, Widra and McCrary have impressed me. Being transfers, they arrived with college softball experience. Both are very versatile.

twitter says a delay.

Links to a couple of articles. Thought the comments by Ellis were interesting regarding what a toll the season took on her body and how she has changed her approach. https://247sports.com/college/auburn/Article/For-Auburn-softball-slugger-Bri-Ellis-winning-matters-more-than-records-204416146/ https://247sports.com/college/auburn/Article/Transfers-play-significant-roles-for-Auburn-softball-team-204353291/

Feb 5 Phillip Marshall article: https://247sports.com/college/auburn/Article/A-position-by-position-look-at-Auburn-softball-team-as-season-opener-nears-204261759/ I'm surprised McCrary is not listed as part of rotation at 3rd. I thought she looked good there last spring. Interesting Tresvik in CF.

According to AU social media account the team will hold an open team scrimmage this Sunday, February 5, at 11 AM. Current weather projections show mid 50's. and no rain.

https://auburntigers.com/news/2023/2/1/softball-sec-legend-auburn-softballs-kasey-cooper-proves-you-can-succeed-in-every-aspect.aspx

Not related directly to the article you referenced (Smithsonian) but regarding methane, I would like to see more private sector efforts such as this: https://www.dominionenergy.com/projects-and-facilities/renewable-natural-gas

This article seems to cover many of the above points from both the positives and negatives. It is lengthy but I feel a good read. The author has background in engineering and finance and clearly expresses her desire for a "clean environment" but details some of the problems in attempting to achieve it. https://seekingalpha.com/article/4551061-energy-still-major-problem

At some level it would seem that The National Archive and Records Administration should have a better handle on this stuff. I realize there may be a lot of stuff labeled as "classified" but it is my impression that they are supposed to be responsible for keeping track. Maybe like a library. 1) verify clearance 2) check out classified document 3) view in a secure area 4) return document from secure area after viewing. 5) keep activity log related to who and what.

I believe some of it is due to a couple of key players getting healthy. I noticed Levy was not with the team last night and apparently injury related.

Really looking forward to see how the competition at catcher and 3rd plays out. I really liked how McCondichie performed at 2nd last year. She has good fielding stats. With Packer status up in the air there may be a need for experience in the outfield that would cause her to move there. Any Chance that Victoria Draper or Tiffany Howard have any eligibility remaining? 😁

Text of article by Phillip Marshall on 1/20/23…Auburn Under Cover Auburn softball notebook: Newcomers shine for 'excited' Tigers Ten days into preseason practice, head coach Mickey Dean likes the look of his sixth Auburn softball team. He says the Tigers are healthy, happy and excited about what is to come. “We are staying healthy and getting things done,” Dean said. “We have some kids working well. It’s just not about working hard; they are working well. They are doing a great job with each other. They seem really excited. It’s always fun when you go to practice and they are excited. That has continued. It hasn’t died off.” Transfers Icess Tresvik, KK McCrary and Annabelle Widra have stood out, Dean said. Tresvik and Widra are two-way players who will pitch and play in the field. “The transfers have been doing really well,” Dean said, “Icess and Annabelle pitching and position-wise. “ Freshmen have also been attracting attention, particularly catcher Skyler Elkins and corner infielder Axe Milanowski. “Skylar has been doing a really nice job behind the plate,” Dean said. “Axe has been doing really well. We have been working her at first and third. It’s nice to be able to give players breaks and not feel like you are having a big dropoff or a dropoff at all.” FINDING THE STARTERS Fifteen of Auburn’s top 17 hitters return, along with All-SEC pitchers Maddie Penta and Shelby Lowe. Three transfers and four highly regarded freshmen have joined the competition for playing time. So how do Dean and his staff decide who starts? “Everybody wants to start, but there is a lot more to it than that,” Dean said. “Really, it is being able to have such a deep bench that you can put some people out there without losing something offensively or defensively. Being able to do that, you don’t have to force innings on kids.” But only 10 players can start. Keeping those who don’t happy and involved is a challenge every coach faces. “We talk about that,” Dean said. “I tell them no one can make you happy. Only you can make yourself happy. Are you happy about you or are you happy about your team? Are you happy about our process? If you being in the starting lineup is the only thing that makes you happy, you have to step back and re-evaluate. We have been preaching that since Day 1.” Lowe is pitching again and feeling no pain in her forearm. Infield Denver Bryant, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, has returned to full-speed practice. Others who played through pain last season are fully healthy. Only centerfielder Makayla Packer is not yet full-speed. The hope is she will be close to full-speed by the start of the season or, at least, by the start of SEC play. SEASON DRAWS NEAR Auburn opens its season on Feb. 10 against St. John’s in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. The Tigers play Fordham on the same day, games against Pittsburgh and Indiana on Feb. 11 and against Illinois on Feb. 12. They open SEC play at Georgia, starting on March 10. A week later, the travel to Oklahoma for the Hall of Fame Classic, They play Weber State, followed by two games against Northwestern and two games again two-time defending national champion Oklahoma. Here is D1Softball.com projected SEC projections: D1Softball.com’s Projected SEC Standings 1. Florida 2. Arkansas 3. Alabama 4. Georgia 5. Tennessee 6. LSU 7. Kentucky 8. Auburn 9. Ole Miss 10. Missouri 11. Mississippi State 12. Texas A&M 13. South Carolina

I am sure we all want the same thing; for the AU softball team to play to their full potential,,,,,,,,,so moving on,,,,, Thats good news about Shelby but I wonder how long she has been able to do pitching motions. I know the article indicated that she would be going live this week. Must take a while to get your "stuff" back. Sure need some of the new pitchers to be able to give Penta and Lowe some rest. I have said it before, but hats off to Penta for the load she carried last season. Looked again at article posted in another thread by RedDirt (Softball 2023 Schedule). From that article and what I saw at some fall games I believe we have some excellent competition at a number of positions. I will mention KK McCrary as someone who appeared to play well at 3rd. There are several others working there and it will be interesting to see who finally gets the nod. Really believe we have more overall talent now than we have had in a while. First game in 23 days vs St. Johns in Clearwater. They play a game vs Kentucky prior to playing AU later that day. We run ruled them (2 games) in a early Feb game last year in Auburn. Their overall record last year was 12 - 35. Suspect they look forward to getting to play in Clearwater, making the trip from New York in early February. When I took a glance at their roster, I was surprised they had 13 players from either California or Florida.

Always felt "ladies" was a complimentary term of speech rather than having any condescending connotation. When I have a chance to talk to one of our softball players I will try to remember to ask.

That is great news. Keep our fingers crossed she can stay healthy as her work load increases. Fun watching her pitch.

There is a new tiger on the team.

Impressed with Florida; extremely polished.

less than 1 month away https://twitter.com/AuburnSoftball/status/1613221142566952960/photo/1 excuse the political overflow entries.

Kyla Swanson, a 6'4" middle blocker has signed with AU as graduate transfer. Previous school Illinois.