Big Fat Barner

Realized today that Auburn softball has the longest super regional drought in the SEC (Haven’t made it to a super regional since 2017, all 12 other SEC programs have made at least one since 2018). These girls have a lot to prove.

I like her too. My first call would be Kenny Gajewski from Oklahoma State. I think we could land him with some SEC bucks. My second call would be Pete D’Amour from Virginia Tech, but then I’d call Marissa Young if those two couldn’t.

Amelia Lech was tearing it up during fall ball, definitely the closest thing to Bri. 16 HRs last season for Maryland, but .285 overall and 48 strikeouts. Wohlers has some power too. Packer had some HRs in the fall as well and Peralta still packs a punch. Dean mentioned in a podcast that he sees Chalea Clemmons hitting 15ish HRs when her junior season comes (not sure what that entails for this season). I’m also hoping Tresvik can improve her numbers with a second season in the SEC.

Widra was the biggest question mark for me. Last season she had a streak of like 0-21, didn’t get a hit in SEC play. I would love to see her improve her bat. I think every spot except for 1B, SS and CF are open.

Went ahead created my prediction for starting lineup this spring. Excited to see this team on the field (only 3 weeks left) I went to a few fall games and based it mostly off those and last year’s season. Let me know if anyone thinks differently or has anything to add… Pitching Depth: 1. Maddie Penta 2. Shelby Lowe (hopefully healthy) 3. Annabelle Widra 4. Emmah Rolfe 5. Malayna Tamborra 6. Chalea Clemmons 7. Icess Tresvik? 1B - Amelia Lech 2B - Rose Roach 3B - Anna Wohlers SS - Nelia Peralta C - Aubrie Lisenby CF - Makayla Packer LF - Abbey Smith RF - KK McCrary/Icess Tresvik DP - Icess Tresvik/KK McCrary Note: I have no idea what to expect from Mariah Penta or Kyla Stroud as both were apparently nursing injuries during the fall.

If Auburn plays SEMO instead of Northern Illinois, the lowest RPI team (from last year) would be UC Davis at 123. for reference, Auburn’s schedule last year featured 9 teams (12 games) versus RPI teams lower than 123. Those teams were: Tennessee Tech (#297) Bowling Green (#295) - 2 gms Brown (#276) Merrimack (#257) - 2 gms Fordham (#227) Weber State (#198) Samford (#164) North Dakota State (#132) - 2 gms Dayton (#124) In terms of hosting, this is huge for Auburn. One of the biggest reasons we did not receive a regional host last year was the poor strength of schedule corresponding to RPI. Just thought this information was worth sharing. Excited (and anxious) for the season. War eagle.

This is the unofficial schedule for Auburn this season (I expect a midweek game or two to be added) 2/9 - Virginia Tech, Belmont 2/10- Virginia Tech, Illinois 2/11 - Belmont 2/15 - UC Davis, Utah (PV) 2/16 - Wichita State (PV) 2/17 - Clemson (PV) 2/23 - Longwood, (SEMO or N. ILLINOIS) 2/24 - Longwood, Northern Iowa 2/25 - Northern Iowa, (SEMO or N. ILLINOIS) 2/28 - @ UAB 3/1 - USC Upstate, Northwestern 3/2 - North Texas, Northwestern 3/3 - USC Upstate 3/6 - Troy 3/8 - 3/10 - @ Missouri 3/15 - 3/17 - Arkansas 3/19 - @ Troy 3/22 - 3/24 - @ Texas A&M 3/29 - 3/31 - Tennessee 4/5 - Louisiana Tech, Georgia Tech 4/6 - Louisiana Tech, Georgia Tech 4/10 - UAB 4/12 - 4/14 - @ LSU 4/19 - 4/21 - Kentucky 4/26 - 4/28 - @ Ole Miss 5/3 - 5/5 - Alabama

Auburn’s final nonconf. invitational will feature two games vs Longwood, two games vs Northern Iowa and possible games versus SEMO and Northern Illinois.

Auburn will play two games versus Virginia Tech and games versus Illinois and Belmont to start the season. Loving the schedule for this upcoming season. take that RPI.

she didnt play at all during fall ball, but she did compete in the PGF game so I still think she would’ve earned a roster spot on her own merit, but I am confused as to why we didnt see her during the fall.

Yes, i remember. And i know its not a real tournament, but on the GT/La Tech website it says “Auburn Tournament.” And we usually play three different teams for five games when we host invitationals/whatver they’re called.

We also have two midweek games versus Troy (3/6 and 3/19)

No word on a third team? Pretty strange that there are only two other teams coming for a tournament

Just because he treats his star pitcher this way, doesn’t mean he treats all of his players this way, hence why we had four starters leave. My opinion on Coach Dean won’t change till he at least gets us to supers. And since Maddie Penta is such a stud, what does it tell you about Dean’s coaching that he has arguably one of the best pitchers in the country and still has not managed to get the team past regionals? Unless Dean and co. somehow find a way to make it to supers, I will come back on this forum after the season and continue to call for Dean’s firing and the athletic admin will continue to ignore its softball program.

Source?

A twitter account sent me these messages on twitter. THESE ARE NOT MY MESSAGES.

They absolutely can. Especially when half of your wins come from the bottom four teams in the conference.

She could be saying “there” instead of “here” because it could be a former player who transferred, God knows we have plenty of those under Dean. What is your obsession with defending Dean with your life?? He has shown zero capability to win games/succeed and former athletes are coming out against him. Quit invalidating anonymous statements, player testimony, and a transfer exodus because you don’t want to believe that Dean is a bad coach. He is a BAD COACH. Dean is a broken record who will do absolutely nothing with next years team despite the multitude of talent on the roster. He cannot compete with the best in softball. He has a 54-68 conference record, a 7-10 tournament record, has never held an RPI above 16, and now, multiple players are literally speaking out PUBLICLY against HIM. quit defending this man. He can do that on the field with his coaching.

I was talking about Carlee McCondichie my mistake for not clarifying !

This is from the article:

https://www.2adays.com/blog/the-auburn-softball-coaching-scandal-what-do-other-players-have-to-say/

Blaine is listed as a starter on the website, so she is a starter. There a 9 people in the lineup and she was starting in the 62 games more than she wasn’t. It does not matter if she started 33 of 62, she was a starter. Period. She should’ve been a starter all along anyways, but Dean screws with the lineup literally every game because him and his staff are incapable of a creating a competent offense. Carlee LEFT. She quit softball. Because of Dean and the staff. She made the decision to retire from softball, no one else. So I am absolutely counting her in the exodus. Take a look at our starters and their average in SEC play. Dean has never been able to coach bats, so any of the following likely would of made an impact or won over the position in the future or found a way in the lineup. (Handley and Dowell did not need scholarship money because they did NOT attend grad school). How weird that Koepke hung up her cleats and transferred after just two years under Dean; sounds similar to Carlee’s experience. (And the fact that you are saying well Taylon hit .250 in Big 12 play, we had like five starters hit under .200 in SEC play, anybody from the list could have been in the lineup in 2021).

First, we lost FIVE starters with McCondichie and Blaine leaving. Both were listed as starters on the AU official stats page. Garcia had a COVID year, meaning she would not be taking classes and she would be considered a grad player (like Godwin this year). Garcia would not have to have scholarship money because she wouldn’t be taking classes. Carlee Wallace - 2018 (transfer) Whitney Jordan and Madi Gibson - 2018 (quit softball) Carmyn Greenwood - 2019 KK Crocker - 2019 Taylon Snow - 2019 Chardonnay Harris - 2019 Makenna Dowell - 2021 Lexie Handley - 2021 Madison Koepke - 2021 (quit + transferred) Kelsey Schmidt - 2022 Bri Ellis, Denver Bryant, McCondichie, Jessie Blaine and Lindsey Garcia - 2023

Lech and Wohlers will be Juniors