(10-01-2023 07:50 PM)JMU1987UVA1998 Wrote:  Looks like our Dukes got a 2025 commit from a #rd Baseman/SS out of Michigan, Anna Zoet

https://twitter.com/AynalemZoet/status/1...7178117414

Appears to be a great addition for Coach Laporte and company.

A possible seven more commits coming for 2026. Just like 2022. Stay tuned.

Has anyone here been to any of the Fall games and care to share any observations?

If you go to Twitter and search “jmu softball”, you can see all of the posts of prospects and current players. There is also a post of a snippet from the fall ball game against Radford. It looks like Kirsten Fleet is pitching and then I think Madison Edwards turns the double play.

Anyone know what they are doing to the softball field that is causing the games to be played elsewhere?

Just curious haven't been able to find anything.

Go Dukes!!

Brian

(10-07-2023 09:03 AM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Anyone know what they are doing to the softball field that is causing the games to be played elsewhere?

Just curious haven't been able to find anything.

Go Dukes!!

Brian

Putting in New Turf, not quite ready to play on

MpjoDad

Thanks.

Thought the existing turf was relatively new so nice that they are getting some new stuff. Excellent field for the team!!

Brian

My sources say it's the artificial infield dirt that is the problem. Evidently it was replaced but has some sort of chemical composition problem and it's got to be replaced again. I'm told we used a different company to do the work from the original artificial dirt installation, it hasn't gone well, and there's some JMU SB staff a bit upset.

(10-08-2023 05:54 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  My sources say it's the artificial infield dirt that is the problem. Evidently it was replaced but has some sort of chemical composition problem and it's got to be replaced again. I'm told we used a different company to do the work from the original artificial dirt installation, it hasn't gone well, and there's some JMU SB staff a bit upset.

I hope the players really like artificial dirt -- i think that's the silliest-looking thing ever.

(10-08-2023 08:59 PM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(10-08-2023 05:54 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  My sources say it's the artificial infield dirt that is the problem. Evidently it was replaced but has some sort of chemical composition problem and it's got to be replaced again. I'm told we used a different company to do the work from the original artificial dirt installation, it hasn't gone well, and there's some JMU SB staff a bit upset.

I hope the players really like artificial dirt -- i think that's the silliest-looking thing ever.

I'm sort of baffled about why you replace it. One would think that adding a little every year would be all that's needed.

To your point, I would guess that a ball coming at an infielder would have a more consistent bounce. For me, I always like grabbing a handful of dirt every now and again. This just wouldn't be the same.

Thought I'd share some observations from the Fall game against BC since info on Fall games seems to be scarce. No numbers on players so it wasn't super easy to ID everyone especially on defense but I think I got most things right.

Lineup:
Fishman - CF (2 line drive singles in the ABs I saw)
Henzler - C (2B to LCF, single)
Mathis - 1B (Line drive HR to right, Sac, bloop single to right)
J. Hall - (SF8, 1B)
Edwards - 2B (Sac bunt, 6-3, L7)
Butler - RF (BB, BB, Pop up)
Campbell (F7, 1B)
Fulten - LF (K, BB)
Thress (F7, 1B)
Rogers (1B, K)

Grube pitched and BC couldn't touch her, Humphrey had a walk but otherwise looked fine (I left shortly after she came in)

Observations/Thoughts:
-Edwards started at 2B, curious to see if that sticks or if she was just getting some time since its Fall Ball.
-Fishman in CF, Pinder is back so I wonder how the playing time will look in the outfield.
-Butler in Right, seems to have all the tools but the numbers haven't been there so far in her career.
-No sign of Peyton List in the time I was there, curious if she will get used on offense or if she will focus on pitching
-Mathis at 1B, she looked good at 2nd last year to me but I wondered if they would move her to 1st.
-H. Hall at 3B, seemed to get replaced defensively a lot last year so I was half expecting her to be the one moving to first.

My way to early guess at the lineup for game #1 in 2024
Gleason - LF
Mathis - 1B
J. Hall - SS
Henzler - C
H. Hall - 3B
List - DP
Fishman - RF
Edwards - 2B
Pinder - CF

Grube - P

Humphrey is the huge question mark. If she pitches like her freshman year she could be top 5 in the Sunbelt, but if she pitches like the last couple years her playing time will likely be limited.

Hope she bounces back.

(10-12-2023 02:47 PM)Dukester Wrote:  Humphrey is the huge question mark. If she pitches like her freshman year she could be top 5 in the Sunbelt, but if she pitches like the last couple years her playing time will likely be limited.

Hope she bounces back.

The pitching staff should be very interesting to watch develop this year. It's not impossible that Humphrey is the 4th best pitcher. I would guess that barring injuries Grube gets the most innings, with Humphrey and Fleet splitting the majority of the rest. List is a wildcard but has an impressive resume that indicates a huge upside IMO.

Taking some pressure off of Humphrey could really help.
Also having that many quality pitchers on the staff is a great thing. If one of them hits a cold streak, there are others to come in to help.

(10-12-2023 03:42 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  Taking some pressure off of Humphrey could really help.
Also having that many quality pitchers on the staff is a great thing. If one of them hits a cold streak, there are others to come in to help.

Hopefully one of the pitchers can be top 3 or better in the SB.

Did you get to see Fleet pitch at all? It’s very possible that Fleet and Grube our are 1-2 punch but Humphries is legit when at full health and not the total workhorse.

(10-12-2023 04:01 PM)dukes13 Wrote:  Did you get to see Fleet pitch at all? It’s very possible that Fleet and Grube our are 1-2 punch but Humphries is legit when at full health and not the total workhorse.

I heard somewhere that she pitched in one of the previous Fall games but I haven't seen her yet. Very possible she pitched later in the day last weekend.

(10-12-2023 02:24 PM)lostinbaseball7 Wrote:  Thought I'd share some observations from the Fall game against BC since info on Fall games seems to be scarce. No numbers on players so it wasn't super easy to ID everyone especially on defense but I think I got most things right.

Lineup:
Fishman - CF (2 line drive singles in the ABs I saw)
Henzler - C (2B to LCF, single)
Mathis - 1B (Line drive HR to right, Sac, bloop single to right)
J. Hall - (SF8, 1B)
Edwards - 2B (Sac bunt, 6-3, L7)
Butler - RF (BB, BB, Pop up)
Campbell (F7, 1B)
Fulten - LF (K, BB)
Thress (F7, 1B)
Rogers (1B, K)

Grube pitched and BC couldn't touch her, Humphrey had a walk but otherwise looked fine (I left shortly after she came in)

Observations/Thoughts:
-Edwards started at 2B, curious to see if that sticks or if she was just getting some time since its Fall Ball.
-Fishman in CF, Pinder is back so I wonder how the playing time will look in the outfield.
-Butler in Right, seems to have all the tools but the numbers haven't been there so far in her career.
-No sign of Peyton List in the time I was there, curious if she will get used on offense or if she will focus on pitching
-Mathis at 1B, she looked good at 2nd last year to me but I wondered if they would move her to 1st.
-H. Hall at 3B, seemed to get replaced defensively a lot last year so I was half expecting her to be the one moving to first.

My way to early guess at the lineup for game #1 in 2024
Gleason - LF
Mathis - 1B
J. Hall - SS
Henzler - C
H. Hall - 3B
List - DP
Fishman - RF
Edwards - 2B
Pinder - CF

Grube - P

Mathis did yeoman work last year a 2B but Edwards has much more range than her. With Edwards we are going to see more double plays too. 3B and 1B are normal positions for Mathis. By the way, Mathis is probably the lead off hitter.
Looking at Fishman to back up Pinder, but Pinder is clearly the CF. However, I expect her to do a lot better at the plate and use her speed more often.
Butler is the RF. The light bulb switched on last year. Finally may be realizing her potential. She is going to be fun to watch.

(10-13-2023 09:01 AM)lostinbaseball7 Wrote:  

(10-12-2023 04:01 PM)dukes13 Wrote:  Did you get to see Fleet pitch at all? It’s very possible that Fleet and Grube our are 1-2 punch but Humphries is legit when at full health and not the total workhorse.

I heard somewhere that she pitched in one of the previous Fall games but I haven't seen her yet. Very possible she pitched later in the day last weekend.

Yeah, she pitched against Radford. No stats. Good probability she will be pitching against GMU this Sunday.

(10-13-2023 09:07 AM)JMad Wrote:  

(10-12-2023 02:24 PM)lostinbaseball7 Wrote:  Thought I'd share some observations from the Fall game against BC since info on Fall games seems to be scarce. No numbers on players so it wasn't super easy to ID everyone especially on defense but I think I got most things right.

Lineup:
Fishman - CF (2 line drive singles in the ABs I saw)
Henzler - C (2B to LCF, single)
Mathis - 1B (Line drive HR to right, Sac, bloop single to right)
J. Hall - (SF8, 1B)
Edwards - 2B (Sac bunt, 6-3, L7)
Butler - RF (BB, BB, Pop up)
Campbell (F7, 1B)
Fulten - LF (K, BB)
Thress (F7, 1B)
Rogers (1B, K)

Grube pitched and BC couldn't touch her, Humphrey had a walk but otherwise looked fine (I left shortly after she came in)

Observations/Thoughts:
-Edwards started at 2B, curious to see if that sticks or if she was just getting some time since its Fall Ball.
-Fishman in CF, Pinder is back so I wonder how the playing time will look in the outfield.
-Butler in Right, seems to have all the tools but the numbers haven't been there so far in her career.
-No sign of Peyton List in the time I was there, curious if she will get used on offense or if she will focus on pitching
-Mathis at 1B, she looked good at 2nd last year to me but I wondered if they would move her to 1st.
-H. Hall at 3B, seemed to get replaced defensively a lot last year so I was half expecting her to be the one moving to first.

My way to early guess at the lineup for game #1 in 2024
Gleason - LF
Mathis - 1B
J. Hall - SS
Henzler - C
H. Hall - 3B
List - DP
Fishman - RF
Edwards - 2B
Pinder - CF

Grube - P

Mathis did yeoman work last year a 2B but Edwards has much more range than her. With Edwards we are going to see more double plays too. 3B and 1B are normal positions for Mathis. By the way, Mathis is probably the lead off hitter.
Looking at Fishman to back up Pinder, but Pinder is clearly the CF. However, I expect her to do a lot better at the plate and use her speed more often.
Butler is the RF. The light bulb switched on last year. Finally may be realizing her potential. She is going to be fun to watch.

I'm sure you're right about Edwards being better defensively at 2B.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mathis leads off, that would track with previous years strategy.

I think the outfield is the hardest to predict, probably comes down to who is hitting. I hope you're right about Butler, like I said above she seems to have all the tools but the results haven't been there. Only hit .239 last year, decent OBP and Slg though.