I really enjoy watching two baseball movies - "Money Ball" and "Trouble With the Curve". I have seen each of them several times. The first is analytics driving everything and the second is the opposite.

Stats tell a big story in baseball ... and softball. But they are not everything. Recall Houston transfer Paige Lott from last year. She did not get a lot of playing time but she was voted BY THE TEAM to be the 12th Man. She was a huge part of the team even though she did not play a lot. Ojo was really popular with the team and coaches and was a huge cheerleader but she could not hit very well. The intangibles.

And stats change from year to year and during the season. Players get hot and cold.

Incoming portal players and their stats. As of today. By the numbers.

Taylor Pannell (P)

https://d1softball.com/player/1658031/taylor-pannell/

https://mutigers.com/sports/softball/stats/2025

Was very effective at times last year. Had 16 saves. Leads the nation in active players for saves. I mentioned before the portal that we could really use a closer. But she was not so effective this year. IF she can do well next year like she did last year she will be a huge part of our pitching staff.

Tallen Edwards (3B)

https://d1softball.com/player/1658245/tallen-edwards/

https://okstate.com/sports/softball/stats/2025

Started and played in every game this year. Her stats have decreased a bit each year at OSU. This year had the lowest BA (.282) on the team amongst the regular starters but can hit with power and last year led the team in runs and walks (.421 OBP last year). But one stat from this year sticks out - in 149 AB's only 8 SO's. That is really good! Had only 4 errors on the year at the hot corner, also very good. Has the potential to be really good.

Maya Bland (OF)

https://d1softball.com/player/1695343/maya-bland/

https://soonersports.com/sports/softball/stats/2025

Not a starter (0 last year, 7 this year). .333 BA in 15 AB's last year, .250 BA in 32 AB's this year. OBP mid 400's each year. .875 Fielding percentage. Was pretty darn good in HS. Average so far in college but IF she can play like she did in HS could be good.

Micaela Wark (1B and DP)

https://d1softball.com/player/1645444/micaela-wark/

https://okstate.com/sports/softball/stats/2025

Started 42 of 53 games this year. Stats have decreased each year in college, some dramatically. Lowest BA (.241) on the team amongst 'almost' regular and regular starters. Does have some power. Set team HS records in several hitting categories and was pretty good her first year in college but has dropped off. IF she can play like she did in HS and her first year at OSU she can be really good.

[Note that signing a 1B is, to me, another tell that P Taylor Brown may have zero chance at playing 1B and hitting in addition to pitching. Maybe not even in practice. I hope she DOES get a chance. Why the heck not?! Note that I will not stop mentioning this in my posts and I really hope Coach Ford reads this !! hehehehehehe]

A lot of IF's in the above text. I think Bland and Wark are the two biggest IF's and, to me, they were 'shocked' picks. Perhaps in Maroon and White those IF's will work out. I will certainly try to 'think positive'. Perhaps Coach Harger and his technical approach to hitting can improve their numbers? Would be great if he can!

Ag1188 said:

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littlebitofhifi said:

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No, she's a closer. Sid & Syd are the ace(s). I suspect Pannell fills a role like Leavitt did for us this year but from the left side.

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That sounds like a recipe to not make it out of Regionals or Supers again, let alone Omaha or a title.

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Omaha? You follow this sport much? Or just here for the negative comments?

Sounds to me like you are Mr/Ms Negative. Just sit back and watch what our coach and team can do.

https://instagr.am/p/DLGGVhjPoqL

Paislie Allen is the 5th commit out of the portal. She spent her freshman year at Georgia and will have 3 years of eligibility left. She made appearances in 41 games making 27 starts (26 at 2nd and 1 at SS). She hit .246 scattering 16 hits in 65 ABs. Scored 10 runs and drove in 9. Had 4 doubles and 1 HR. Was 4 for 5 in stolen base attempts.
Will be interested to see what we can do with her. She was a former 5 star recruit in the class of 2024 out of Lewisville High School. Had experience playing with the US U-18 Women's National Team in Summer 2024. Won several accolades in high school.

So true

Sometimes it takes players a year or two to get adjusted. Mya Perez is a prime example. Seems like the talent is there to contribute somehow

Paislie Allen pick up puts the roster at 25.

https://d1softball.com/player/1761704/paislie-allen/

https://georgiadogs.com/sports/softball/stats/2025

Another player with a really good HS career and in her case the U-18 national team but less than stellar Freshman year. Also another player from Texas. As mentioned in a post just above and echoing what Coach Ford has said many times sometimes it takes a new college player a year or two to get her bearings. Mentioned Mya as a great example. Coach also frequently talked about KK and Frankie, how fast they 'learned' the college game and that it is not common.

So, another IF player (to be fair, a LOT of players around the country are in the IF category!). IF she can play anywhere like she has in the past she can be a really good one.

This makes it five infielders in the Sophomore class (but with Ariel possibly being next year's starting catcher just to throw a wrench in the mix - more on this later this Summer!).

AND, it will be a lot of fun this Summer trying to guess who will start where, not easy to do since Coach likes to move players around a lot! But we will have a pretty good idea in the Fall game vs the sips because the starters in that game have a pretty good chance to be the starters in the Spring.

Tallen Edwards also mentioned that she catches in her interview. So we have couple of infielders who are also catchers

Gap said:

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https://instagr.am/p/DLBu7n1ui3a

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I think Bland has a real shot to be elite if given the opportunity to play. She passed up offers to schools like Stanford in order to commit to OK in 8th grade. Hoping the fresh start here helps her show what she can do.

I see this morning that MIF Addison Amaral from Notre Dame has signed with Oregon. She made a visit to A&M on Jun 17 and to Oregon on Jun 19. Apparently, signed with Oregon on Jun 20. She is one of the IF's I really wanted. Great stats. But once we got to 25 on the roster knew it was over. Brooke Wells, the 1B from Houston, also with great stats and a lot of power, is still available. Sure wish we could have grabbed her.

Have about 20 players on my portal wish list. Some were unobtainable (Maya the great pitcher, Jazzy the great catcher, etc.) because probably too expensive but most were possibles. Now that Addison has signed with Oregon all have been spoken for by other teams except Maya. We signed zero of them. Darn it.

Only ones on my list we made offers to:

P Maya Johnson still unsigned - probably never a chance
P Sydney Berzon to OU - thought we might have a chance
P Peja Goold to MS State - thought we might have a chance
P Kaitlyn Terry to Texas Tech - did not think we had a chance for this UCLA star but ...
MIF Addison Amaral - thought we had a pretty darn good chance

The infielders on my list (all possibles, none probably asking for too much money):

1B - Makenzie Butt, Boise State, to Tenn
1B - Brooke Wells, Houston, to
2B - Jena Young, Iowa, to Alabama
2B - Mia Williams, Florida, to Texas Tech (maybe the best on this list)
SS - Jackie Lis, Southern Illinois, to Texas Tech
SS - Addison Foster, Stetson, to Virginia Tech

Tech will be very good again next year. Picked up a lot of great players. Money talks - it is really messing up college sports.

X91100 said:

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People need to realize that Maya will not do nearly as well at a P4 school as she did at her mid major / totally different! Not saying she's not a good player
Just my opinion

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I think most people realize that her numbers will probably drop off in a power conference. Almost certainly give up more hits because she would be facing much better hitters. But her numbers this year ...

In 207 IP had 366 SO with only 22 BB and 0 (ZERO) HBP. That's ZERO hit batters in 207 innings pitched. Truly outstanding. How often does any pitcher in any conference hit ZERO batters in a season ?!

... Shows a LOT of control. A LOT.

Canady this year ...

240 IP, 319 SO, 46 BB and 22 HBP.

Last year, in Lefty's best year:

202.2 IP, 200 SO, 91 BB, 21 HBP

I think most of us realize Lefty was a great pitcher but gave up waaaay too many free passes last year and this year. And often in really tight situations when it is the last thing we needed. It's one of the reasons I was really wanting a great closer this portal season. A pitcher with great control who issues very few free passes. We did not get it.

In summary, I would take Maya in a heartbeat. I think any power conference coach in the country would take her in a hearbeat. Heck, any coach in ANY conference would take her in a heartbeat. Note that A&M is one of the teams that offered to her and with great reason.

Just my opinion.

Watching this dream team Tech has assembled will be interesting to watch. They will certainly be talented. They should be the best team in the country. But unless they win it all it will be a failure.

Boozer92 said:

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Watching this dream team Tech has assembled will be interesting to watch. They will certainly be talented. They should be the best team in the country. But unless they win it all it will be a failure.

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Sounds familiar

Tceh can only play 10 at a time. maybe they will be gassed like Nija was in the finals. Glasco needed to shore up the offense. Besides, Aggies won't see them when it counts until June.....and we look rather salty ourselves.....