(SB) OGT: Sun Devil/GCU Classic February 21-23 in Tempe/Phoenix, Arizona

Top of 2nd Inning:
Otis KcBKcKc strike out (low) 1 out
Walsh grounder 2B 2 out
Comia BBKcKcB grounder 2B 3 out

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
GCU#26 BKcBF grounder 2B 1 out
GCU#11 BKs grounder 1B 2 out
GCU#21 KcB liner single CF, off of Mia's glove tip
GCU#1 grounder 2B FC, GCU#21 tagged 2B 3 out

 

Top of 3rd Inning:
Holtorf BB liner SS 1 out
Falby grounder up the middle CF single, infield playing in
Shumaker BBBKcB walk
Erickson BBBKcB walk bases loaded
Williams KcB grounder 3B error 1-0
GCU#31 in to pitch
Cahalan B grand slam HR LCF 5-0
Otis KcB line single CF
Walsh KcF ground 2B FC tag Otis 2 out, throw to first wide Walsh tripped rounding 1B returned safely (had a laugh)
Comia grounder P 3 out

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
GCU#33 BFBB liner LF 1 out
GCU#3 BFFBB soft liner SS 2 out
GCU#9 grounder 3B 3 out

 

Top of 4th Inning:
GCU#4 in to pitch big girl, looks like Hammock
Holtorf BKcBBFB walk
Falby B, Holtorf stole 2B, BBKcFB walk
Schumaker BKc grounder 1B 1 out
Erickson BBBB walk
Williams Kc grounder SS FC Holtorf out going home 2 out
Cahalan BKcB grounder 1B 3 out

Bottom of 4th Inning:
GCU#99 grounder single RF
GCU#17 grounder 2B double play (4-6-3) 2 out
GCU#20 grounder 3B 3 out

 

Top of 5th Inning:
Otis BKcFB HR LF 6-0
Walsh BKc, GCU#29 in to pitch, KcKs strike out 1 out
Brown BKcFKs strike out 2 out
Holtorf KcBFBFBKc strike out 3 out

GCU#29 really looks good. GCU should have started her.

Bottom of 5th Inning:
GCU#11 B line single CF GCU#14 pinch run
GCU#21 Kc(low), wild pitch,B, GCU#14 took 2B, F pop foul 3B 1 out
GCU#1 single LF
GCU#33 KcFKs strike out 2 out
GCU#42 HR LF 6-3 the crowd goes wild
GCU#9 BB grounder 2B throwing error
GCU#99 FKcBBFFB, GCU#9 stole 2B, single CF, Falby muffed the ball otherwise that would have another Falby strike to home 3rd out DAMN 6-4
GCU#17 , GCU#19 stole 2B, grounder 2B 3 out

 

Top of 6th Inning:
Falby BKcFB lined out LF 1 out
Shumaker Kc fly CF 2 out
Erickson KcBBBB walk
Williams FBFF foul fly LF 3 out

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Brown into pitch. I didn't think Keagan was struggling but...
GCU#26 KcBBFF double LF, GCU#16 pinch run
GCU#11 BBKsKc grounder 3B 1 out
GCU#21 KcBBFBKs strike out 2 out
GCU#1 BKcBKcFKs strike out 3 out

Brown looks comfortable

 

Top of 7th inning:
Cahalan KcBF liner single LF
Otis sac bunt 3B 1 out
Walsh FBBF pop up 1B 2 out
Brown KcBF grounder 1B 3 out

GCU#29 is doing great

Bottom of 7th Inning:
GCU#33 KcB fly CF 1 out
GCU#42 FKsFF grounder 3B 2 out
GCU#9 grounder 3B 3 out

Gators win
6 6 0
4 7 1

 

Summary: Gator's offense comes thru, but GCU#29 shut them down. That always makes me uneasy. GCU is a very good team. Respect.

Keagan looked OK. The 3-run HR is not a good look. CTW must have seen something and put Ava in. She looked good - had control.

GCU has nice facilities. I would go again (but pick a better hotel). I had fun.

 

OK, beautiful morning at the ballpark. A decent Gator turnout - for a 9AM Sunday game - a few ISU fans. I didn't have any idea how good ISU was with a 6-6 record. Thought I saw their team batting average was .352. That's pretty good - let's see what we got here. What a fun game this turned out to be (for a Gator).

Top of 1st Inning:
Falby KsBBF grounder 3B single
Shumaker Kc, Falby stole 2B, B grounder up the middle single
1-0
Otis KcBBB double LF
Erickson BBKcBB walk bases loaded
Cahalan KcBKs double LF 3-0
Williams HBP bases loaded
ISU#45 in to pitch
McLellan KcFBKc strike out 1 out
Brown KcKcBB grounder 3B error 4-0
Holtorf KcKcKc 2 out
Falby BKs single LF 6-0
Shumaker HBP
Otis KcBKcBB liner single RF 8-0
Erickson BKc, wild pitch, 9-0, KcF grounder 2B 3 out

Bottom of 1st Inning:
ISU#1 FFF grounder 3B error
ISU#23 BBBKc grounder up the middle
ISU#12 BBFB HR 9-3

At this point I'm thinkin' maybe they are a good offense.

ISU#25 KcKcKs strike out 1 out
ISU#24 BBBKcB walk
ISU#22 BKsFBKs strike out 2 out
ISU#8 single RF
Isu#29 BKsKsBKs strike out 3 out

I was glad Olivia started this game. It appeared to me Miller was having a little crisis out there, but maybe it was me projecting.

 

Top of 2nd Inning:
Cahalan HR LF 10-3
Williams B pop up SS 1 out
McLellan BKcKsBF single SS
Brown BKc, McLellan stole 2B,B grounder LF line single
Holtorf FKcFFFKc strike out 2 out
I don't understand how Holtorf looks so lost in the box today, cause she's good - usually.
Falby BFBBF grounder SS error 11-3
Shumaker B, Falby stole 2B, KcBBKcB walk bases loaded
Otis KcFB bloop single over 1B 13-3
Erickson single RF 14-3
Cahalan cue shot over 3B 16-3
ISU#66 in to pitch
Williams BKcBBB walk
McLellan BKc, runner double steal, KcFFFFBKs strike out 3 out

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
CTW coaching up Miller
ISU#10 BBBKc grounder P 1 out
ISU#1 KsFBBFKs dropped strike out, out 1B 2 out
ISU#23 FBKcB grounder 1B 3 out

 

Top of 3rd Inning:
Brown KsBKcBBB walk
Holtorf liner single LF
Falby KcBBKcFB grounder SS error bases loaded
Shumaker BKcB grounder 2B FC out at 2B 17-3
Otis KcBB, Shumaker stole 2B, BB walk
ISU coach called time out and ISU#66 left the diamond before anyone came out of the dugout!! She had enough!! ISU#71 in to pitch
Erickson BBBKcKcF double off CF wall 19-3
Cahalan F sac fly LF 20-3 2 out
Williams BF(HR distance LF)F HR LCF 22-3
Walsh BKc liner off P single
Brown BB fly LF 3 out

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Comia in to 2B
ISU#12 BBFKcBFFF ground 3B error on throw goes to 2B
ISU#25 ground SS 1 out
ISU#24 grounder 3B, out at 1B 2 out, out at home 3 out

Nice defense!

 

I was there. Yes, she looked good. Delivery looked good (to me), control was good. I'd say velocity was in the low 60s; I had the impression she is capable of more. She got in a little trouble only once, and was able to come up with a strikeout when she needed it.

In the game against GCU, Cahalan's grand slam was an absolute monster shot to RCF. There's a 40-45 screen above the entire outfield, and the flagpole is about 50' in RCF. The ball went right over the flagpole, clearing it by a LOT. Edit: I think Korbe's HR also cleared the screen, in LF.

GCU's pitcher who gave UF trouble threw entirely off-speed, high-movement junk. She was also stepping OVER the rubber as she delivered. Natalie Lugo was sitting right in front of us and couldn't believe that it wasn't being called.

 

Top of 4th Inning:
Barnard B HR 23-3 I couldn't see who gave the wedgie
Shaw BKc fly LF 1 out
Shumaker B, towering fly at CF fence (220 ft) 2 out
Lamar BBKcBKc grounder 1B 3 out

Botton of 4th Inning:
Brown in to pitch, not sure why. I thought Miller was settled in.
Lamar LF,Barnard 2B,Comia SS,Shaw CF, Bellaire C
ISU#16 KsBKcBFFBB walk pinch runner ISU#14
ISU#8 BFKcKs strike out 1 out, ISU#14 stole 2B
ISU#6 fly RF 2 out
ISU#33 sinking liner to RF, great charge by Shumaker 3 out

 

Top of 5th Inning:
Erickson Kc liner RF line double
Cahalan grounder 1B erickson to 3B 1 out
Comia BBKc grounder up the middle CF single 24-3
Walsh B(hi tight)BBB walk
Bellaire BBBKc single LF bases loaded
Barnard KcKsKc strike out 2 out
Shaw KcFBFB grounder 3B 3 out

Bottom of 5th inning:
ISU#50 FFFFKs (nice change) 1 out
ISU#23 single RF Shumaker almost thru her out at 1B
ISU#12 Ks pop up 1B 2 out
ISU#25 liner RF single
ISU#24 Kc deep fly RF 3 out

 

Maybe it was where the mics were placed, but seemed like a lot of Gator chants/cheering. Since this is about as far away as you can get from KSP, it really goes to show the reach of our SB fanbase and that Gators travel well.

You must be a hearty one -- the radio announcers were complaining that it was cold

Interesting. I've only traveled throughout the SEC but am pretty much a stadium snob. Maybe a trip West next year is in order.

THANKS for your posts -- next best thing to being there!

 

Summary: I thought Liv was a little shakey in the first inning, but settled down. I didn't think she needed relieving, but what do I know. Ava seemed solid, unlike some previous appearances. I'd say a positive outing for both.

This game was a smorgasbord of a circus - very enjoyable for a Gator. I kinda felt sorry for some of the ISU players, but it'll build character, right? They were 6-6 coming in so they musta had some highs too.

After watching this whole weekend I think Keagan is better than last year - the clear #1. I know this was only one game for Red, but she exceeded my expectations. To me she will be #2. Ava's appearances were good. Definitely more stable than earlier. I would like to see her concentrate more on pitching and less on hitting. We need her to there for us. She's my #3. I think Liv needs more confidence, but hopefully on the right track. Kara has got stuff, but is a wild card with her control.

I can't believe CTW followed my advice about giving these talented newcomers some opportunities. And they have produced! Gabi, Talor, McLellan, lovely. I remember preseason many were second guessing CTW getting Holtorf and Cahalan and keeping Mia in the line up. CTW is the man! My only concern is Walsh needs to get on track.

This weekend was Xmas for me. The last time I saw them was about 4 or 5 years ago when they came to ASU. But this team is so special. I feel so lucky they came to Phoenix this year to witness in person. I loved it.

Anyway I'm grateful I got a chance to reciprocate the PBP for those who provided Fall games. I hope some of you found these informative. Thanks MCB51 for talking me into it. I actually enjoyed it.

 

I think Ava is getting set up to be in a closer type roll