MidloHokie
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Member since:
July 01, 1999
Last post:
01/02/2024 08:44 AM ET
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Life's been good to me so far
Posting History (4,006)
Softball Board
1 d ago
AT always comes up in this context but the pitchers on that team were . .
. . . Finch, Abbott and Osterman arguably three of the all-time best. I also include AT in that group but she wasn't consistently facing the level of competition that these three were.
Softball Board
1 d ago
Hmmm . . . I don't know. What ACC players would you include? The most . .
. . . likely was FSU's Isa Torres but still in school and now an SEC player. I think Sandercock is better than some of the P's on the 36 person roster. Aside from that I don't know who you'd add.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/31/2026, 6:35:52 PM
Softball Board
1 d ago
Opinions vary on Thomas' tenure but what can't be argued is that Pete is .
. . . coaching in a different softball world than Thomas did. Through much of Thomas's tenure softball was a west coast sport. East coast ball was sort-of "D-league". That changed when the SEC decided to go all-in on the sport. Thomas' teams became less competitive as the SEC established its softball footprint. During this period Mickey Dean at JMU was out-recruiting Thomas taking his Dukes to within one inning of the WCWS in 2016. Pete came in, recognized the recruiting problems and fixed them.
Softball Board
2 d ago
Well, right now I'd say that Fouts and Pickens are on the team. After . . .
. . . that it gets really interesting. Two years ago Canady would have been a shoe-in but certainly not now. I think Kavan might move up to capture that third spot. Mike White will lobby hard. The wild-card is Jordy Frahm. Will she play AUSL next season? Will she be successful? If the answer to both turns out to be yes then she would be a popular utility pick.
Softball Board
2 d ago
Softball Board
3 d ago
Who are your pitchers for LA in 2028? I'm thinking Gasso carries . . .
. . . three plus, possibly, one utility. There is a 15 player limit. Here's where the selection process is . .
Softball Board
1 w ago
Correct. The answer, of course, is that St John's likely has as open . .
. . . admission but with 89% acceptance rate academics will not be a barrier. What is a bit worrisome is his statement about recruiting. It won't be any easier at Radford.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/25/2026, 7:48:13 AM
Softball Board
1 w ago
That was the final regular season game for the Blaze. They didn't . .
. . . make the playoffs. Emma L threw 16 innings and finished with an ERA in the 6+ range. Never really got the opportunity to establish herself as Pickens and (somewhat inexplicably) Ricketts ate up most of the innings.
Softball Board
1 w ago
Was watching it live. Really scary. She remained in the game for. . .
. . . couple of hitters. Was already having a bad inning. Emma L eventually relieved her.
Softball Board
1 w ago
Well, honestly it appears those are the only 3 teams with legit schedules.
The other FL team only played 12 games and rest of the 'league' is single digits. This 'league' seems to be independent operators with a loose agreement to schedule one another. KC and Atlanta appear to be the two teams that have the best 'ownership'.
Softball Board
2 w ago
She was the best of the three Blaze pitchers tonight
Lemley closed with one earned run and one strikeout in 2.0 innings.
Softball Board
2 w ago
Softball Board
2 w ago
Softball Board
2 w ago
No idea what is not transparent about AUSL.
It's by far the most professionally run and most visible of any of the several attempts over the past decade to create a viable pro league. The support from MLB is critical as is the fact that league is being run by persons with MLB experience. The PSL seems little more than an agreement of people running independent teams to schedule on another. I'm not sure the AUSL needs to talk to those people at all regarding expansion. I can't see the PSL surviving very long as there are no apparent revenue streams.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/15/2026, 12:27:18 PM
Softball Board
2 w ago
One of the strangest articles I've ever read about softball coaches . .
Karen Weekly fired these two at the end of the season. I'd be particularly interested to know where the author came up with this regarding the AUSL: "The league also has a broadcast deal with ESPN. However, the lack of transparency has become infuriating for fans and journalists." Sounds like she couldn't get anyone to return her call. Then there's the Weekly quote last week about 'getting behind a single league'.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/15/2026, 10:46:52 AM
Softball Board
2 w ago
Certainly seems like something that can be easily replicated at VT but . .
. . . will require some stadium changes that shouldn't be very expensive. Goal needs to be an overall facility upgrade. Should be prioritized in front of any other expenditures except pitching NIL funds.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/14/2026, 6:19:19 PM
Football Board
2 w ago
Google "Livvy Dunn debate" and there's a plethora of opinions . . .
. . . about female athletes and objectification. As the father of two D1 female athletes it's a pretty salient topic. In the NIL world there's certainly money to be made by successfully 'branding'. There will always be a debate about role that appearance and, therefore, sexuality plays in it.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/14/2026, 2:54:32 PM
Softball Board
2 w ago
Softball Board
2 w ago
Softball Board
2 w ago
The league seems to have done well this year. Attendance in most . .
. . . cities is good. The production quality of the games has been excellent. I would think expansion is likely. I'd say Atlanta area is a good possibility as will as DC area and or Philly area. Don't know if the PSL has enough equity to participate in a merger. The AUSL with MLB backing may not need them at all.
Softball Board
2 w ago
Tough to assess what E Lemley's future is with Blaze. She's not seen . . .
. . . the circle in a while and has pitched only 9 innings so far this season. There are six games left on the schedule. GM Dana Sorenson released former Duke star pitcher Jala Wright last week. Lemley is clearly behind Pickens, Ocasio and the veteran Ricketts at this point. Ricketts hasn't been great in relief but can be counted on to throw strikes. The league has done a good job attracting practically all of the better pitchers who have played over the last decade including several returning from the Japanese league. It's a tough situation with only six teams and the concentration of pitching talent.
Softball Board
3 w ago
Pitchers duel on ESPNU. Pickens vs Canady 0-0 after 7 in front of . .
. . . huge crowd in Texas. Pickens, Fouts and Canady will likely be the face of the AUSL working toward the 2028 LA Olympics. The ratings and the attendance for these AUSL games have been very encouraging.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/10/2026, 8:52:27 PM
Softball Board
3 w ago
Spent several weekends in 'beautiful' Hempstead during my daughter's . .
. . . playing days. Best softball memory there was her one-hit shutout over perennial league champ Hofstra paving the way to JMU's first league title and regional appearance. Driving there is hell but some great Italian places to eat once you do. Stadium there is named for former Hofstra Hall of Fame Coach Bill Edwards. Got to know him pretty well back in the day.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/10/2026, 8:59:34 PM
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/10/2026, 9:01:56 PM
Football Board
3 w ago
Nope. No "Hokie Pokie" for me. Always disliked it especially starting . . .
. . . the fourth quarter. Now if you want to bring back 'Stick it in' when inside the five I'm all in.
Softball Board
3 w ago
Softball Board
3 w ago
Hopefully coach will use that talent to diversify the offense a bit . . .
. . . . bombing away is great but it's even better when you can also pressure the defense when the ball stays in the yard.
Softball Board
3 w ago
Softball Board
3 w ago
I've seen this show before at at least a dozen different places . . .
. . . over the last decade. Some are extreme (NC State) but most are sort of 'she-said' versus 'she-said' toss-ups. In the latter cases lots of factors come into play in determining the coach's fate. However, the most obvious factor is relative success. If Hardin continues to win I suspect she'll be OK. That could be a challenge, though, given her need to retool her pitching next season. Not sure a transfer from Binghamton is the answer.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 7/5/2026, 3:00:52 PM
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Notable programs not listed:
UCLA: Can KIP recruit kids to play on the road at B10 locations?
Texas Tech: Glasco doesn't care; he'll just shop for roster later.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Impressed by K Ricketts at 35 or so still with great command. Fun to . .
. . watch a confident pro like her.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
For me college baseball is watching paint dry. 3.5 to 4 hour games with . .
. . . a half-dozen pitching changes for each team. Mid-week games that are basically considered off-the-record. Softball is quicker and more exciting in every aspect.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
The PSL can't be compared to the AUSL. I am not doing that. The AUSL . .
. . . clearly represents a very different level of financial commitment than the PSL or any other of the attempts to create a pro league over the last twenty years. The AUSL looks and feels like a pro league. It also has virtually every recognizable name in the game (almost all pitchers). I'm guessing the PSL leadership hopes that a couple of teams can latch onto an AUSL expansion. Certainly Atlanta should be a candidate. A team on Long Island might do well but it's not clear to me that the PSL Rise even has a roster. I love being able to watch these teams get the first-class media production they deserve.
** Edited by MidloHokie at 6/27/2026, 9:18:59 PM
Softball Board
1 mo ago
If you're a softball fan you have to feel good about the availability . .
. . . and the production value of these AUSL games.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Really good crowd for a 2 PM Blaze vs Talon game at the DBAP in Durham.
Valerie Cagle homers in a DH role for the Blaze. Chases Talon's Megan Faraimo.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
I think she and Pickens are targeting the LA olympics. Both recognize . . .
the earning potential associated with the games.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
AUSL pitching trend. Rise balls are thrown far less than in college.
The pros value keeping the ball in the park.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Emma takes the loss for Carolina tonight versus Fouts but . . .
. . . pitches her best innings of the season: Pitcher Emma Lemley made her first start of the season against the Talons on Friday night, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits over 4.0 innings
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Yep. This is a factor. The AUSL pitching was last year and is this season .
. . . NCAA top 25. Not sure where I'd rank the PSL at this point but clearly not in the same class as the AUSL.
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Softball Board
1 mo ago
Given your sport business acumen I'd like . .
. . . your assessment of the viability of the PSL upon your return from Florida. The AUSL clearly has more $$ behind it. Will be interested in what you see there regarding marketing, coaching and overall commitment.
Football Board
1 mo ago
Matt R is a good guy but, at this point, has a very thin resume. He's . .
. . . not directly responsible for much of JMU's success at this point.
Softball Board
1 mo ago