Ella McDowell, the Arkansas third baseman, is the 1st Team AA by NFCA
I was really disappointed that she was named first team 3B over Jordan, but I have to admit that she has a really good glove.
20 Replies
2mo
Below is a stat comparison of the two players.
Jordan leads in every offensive category, but McDowell leads in fielding.
Interestingly, neither Softball America nor D1 Softball had McDowell on their second team. SB America named FSU's Jaysoni Beachum as the second team 3B. and D1 Softball named Marshall's Sydni Burko as their 2nd teamer.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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Hokie-2x
2mo
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
. . . the pitcher I want McDowell @ 3rd.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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nkhooch
2mo
a player has made on our team in a while. When Peck was a freshman, she played 3rd.
Great glove, problems throwing. She made 15 errors that year and that felt like a lot.
Jordan only made 4 last year so not sure what happened there.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
drive in more runs. It's the one discrepancy in favor of one player when there are many more in favor of JL.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
Having an excellent defender at 3rd base can be worth a lot runs over a 50+ game season particularly if you're a down pitcher. Imagine having a defense behind you where all the IF has 20+ errors/position? I don't have to. How many measures are there of defensive ability versus offensive? Clearly Jordan is a better offensive player but isn't defense just as important? Your 'one discrepancy' argument suggests that any coach writing a lineup should simply pencil in the best hitters and let the defense take care of itself.
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
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Hokie-2x
2mo
More runs than her 7 extra errors gave up.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
believe. I believe the greater number of higher stats for JL make her a better choice at third. We're not talking about 20+ errors for "all the IF" we're talking about these two players at one position not all positions behind the pitcher. The other two AA teams agree with me.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
No one in the league made more errors. That said, I think Jordan is much better fielder than the number indicates. Last season she only made 4 errors. It seems she just had 'bad stretch' late this season. However, those choosing these AA teams just saw the numbers. Statistically, Jordan was one of the worst fielders in the ACC.
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
2mo
and still made Jordan 1st team at 3rd. Arkansas 3rd was deemed 2nd team even in her own conference. Any suggestion that the Arkansas 3rd baseman jumps over the #1 3rd baseman in her own conference and the 1st team selection on two other AA teams is out-of-whack.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
it's not even close. The AVG and the FLD% basically cancel out as do the H and the E. That leaves an overwhelming amount of green to point out who is really 1st at 3rd. Only a person with an agenda would say otherwise.
** Edited by laphroaig at 5/29/2026, 6:03:34 AM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
That is an insane number, especially for a third baseman. Jordan’s fielding numbers are pedestrian. But her offensive prowess overruled any defensive concern
(In response to this post by laphroaig)
2mo
** Edited by laphroaig at 5/29/2026, 7:13:08 AM
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
I wanted her to be first team on all three teams.
She's that good in my mind (looking through orange and maroon glasses...lol)
(In response to this post by HokieAvalanche)
2mo
Those "green" stats far outweigh the "yellow" no matter what color your glasses are.
(In response to this post by VTChip)