Softball 2026-expectations?
- Thread starter TideATL70
- Start date
While I wasn't one of the folks calling for "The Sheriff" Pat Murphy to lose his job unceremoniously during the last few years (post Montana) I did want him to change a few things and maybe not be so stubborn at times. I certainly admit Coach knows more softball in his pinkie finger than I'll ever know. So I feel like I "owe" him an apology as this year's squad seems to be one of the best and most likable teams in many years. A friend reminded me even the greatest of coaches will endure a "down" period.
Just wanted to get that out there and hoping this team makes a deep run in OKC.
Just wanted to get that out there and hoping this team makes a deep run in OKC.
Basically he nailed the offseason. Murph is batting 1.000 with the transfers and freshman. And once he moved Ambrey into the starting lineup we have no weak link in the lineup. 10 good hitters. 8 good fielders at all times. 3 good pitchers.
I was one who thought Murphy had become the softball equivalent of Gene Stallings or Les Miles. And that, like Stallings and Miles, the game had passed him by.
IOW, the rules had changed (the slap hitter in softball, post-snap treatment of WRs and OL downfield in football). The officials / umpires' interpretations had changed. Based on several years' evidence, I felt Murphy was so sold on his way that he was incapable of adapting to the new reality.
Losing two players who went on to SEC POY at other schools (KB Sides at Arkansas and Skyler Wallace at Florida), the abysmal hitting performance, and not having a successor to Montana Fouts (will there ever be one?) reinforced that feeling.
The current #1 ranking notwithstanding, I'm not sure we're truly the best team in the country. We'll find out about that as the season progresses.
Regardless, there's no doubt that we're light years better than we were last year, and Landon Dickerson has nothing on those ladies regarding guts. We could have folded against UTw, yet that team chose instead to dig deep.
As a result, they won a series against the #1 team in the country after having gotten spanked in Game 1 and down 4-0 early in Game 2. There is no way in 10,000 universes that would have happened last year.
I don't know who said what to whom or when. I don't know why Murphy changed. But whether voluntary or forced, he has changed and the team is better for it.
Ability to evolve is what lifted Bryant and Saban from really good coaches to the #1 and #2 GOATs. Here's hoping Murphy can follow in their footsteps.
IOW, the rules had changed (the slap hitter in softball, post-snap treatment of WRs and OL downfield in football). The officials / umpires' interpretations had changed. Based on several years' evidence, I felt Murphy was so sold on his way that he was incapable of adapting to the new reality.
Losing two players who went on to SEC POY at other schools (KB Sides at Arkansas and Skyler Wallace at Florida), the abysmal hitting performance, and not having a successor to Montana Fouts (will there ever be one?) reinforced that feeling.
The current #1 ranking notwithstanding, I'm not sure we're truly the best team in the country. We'll find out about that as the season progresses.
Regardless, there's no doubt that we're light years better than we were last year, and Landon Dickerson has nothing on those ladies regarding guts. We could have folded against UTw, yet that team chose instead to dig deep.
As a result, they won a series against the #1 team in the country after having gotten spanked in Game 1 and down 4-0 early in Game 2. There is no way in 10,000 universes that would have happened last year.
I don't know who said what to whom or when. I don't know why Murphy changed. But whether voluntary or forced, he has changed and the team is better for it.
Ability to evolve is what lifted Bryant and Saban from really good coaches to the #1 and #2 GOATs. Here's hoping Murphy can follow in their footsteps.
Nobody can convince me that a "conversation" did not take place between Somebody and Coach Murphy after last season.
I'm glad Coach Murphy appears to have listened and adjusted.
We may not win it all but we'll be hard to beat.
This team is starting to remind of the team that did win it all.
There seems to be some leadership and cohesiveness going on that has been missing for a couple of years.
I'm glad Coach Murphy appears to have listened and adjusted.
We may not win it all but we'll be hard to beat.
This team is starting to remind of the team that did win it all.
There seems to be some leadership and cohesiveness going on that has been missing for a couple of years.
The past teams that made a run in the WCWS have all had one outstanding pitcher. From Jackie Traina to Alexis Osorio to Montana Fouts.
This year's team has two pitchers -- Briski and Moten -- who are really good, but not at the Traina / Osorio / Fouts level. In fairness, Moten is a freshman and might develop to that level. Today, however, she's really good, especially for a freshman.
The pitching staff also seems to have a bit of depth behind the top arms, which a lot of our teams haven't had. Too often, the dropoff from the ace to the next pitcher has been precipitous.
2026 is without question the best team we've had in several years, and it'll be interesting to see how far they can go. Given where we sit right now, I'll be disappointed with anything short of making it to OKC and winning the first game there. After that, we'd be in the winners' bracket and whatever happens happens.
Preseason, I could never have pictured myself writing those last two sentences.
This year's team has two pitchers -- Briski and Moten -- who are really good, but not at the Traina / Osorio / Fouts level. In fairness, Moten is a freshman and might develop to that level. Today, however, she's really good, especially for a freshman.
The pitching staff also seems to have a bit of depth behind the top arms, which a lot of our teams haven't had. Too often, the dropoff from the ace to the next pitcher has been precipitous.
2026 is without question the best team we've had in several years, and it'll be interesting to see how far they can go. Given where we sit right now, I'll be disappointed with anything short of making it to OKC and winning the first game there. After that, we'd be in the winners' bracket and whatever happens happens.
Preseason, I could never have pictured myself writing those last two sentences.
Yep, yakked up a hairball against Samford. Total lack of focus on a lesser opponent, and it bit us in an embarrassing way.
A loss is never good. But the silver lining is that it was a non-conference game. Hope we use this as a learning experience on what happens when you don't fully respect every opponent., no matter who the school on the jersey is.
This weekend we have an in-conference home series against Kentucky, who is struggling badly. 1-17 in the conference, dead last, and three games behind next-to-last Auburn, who is 2-13. Kentucky really didn't want Samford to win that game.
I expect us to come out angry at ourselves and play well.
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BIG series this weekend against the Viles of Tennessee - up at their place. This is a Saturday-Sunday-Monday series. It would sure be nice to win this series. ROLL TIDE Ladies!!
Run ruled the viles 12-0. Big statement by Alabama. Let’s keep our foot on their necks tomorrow.
Tennessee’s pitching was all over the place. I wish the best for our team over the next two days. RTR!
So far today, (Sunday game), the Tennessee pitching is ON, and they have us swinging at a lot of bad pitches. Still scoreless after. 4.5 innings, but our bats have been very quiet so far. Vic Moten is doing the job so far for BAMA. But, she just gave up a lead off home run in the bottom of the 5th. Viles are now up 1-0.
Well, after 5.5 innings, BAMA still doesn't have a hit. We've had a couple of walks and a hit batter, but haven't come close to doing anything. Today, we look like last year's team. Wells just looked at a floater of a change up for strike 3. I thought she would have crushed that. Barring a miracle awakening of our bats in the 7th inning, this one looks like a loss. One bad pitch may be the decider in this one. My bad, two bad pitches. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Tennessee player just hits one off the scoreboard. Now 2-0 Tennessee. Sixth inning over. Heading to the 7th. Can BAMA avoid being no-hit?
Giles get a lead off walk. Roman pops out to 3B in foul ground. Vandagriff breaks up the no hitter with a single up the middle. 1st and 2nd for BAMA. Taylor hits high pop up on the infield, 2 down. Hawkins grounds out to the pitcher.
BAMA looked extremely feeble at the plate today. Looking at good pitches, swinging at bad ones. Even when we hit the ball, it didn't do much. How did we score 12 yesterday and 0 today. Also, our first shut out of the year. I hope we bounce back better tomorrow night. BAMA goes down 2-0 today. Tennessee's scoring came on 2 solo home runs. They didn't do much other than those two hits. All we had to do was hit the ball a little bit. This was a shake my head one.
BAMA looked extremely feeble at the plate today. Looking at good pitches, swinging at bad ones. Even when we hit the ball, it didn't do much. How did we score 12 yesterday and 0 today. Also, our first shut out of the year. I hope we bounce back better tomorrow night. BAMA goes down 2-0 today. Tennessee's scoring came on 2 solo home runs. They didn't do much other than those two hits. All we had to do was hit the ball a little bit. This was a shake my head one.
The kid in the circle yesterday for UT is a pitcher. Hopefully, we will bounce back tonight.
BAMA falling apart in the bottom of the 4th. The inning started with a pop up to shallow left. Hawkins and Vandagriff ran into each other and the ball fell in for a double. Next batter hit a double to left to score the run. The next batter after that hit a single to left that was bobbled by Vandagriff allowing the run to score. Now 2-0 Tennessee, runner on first, still no one out.
Fly ball to CF brings in the runner from 3rd. Now 3-0 Tennessee, 2 out. Strike out by Briski to end the 4th, but Tennessee is now up 3-0. Tennessee looks like they have Briski timed up now. They're making very good contact. Meanwhile, BAMA looks a little timid at the plate so far. We need to bounce back now!
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