Nothing is more fun than to watch the machinations of NCAA D1 Softball selection committee go down the drain, resulting in one of the oddest events in NCAA softball history...a team from Hempstead, New York or Tampa, Florida will be playing in the CWS.
What were the odds that UCLA would fold like a lawn chair, going two and out? Who knew that Hofstra had a big dog pitcher? And what were the odds that a coach from the SEC would suspend starters for anything less than capital murder?
As to UCLA...the RPI had them at #11...but, the problem with the RPI is that it includes the entire season, not just the more recent events. Since April 1, UCLA won 11 and lost 12. The Bruins were fading and fading fast. The spark and swagger of the team that softball fans love to hate wasn't there. They barely put up a fight in the first round game, falling to Hofstra 7-2. They put up a better fight against Florida State, but it wasn't enough...and UCLA was gone.
With UCLA making a hurried exit out of the reginals, Hofstra then beat San Diego State twice. Hofstra's gunslinger Galati has now won 31 games in a row.
South Florida is a good team and Ken Eriksen is one of my favorite coaches...he is a real standup guy. But, the Bulls weren't going to beat a Florida team unless lightning struck. And then...well, lightning struck.
Three Florida players were suspended and told that it would be best if they played somewhere else in 2013. In other words, they were kicked off the team. It is a little unclear what happened, and Florida officials aren't talking. Considering that U of Florida specifically and the SEC generally doesn't worry too much about little things like NCAA rules and state and federal statutes, my guess is that it involves several heads stuffed in a duffel bag. Softball does a real good job of keeping the lid on problems..(IMHO, a close look at softball over the years could result in findings on par with the Sandusky problem at Penn State.)
Florida played pretty well, given the controversy. There was a chance that they would win the whole thing...but, finally, the controversy got the better of the team, and they lost.
So, however improbable this may be, South Florida is playing Hofstra for a ticket to the CWS.
My pick? Hofstra. Never bet against an Italian from New York, if you know what I mean.
What were the odds that UCLA would fold like a lawn chair, going two and out? Who knew that Hofstra had a big dog pitcher? And what were the odds that a coach from the SEC would suspend starters for anything less than capital murder?
As to UCLA...the RPI had them at #11...but, the problem with the RPI is that it includes the entire season, not just the more recent events. Since April 1, UCLA won 11 and lost 12. The Bruins were fading and fading fast. The spark and swagger of the team that softball fans love to hate wasn't there. They barely put up a fight in the first round game, falling to Hofstra 7-2. They put up a better fight against Florida State, but it wasn't enough...and UCLA was gone.
With UCLA making a hurried exit out of the reginals, Hofstra then beat San Diego State twice. Hofstra's gunslinger Galati has now won 31 games in a row.
South Florida is a good team and Ken Eriksen is one of my favorite coaches...he is a real standup guy. But, the Bulls weren't going to beat a Florida team unless lightning struck. And then...well, lightning struck.
Three Florida players were suspended and told that it would be best if they played somewhere else in 2013. In other words, they were kicked off the team. It is a little unclear what happened, and Florida officials aren't talking. Considering that U of Florida specifically and the SEC generally doesn't worry too much about little things like NCAA rules and state and federal statutes, my guess is that it involves several heads stuffed in a duffel bag. Softball does a real good job of keeping the lid on problems..(IMHO, a close look at softball over the years could result in findings on par with the Sandusky problem at Penn State.)
Florida played pretty well, given the controversy. There was a chance that they would win the whole thing...but, finally, the controversy got the better of the team, and they lost.
So, however improbable this may be, South Florida is playing Hofstra for a ticket to the CWS.
My pick? Hofstra. Never bet against an Italian from New York, if you know what I mean.
