(We made a list. We checked it twice. From now until New Year’s Eve, we are counting down the top ten headlines of 2018. Today, we look at #9 on our list.) 9. Conference realignments retool the ASun and occur coast to coast Perhaps a news headline that some glazed over, the news item that a bevy of teams are changing conferences – even Divisions – this year should have a prolonged effect, specifically on the softball side of the equation. Most notably, a pair of postseason stalwarts in USC-Upstate and Liberty will enter the 2019 season as fresh faces in…
Author: jmcleod
(We made a list. We checked it twice. From now until New Year’s Eve, we are counting down the top ten headlines of 2018. Today, we look at #10 on our list.) 10. Missouri fires Ehren Earleywine The 2018 season was mere days from beginning when the Missouri Tigers made a splash that resounded around the softball world. Longtime head coach Ehren Earleywine – who assembled nearly 500 wins during his eleven-year career with the Tigers – was fired on January 26th. At the time of Earleywine’s firing, Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk noted that the school had ‘lost confidence in…
One of the highlights of the NFCA Convention in Chicago last week was a midweek event that took place in the convention’s downstairs exhibit hall. Vendor and event sponsor HitTrax hosted a Home Run Derby that included nine professional and Team USA-affiliated players. The players took pitches inside of a batting cage net, but thanks to the HitTrax software, the hits were tracked as if they were inside of Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The home of the Women’s College World Series was one of multiple virtual options within the software. Nine participants took part in the Home…
Former Little League World Series viral star Mo’ne Davis has committed to play softball at Hampton University, beginning in the fall of 2019.of 2019. Davis’ commitment was announced on Tuesday. In 2014, Davis made national headlines when she helped lead the (Philadelphia, Pa.) Taney Dragons to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, becoming just the fourth American girl – and the 18th girl in international play – to appear in the LLWS. During the 2014 tournament, Davis’ fastball was clocked at 70 and 71 miles per hour. In a shutout victory over the Nashville team, Davis became the first-ever…
UPDATE 12/14/18 10:55 — Via her Twitter account on Friday, Kleist announced that she will be transferring to Louisiana-Lafayette. In her posted statement, the right-hander wrote, “It is with great pleasure that I would like to announce my recent commitment to the University of Louisiana Lafayette to further my education and conclude my softball career. When looking at the memories made over the course of the last three years, the people I’ve met, and the opportunities I’ve had the chance to experience with my girls, I am forever grateful. I’ve been unable to come to peace with what has happened over…
A new player has entered the international fray, seeking to challenge for a berth in the 2020 Olympic Games. The Israeli national team is starting, virtually from the ground up, and seeking to make a run toward international relevance. The Israelis have brought out some star power to help their quest, including Arizona Director of Operations and former Wildcats assistant coach , who will serve as the team’s head coach, an Israeli team spokesperson confirmed. “I am honored to be able to be a part of Israel Softball,” Iveson told Justin’s World of Softball. “To be able to grow the sport…
Illinois and head coach Tyra Perry have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2024 season. The pact extends the end of Perry’s original deal, which she signed in the fall of 2017 and that was scheduled to run through 2022. Perry took over the Illinois program in 2015, becoming just the second head coach in Fighting Illini program history. She immediately guided the program to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Regional round in 2016 and 2017 and had led the Fighting Illini to more than thirty-five wins a season in each of…
Former Loyola Marymount star Sam Fischer will be inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2019. Fischer spent four years with the Lions, from 2009-12, and earned the first all-American nod in school history with a nomination to the NFCA’s all-American Second team in her senior season of 2012. At the conclusion of her collegiate career, Fischer’s name sat atop the program’s offensive record books in nine different categories, including batting average (.387); home runs (65); RBIs (172); and slugging percentage (.786), among others. Fischer was a four-time all-Pacific Coast Softball Conference selection…
Former Minnesota catcher Kendyl Lindaman has found her new home, as she will join the Florida Gators via transfer. Lindaman earned a pair of all-American awards in her two seasons with the Gophers. She earned first-team honors in 2017, and a second-team nod following the 2018 campaign. The 5’10” catcher also earned a pair of first-team all-Region honors, as well as an appearance on the all-Big Ten first team in consecutive seasons. Twice named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year, Lindaman hit forty home runs during her time in Minneapolis. She set the Golden Gophers’ program record for single-season slugging percentage…
The second day of the NFCA Convention on Thursday was highlighted by the Victory Club luncheon, honoring coaches that reached milestone victories during the 2018 season. The luncheon honored three coaches who reached the 1,300-win milestone in 2018. The trio included former DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti; California head coach Diane Ninemire; and Phoenix College (NJCAA) head coach Heinz Mueller. George Wares of Central College was honored for his 1,100th career victory. Wares has spent thirty-four seasons as the Dutch head coach, beginning in 1985, and is the winningest D3 head coach of all-time. He was the first D3 coach to…