UCF Rewind : UCF Softball 2005’s Postseason Run

On this special edition of UCF Rewind edition of In The Circle/Black and Gold Banneret Podcast, Eric Lopez is joined by In The Circle’s co-host Victor Anderson to look back at UCF’s 2005 season which is the final season as a member of the A-SUN Conference before moving to Conference USA. Eric and Victor give insights to the program from the start of the program in 2002 to the close calls in 2003 and 2004 leading into the 2005 season. The guys go through the season highlights setting up the memorable run through the A-SUN Tournament in Boca Raton to win the program’s first Conference Championship and earn the first trip to the NCAA Tournament in just its 4th season the program existed.

UCF players from the 2005 team joins the show  which includes starting 3rd baseman

UCF meet in the circle during A-SUN Championship game vs Troy in 2005 Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics/Lindsay Enders

Cici Alvarez ( 9:20) and starting left fielder Kacie Feaster (2:12.40). Also on the episode we play back interviews with UCF Hall of Famer and starting shortstop Stephanie Best (58:00) with Eric and Jeff Sharon from April 14, 2015 which was on the eve of Best’s getting inducted into UCF Athletics Hall of Fame as well as Eric’s interview with starting centerfielder Jania Shinhoster (1:55.00) from 2010 and a interview with A-SUN Tournament MVP and pitching ace Lindsay Enders (1:29.10) from December 18, 2016 edition of In The Circle.

The guys recap the Gainesville regional which included UCF’s 1st ever NCAA Tournament win at Florida on May 21st, 2005 and more.

You can also check previous UCF Rewind where Eric Lopez is joined by Shelby Turnier and Mackenzie Audas as they looked back at UCF’s 2015 season right here.

 

2020 Season D1 Softball Preview

To get you ready for the start of the 2020 D1 Sofball season. Here are some episodes to get you ready for the 2020 season.

D1 Season Preview – Feb 3, 2020

Tim Walton- Florida Head Coach – Feb 4, 2020

Beth Torina- LSU Head Coach- Jan 30, 2020

Jamie Trachsel- Minnesota Head Coach- Jan 28, 2020

Lonni Alameda- Florida State Head Coach-  Jan 27, 2020

Justin Shults- Oregon Asst Coach- Jan 23, 2020

Craig Snider- Texas A&M Asst Coach- Dec 12, 2019

Caitlin Lowe- Arizona Asst Coach- Nov 14, 2019

Laura Berg- Oregon State Head Coach- Nov 7, 2019

Gabbie Plain- Washington Pitcher-  Oct 31, 2019

Gerry Glasco- Louisiana Head Coach-  October 28, 2019

Samantha Ricketts- Mississippi State Head Coach- October 17, 2019

Mark Montgomery- Maryland Head Coach- Sept 16, 2019

Carol Bruggeman- NFCA Executive Director –  Aug 26, 2019

 

 

Ruben Felix on Ole Miss Winning SEC Tournament

Ruben Felix been at Ole Miss since 2015

On This edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez & Victor Anderson talk to Ole Miss Asst Coach Ruben Felix about the Rebels winning the SEC Tournament.

Among the topics Felix discussed include

• The week in Knoxville as the Rebels made run to SEC Tournament
• Hosting for first time in program history
• Outlook of Oxford Regional
• How Staff has turn Ole Miss Softball program to a winner
• Experience of Ole Miss being in regional last year at Oklahoma
• Keys to being success in postseason
• Success of SEC getting 8 host sites and all 13 teams in the field

In The Circle with Ruben Felix Episode 94 

NCAA OXFORD REGIONAL SCHEDULE  Eastern Time Zone
Friday, May 19
Game 1: North Carolina vs. No. 22 Arizona State – 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: Southern Illinois vs. No. 13 Ole Miss – 9:30 p.m. (ESPN3)

Saturday, May 20
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 2:30 p.m. (TBD)
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 5 p.m. (TBD)
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3 – 7:30 p.m. (TBD)

Sunday, May 21
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 – 2:30 p.m. (TBD)
Game 7 (if necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 – 5 p.m. (TBD)

Junior RHP Kaitlin Lee threw every pitch in the SEC Tournament earning MVP honors, and is only three wins off tying the single-season record. She’s thrown nine-straight CGs, and allowed no more than two earned runs each in her last nine starts (64.2 IP).

Oxford Regional Teams
Southern Illinois
Led by 18-year head coach Kerri Blaylock, the Salukis of Southern Illinois head into the postseason at 33-22 overall. They earned the automatic bid from the Missouri Valley Conference after topping No. 1 seed Northern Iowa in the MVC Tournament Championship game last Saturday. The Salukis have played well down the stretch going 9-1 in the last 10 games, and finished the MVC regular season with a 17-8 record. SIU did face both Mississippi State and Kentucky earlier this season, dropping all three contests.

Arizona State
Led by first year head coach Trisha Ford, the Sun Devils of Arizona State earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament from the Pac-12 conference. ASU, ranked No. 22 in both polls and the updated RPI, is 30-20 on the year with a 9-15 mark in conference action.

North Carolina
Led by 32-year head coach Donna Papa, the Tar Heels head into the postseason with a 38-19 overall record after going 14-9 in the ACC, earning an at-large big. No. 34 in the latest RPI, UNC finished 3-7 in its final 10 outings, falling to No. 1 Florida State in the ACC Championship game last Saturday.

Brittany Pickett is the ace for the Tar Heels with a 21-8 record and 2.63 ERA, with 207.2 innings pitched and 47 appearances. Behind her, Lynch is 11-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 24 appearances, while three other pitchers have combined for the remaining six wins, led by three from Sydney Matzko, and three from Hannah Nommensen.

Patrick Wright Talks Growth of LSU Softball

On this edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez and Victor Anderson talks to the radio voice of LSU Softball Patrick Wright. Wright has been calling LSU Softball since 1997 talks about the upcoming Baton Rouge Regional where LSU as a National 13 seed will host Louisiana Lafayette, McNeese State, and Fairfield.

Wright discusses the regional but also discusses the growth of LSU Softball as well as SEC Softball since he started calling games in 1997.  Wright also discussed.

• How Patrick Wright got into calling LSU Softball
• The Louisiana Lafayette-LSU Rivalry
•  Patrick Wright favorite moments during his time at LSU Softball
• How has SEC grown over the years
• Evolution of calling Softball from 90s to present
• Working with both Beth Torina and Yvette Girouard.

In The Circle with Patrick Wright Episode 93

Patrick Wright also is the voice of LSU Women Basketball to go along with Softball.  You can listen to Wright call the Tigers games on Talk 107.3 FM locally in Baton Rouge, with free audio of the game at  LSUSports.Net .

For all of the latest news and information on Tiger softball, visit www.lsusports.net/softball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball along with @lsusoftball.

You can listen to Interview with Beth Torina that took place before the season started as Torina previewed the Tigers season.

 

Gators Host Old Friend In Regional

Kenny Gajewski was an asst for Tim Walton from 2013-2015 and won two national championships together.  (Photo Courtesy of V-Flex )

On this edition of In The Circle,  Eric Lopez and Victor Anderson talks to long time voice of Florida Gators Softball Adam Schick. Schick previews the Gators upcoming 2017 Gainesville Regional  which will see Florida see a familiar face in Oklahoma State Head Coach Kenny Gajewski who was an asst at Florida from 2013-2015 being part of the back to back National Titles in 2014 and 2015.  Should  Florida be concern in facing someone that knows them as well as Gajewski does?  Adam Schick breaks down the regional and also reviews the Gators 2017 season and key to success in Postseason for the Gators.

Gajewski has led Oklahoma State to 2 NCAA Tournament in 2 seasons.

Tim Walton led Florida to 2 National Championships.

In The Circle with Adam Schick Episode 92

Also on this edition Schick reflects on his run as the voice of Florida Softball since being part of the broadcast in 2008.  Schick discusses.

Adam Schick been part of Gators Broadcast since 2008

• How the SEC and Softball have grown since he started in 2008
• How Adam got into Softball
•  Favorite moments of his career
•  Impact of SEC Network.

Schick recently was hired as the new voice of Atlanta United in Major League Soccer which marks return home for Adam who is from Atlanta.

Schick also was voice of Gators Women Soccer and Women Basketball as well host podcast host of GatorTales.

Adam Schick Bio

Atlanta United FC (2017-present)
-Radio play-by-play broadcaster for Atlanta United FC on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game in Atlanta.

Gator IMG Sports Network (2007-present)
– Radio play-by-play voice of Florida Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Soccer.
-Host and producer of player features on football pregame show and fill-in play-by-play broadcaster for baseball.

SEC Network (2009-present)
-Play-by-play broadcaster for SEC Network+ Baseball, Soccer, Softball, Gymnastics & Basketball broadcasts.
-Provided play-by-play coverage of the 2013, 2014 & 2016 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sirius/XM.
-Selected as play-by-play voice for the SEC Digital Network’s streaming coverage of the 2009 SEC Soccer Tournament.

Gator Tales Podcast (2015-present)
-Created and developed the official podcast for the Florida Gators.
-Writes, edits, hosts, produces, conducts interviews, and manages social media account for the podcast on a weekly basis.

Gridiron Now (2016-present)
-Writes feature stories and opinion pieces on the Florida Gators for the SEC-focused GridironNow.com.

GatorVision (2009-present)
-Serves as a reporter for GatorVision web content and GatorZone TV show.
-Conducts interviews and writes feature broadcast stories for “Gator Men’s Basketball” TV show.
-Hosted “Florida Women’s Basketball” and “GatorZone” TV shows that aired on the Fox Sports family of networks.

Orlando City SC (2015-2016)
-Radio play-by-play broadcaster for Orlando City SC on Real Radio 104.1 in Orlando.
-Hosted radio pregame, halftime, and postgame shows.
-Fill-in host for TV pregame, halftime, and postgame shows.

ESPN Gainesville (2006-2010, 2011-2016)

-Co-hosted & managed social media accounts for “The Tailgate,” a daily sports talk show on ESPN Radio in Gainesville.
-Delivered daily sports updates and covered various Gator teams for the station as a student.

 

Sydney Gerbracht Talks Going From Playing to Broadcasting

On this edition of In The Circle, Former Houston Cougars Softball player Sydney Gerbracht talks about going from playing softball at Houston to now broadcasting games at Houston as well as her broadcasting aspirations and more including

• How Sydney ended up at Houston
• Favorite moments from her playing career
• How Sydney got into broadcasting
• What does Sydney hope to end up in Broadcasting

In The Circle with Sydney Gerbracht Episode 85 

Gerbracht free lances as a broadcaster including for the American Digital Network which Gerbracht will be on once again on May 5th for UCF at Tulsa. Below is her most recent broadcast on the American Digital Network between Houston and UConn.

Gerbracht played at Houston redshirting in 2011 being with the Cougars 2011 team that won the Conference USA Regular season championship  and made it to the Super Regionals within one game of the Women’s College World Series  losing in three games at Oklahoma State. Gerbracht played for the Cougars from 2012-2015 making the NCAA Tournament from 2012-2014.

Gerbracht playing career ended at the American Conference Tournament Semi-Finals in 2015 in Orlando losing to Tulsa. Gerbracht joined the Cougars softball broadcast in 2016 and is currently in her second season as the Cougars color analyst and also done some play by play on occasion.

Scott Hall Talks Unique Career at Marshall

 

Scott Hall is in his 14th season with Marshall Softball (Photo Courtesy of Scott Hall)

On this edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez and Victor Anderson talk to Scott Hall who recently celebrated his 750th game at Marshall. Hall who is currently the Marshall SID discusses his many hats that he has warn in his 14 seasons with Marshall including play by play broadcaster, student manager, graduate manager, volunteer coach, and director of ops with the softball program.

Among the topics Hall discusses in the podcast includes

• How Scott Hall got involved with Marshall Softball?
• What drew Hall to the sport of Softball?
•  Memorable broadcasts of his career
• Memorable Marshall games
• Best Non Marshall Softball player Hall has ever seen in person?
• How Marshall program changed from when Hall started to present?
• Covering some of greatest Marshall players ever
• Influence Marshall Head Coach Shonda Stanton had on his career.
• Being part of Marshall first ever Conference Tournament Championship in 2013 in Tulsa and first NCAA Tournament Appearance.
• Covering Amanda Williams as a player and coach

 Scott Hall Interview Episode 84

Rachele Fico talks Balancing Coaching and Playing Career

Rachele Fico in her 2nd season as Asst Coach at Georgia. Photo Courtesy of Georgia Athletics.

On this edtion of In The Circle,  Eric Lopez talks to Rachele Fico about coaching in college softball as Fico in her 2nd season as Asst Coach at Georgia. Fico compares coaching to playing softball.  Fico also discusses the following.

Fico was honored in 2015 with Banner at Tiger Park. (Photo by Nick Torina)

• Who inspired Fico during her softball career?
• Balancing Coaching with playing in the NPF
• Advice Fico would give softball players who wants to coach and play
• What it was like to return to LSU as an opponent in 2015 as Asst coach at South Alabama and get honored before the game?
• What is it like to coach at Georgia and in the SEC?
• What is Fico’s Coaching philosophy in coaching pitchers?
• Reflecting on LSU Career
• What it was like to return to LSU as an opponent?
• Playing for Akron Racers
• Comparing making WCWS as a Player at LSU to making WCWS as an Asst coach at Georgia

   Interview with Rachele Fico Episode 83

Fico played for Yvette Girouard at LSU from 2010-2011. Photo Courtesy of LSU

Fico played for Beth Torina at LSU from 2012-2013. Photo Courtesy of LSU

Fico was a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American at LSU as well as a three-time NFCA All-South Region First-Team member and three-time all-Southeastern Conference honoree. 
During her freshman season with the Tigers in 2010, Fico was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year. Fico led LSU to the Women’s College World Series in 2012. Fico ended her Tigers career among LSU’s top five in appearances (149), starts (104), complete games (82), innings pitched (774.0), wins (78), saves (8), opposing batting average (0.195), shutouts (32), strikeouts (797) and strikeouts per seven innings (7.21).

Rachele Fico plays for Akron Racers in the NPF. Photo Courtesy of NPF.

Fico was the the No. 1 draft pick in the  2013 National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Akron Racers where she has played her entire career highlighted by being An All-NPF Team selection in 2014.

While Fico has been playing in the NPF, Fico began her college coaching career  serving as an assistant coach at South Alabama during the 2015 season. Fico helped the Jaguars take the Sun Belt Conference crown and advanced to its fourth-straight NCAA Regional Tournament. Under Fico’s guidance, the USA pitching staff held a 2.51 ERA that was top 30 in the NCAA.

Fico went from South Alabama to Georgia for the 2016 season where in her first year with the Bulldogs, Fico helped the pitching staff to a 2.27 ERA, as the team collected 46 wins. Fico got to work with  Chelsea Wilkinson, who led the SEC with 28 victories and a NFCA All-Region selection. The Bulldogs would advance to the program’s third Women’s College World Series appearance which included knocking off defending National Champions Florida in the Super Regionals in Gainesville.

Here is my Interview with Rachele Fico during her rookie year in the NPF in 2013 as she played with former LSU Teammate Brittany Mack at Akron.

 

 

Laura Watten Talks BCU Softball 2017

Laura Watten is in Bethune-Cookman Hall of Fame (Photo Courtesy of Bethune Cookman Athletics)

On this edition of In The Circle, Contributor to In The Circle Andreas Butler talks to Bethune-Cookman Softball Head Coach Laura Watten about the Wildcats 2017 season.

Watten begins her 10th season overall at Bethune- Cookman in her two stints in Daytona Beach.  Watten first stint at Bethune -Cookman was from 1998-2005 leading the Wildcats into the Super Regional in 2005 after winning the Gainesville regional.

Watten went to Maryland after 2005 season and coached there from 2006-2014. Watten now back at Bethune- Cookman in her third season looking to bring the Wildcats program back to the high level she led them to 5 NCAA Tournament appearances winning five straight MEAC Conference championships (2000-2005).

Laura Watten Interview  Episode 80

2017 MEAC Softball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

NORTHERN DIVISION                                                                                                   

School	Points
Delaware State (18)	163
Norfolk State (3)	134
Hampton (2)	133
Morgan State (1)	86
Howard (1)	74
Maryland Eastern Shore	57
Coppin State	53

SOUTHERN DIVISION

School	Points
Florida A&M (15)	136
Bethune-Cookman (2)	120
Savannah State (8)	115
North Carolina A&T State	72
North Carolina Central	50
South Carolina State	32

 2017 Softball Preseason All-MEAC Teams

As voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Preseason Player of the Year: Cortni Jones, Savannah State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Kenya Pereira, Florida A&M

First Team

Pos.	Name	School	Cl.	Hometown
P	Kenya Pereira	Florida A&M	Sr.	Kissimmee, Fla.
P	Tara Tursellino	Delaware State	Sr.	Moreno Valley, Calif.
C	Tia Bolden	Savannah State	Sr.	Decatur, Ga.
*1B	Iesha Waters	Bethune-Cookman	Jr.	Riverside, Calif.
*1B	Kayla McNair	Norfolk State	Sr.	Virginia Beach, Va.
2B	Danielle Velez	Delaware State	Sr.	Chino Hills, Calif.
3B	Cortni Jones	Savannah State	So.	Snellville, Ga.
SS	Brianna Harris	Savannah State	Jr.	Jacksonville, Fla.
OF	Annie Bakenhus	Bethune-Cookman	So.	Yucaipa, Calif.
OF	Whitney Farris	Florida A&M	Sr.	Coral Springs, Fla.
OF	Raven Gray	North Carolina A&T State	Jr.	Forest City, N.C.
UTL	Vanessa Washington	Delaware State	Jr.	Elk Grove, Calif.

*Indicates tie

Second Team

Pos.	Name	School	Cl.	Hometown
P	Sabrina Anguiano	Bethune-Cookman	Sr.	Hacienda Heights, Calif.
P	Mohagony Headen	North Carolina A&T State	So.	Greensboro, N.C.
C	Korynna Lara	Morgan State	Sr.	Las Cruces, N.M.
1B	Toni Anderson	Florida A&M	Jr.	Dothan, Ala.
2B	Seana Moriarty	Norfolk State	Jr.	Chesapeake, Va.
3B	Amber Fullwood	Florida A&M	Sr.	Land O’Lakes, Fla.
SS	Briana Sanders	Bethune-Cookman	So.	San Marcos, Calif.
OF	Alexis Singleton	Savannah State	Sr.	Sarasota, Fla.
OF	Tashayla Irvis	Florida A&M	Sr.	Lake Wales, Fla.
OF	Chasney Jenkins	Savannah State	Sr.	East Moline, Ill.
UTL	Megan Przeslawski	Norfolk State	Jr.	Tampa, Fla.

 

Shonda Stanton Talks Marshall 2017 Season

On this edition, Eric Lopez talks to Marshall Thundering Herd Head Coach Shonda Stanton who entering her 18th season as Head Coach at Marshall. Stanton talk about the upcoming 2017 season. Among the topics Stanton talks about includes.

• Morgan Zerkle making US National Team
• Offense around Zerkle
• Success of Marshall players in Pro Level
• Jordan Dixon leading the Herd Pitching staff
• Conference USA
• Keys to season

Interview with Shonda Stanton Episode 79

Marshall was picked third in CUSA Preseason Poll will be led by Zerkle who was also

Morgan Zerkle made US National Team leads Herd Offense. (Photo Courtesy of Marshall)

selected as CUSA Preseason Player of the Year. Zerkle finished second on the Herd in 2016 batting .482, 54 hits including two home runs, 28 runs scored and 28 stolen bases.Zerkle became the fastest player in Marshall history to record 200 career hits in just her 137th game during the 2016 season.

The Herd’s offense gets a boost in 2017 with the return of  Shaelynn Braxton who missed all of 2016. In 2015 Braxton drove in 56 runs becoming just the second player in program history to drive in over 50 runs in two seasons. Four-time All-American Rachel Folden is the other.

Dixon won 23 games in 2016 which was the third straight year of 20 or more wins in a season as well as over 200 strikeouts (268) for the third straight season. Dixon broke Marshall’s career strikeout record passing Andi Williamson (2011-13).

For the latest on Marshall Softball go to HerdZone.com and follow on twitter @HerdSB