Softball vs. South Carolina

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by lovavol

would you rather her not break out of it?

No joke

[bUTrosbUTrosVOLie]

Lady Vols sweep USC, winning 6-3 on Sunday. Ten straight seasons with 40+ wins. Ashley Andrews (my personal favorite player-I'll be her Grandpop if she needs an extra) was the slugger of the day along with Shelby Burchell. Next in the SEC is a 3-game series w/ Ole Miss at home.

[CalifLadyVolFan]

No Joke?.... would love to respond and give you a detailed explanation of her "so called" slump. Did you want me to start in on it on a National forum?

Hitting is about confidence and consistency, getting your at bats and getting a feel for the game.

[rabidvolfan]

I can't speak for CalifLadyVolfan, but I live near Palm Springs and go to one tournament they play out west every year. I've met many parents and it seems to be hard on the family when their kids go 2000 miles away to go to college and play softball. I think most would rather their kids play in the pac 10 somewhere. I've never talked with any of Davin's family over the particular subject but I have talked to others. It's really hard on them the most when they aren't getting playing time or they get limited playing time. Afterall, 2000 + miles is a long way to see their kid drift off and they don't go that far to sit on the bench, especially when almost every school in the country wants them including the Pac 10 teams, which is the best softball conference bar none. Yes, I've had some family members vent some frustrations but in most cases, their daughter just isn't as good as the players in front of them (obviously I don't tell them that). This, obviously is not the case with Melissa Davin. She came up big for us last year many times, including clutch situations and big games as she became a regular starter about 1/3 the way into the season. This year she get's off to a nice start, has a couple bad games, and then she's not starting any more. True, Mickey Mantle himself had slumps, but he was never benched just because of a bad week. He was given an opportunity to play his way out. Just like a lot of people wanted Ellen to pitch every game and not use Ivy, but they let Ivy play out of her slump and now she is on a 10 game win streak. I think the management of this whole season has been kind of wishy washy. I just love Shelby's dad, I wonder what he thinks about Shelby, our all time home run hitter, batting 7th most of the year and having to play DP. Then you have this person playing this position, then they move to this position, then they bat this spot then move down or up to this spot. There just wasn't very good continuity earlier in the year and I think that had a lot to do with the whole teams batting slumps. Shipman and Gibson have been consistent all year but they've played the same position and batted in the same spot every game. Again I can't speak for Calfan, but when Calfan responded to voltrolies post (I enjoy both of your participation in this forum btw) it seemed a bit harsh to me a first glance too, but after digesting it for a few minutes I totally understand the frustration, because Melissa is a better player than some people who has been playing in front of her and that can be damaging for confidence and continuity just speaking as a fan. I actually started to make this same post about 6 weeks ago but I don't want to be critical of the coaches. I love Ralph, and would never want anyone else coaching us, but a lot of fans complain about his game management and strategies through the years. Ralph coaches offense, Karen coaches pitching. If Karen managed the pitching the same way Ralph has managed the offense. You would have a wore down Ellen Renfroe by the end of the year and Ivy's confidence would be shot too bad to be of any help. I think it's all finally coming together and he's got the best players in the lineup and has them in the proper batting order. I really think it's all good from here. Let's hope anyway.

I'd like to say one more thing. The Davin family are just very wonderful people. I've had a chance to visit with them during these tournaments. After we played our last game in Tempe her sister(i think it was a sister) walked by me and thanked me for driving 300 miles to support the team. That meant a lot to me. The family all wears a Tennessee shirt or cap, not all families do that btw.I actually met Melissa and her mom in one of these tournaments when Melissa was a senior in high school. They wanted to support the team even though she wasn't even playing yet. It would be easy to say, "Well if you can't handle what people say on a board don't read". Well, they aren't just family members of a player, they are fans too. They don't just post things about Melissa they talk about the team in general. Trosvolie, I know you didn't mean to offend anyone and you were even trying to be complimentary, but I just think you accidently struck a nerve that's been bothering the family all year. Once again in closing, I think it's all good from here. 13 in a row.


GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!

[bUTrosbUTrosVOLie]

Originally Posted by CalifLadyVolFan

No Joke?.... would love to respond and give you a detailed explanation of her "so called" slump. Did you want me to start in on it on a National forum?

Hitting is about confidence and consistency, getting your at bats and getting a feel for the game.

Okay. Hope things turn out well.

[bUTrosbUTrosVOLie]

Originally Posted by rabidvolfan

I can't speak for CalifLadyVolfan, but I live near Palm Springs and go to one tournament they play out west every year. I've met many parents and it seems to be hard on the family when their kids go 2000 miles away to go to college and play softball. I think most would rather their kids play in the pac 10 somewhere. I've never talked with any of Davin's family over the particular subject but I have talked to others. It's really hard on them the most when they aren't getting playing time or they get limited playing time. Afterall, 2000 + miles is a long way to see their kid drift off and they don't go that far to sit on the bench, especially when almost every school in the country wants them including the Pac 10 teams, which is the best softball conference bar none. Yes, I've had some family members vent some frustrations but in most cases, their daughter just isn't as good as the players in front of them (obviously I don't tell them that). This, obviously is not the case with Melissa Davin. She came up big for us last year many times, including clutch situations and big games as she became a regular starter about 1/3 the way into the season. This year she get's off to a nice start, has a couple bad games, and then she's not starting any more. True, Mickey Mantle himself had slumps, but he was never benched just because of a bad week. He was given an opportunity to play his way out. Just like a lot of people wanted Ellen to pitch every game and not use Ivy, but they let Ivy play out of her slump and now she is on a 10 game win streak. I think the management of this whole season has been kind of wishy washy. I just love Shelby's dad, I wonder what he thinks about Shelby, our all time home run hitter, batting 7th most of the year and having to play DP. Then you have this person playing this position, then they move to this position, then they bat this spot then move down or up to this spot. There just wasn't very good continuity earlier in the year and I think that had a lot to do with the whole teams batting slumps. Shipman and Gibson have been consistent all year but they've played the same position and batted in the same spot every game. Again I can't speak for Calfan, but when Calfan responded to voltrolies post (I enjoy both of your participation in this forum btw) it seemed a bit harsh to me a first glance too, but after digesting it for a few minutes I totally understand the frustration, because Melissa is a better player than some people who has been playing in front of her and that can be damaging for confidence and continuity just speaking as a fan. I actually started to make this same post about 6 weeks ago but I don't want to be critical of the coaches. I love Ralph, and would never want anyone else coaching us, but a lot of fans complain about his game management and strategies through the years. Ralph coaches offense, Karen coaches pitching. If Karen managed the pitching the same way Ralph has managed the offense. You would have a wore down Ellen Renfroe by the end of the year and Ivy's confidence would be shot too bad to be of any help. I think it's all finally coming together and he's got the best players in the lineup and has them in the proper batting order. I really think it's all good from here. Let's hope anyway.

I'd like to say one more thing. The Davin family are just very wonderful people. I've had a chance to visit with them during these tournaments. After we played our last game in Tempe her sister(i think it was a sister) walked by me and thanked me for driving 300 miles to support the team. That meant a lot to me. The family all wears a Tennessee shirt or cap, not all families do that btw.I actually met Melissa and her mom in one of these tournaments when Melissa was a senior in high school. They wanted to support the team even though she wasn't even playing yet. It would be easy to say, "Well if you can't handle what people say on a board don't read". Well, they aren't just family members of a player, they are fans too. They don't just post things about Melissa they talk about the team in general. Trosvolie, I know you didn't mean to offend anyone and you were even trying to be complimentary, but I just think you accidently struck a nerve that's been bothering the family all year. Once again in closing, I think it's all good from here. 13 in a row.


GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!

Okay.

[CalifLadyVolFan]

We are taking the Red Eye to Knoxville Tonight and will be in town for the DH with Tennessee State Tomorrow and the three game series this weekend against Ole Miss.

It will definitely be great to see Melissa!

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by bUTrosbUTrosVOLie

Okay.

Exactly. What a damn novel that was.

[CalifLadyVolFan]

Davin, hitting .500 the past five games with a team-leading 1.100 slugging percentage and .615 on-base percentage, was an exception in the performance category.

"I wanted to do so well that I was thinking too much and swinging out of my shoes,'' said Davin, who has raised her batting average to .282 and her on-base percentage to .414. "So now, I get in the box and just trust my hands. It has been a matter of spending a lot of extra time in the batting cage and not thinking about it.''

Against Ole Miss

“I had a plan when I went up there,” Davin said of the first shot. “I wanted to put the ball in play and have a good at-bat.”

As far as the second homer, Davin said she was seeing the ball well all day and trusted herself.

“Attack the zone, and I got the chance,” Davin said.

Weekly moved Davin to sixth in the batting order and, after Saturday’s performance, is likely to keep her there.

“Melissa Davin has worked so hard the last four weeks,” Weekly said. “She was having trouble with a couple of pitches, and we’ve thrown them at her 1,000 times in the last few weeks, and she is really looking good on every pitch right now.

“She is an amazing athlete. She is strong, she can run, she can throw people out at the plate, and she can hit the ball out of the park. I think she is going to have some great days ahead.”

All of Tennessee’s scoring came in the third and fourth innings with Davin’s bat all over the offensive output

another..

Sophomore Melissa Davin continued her hot hitting, driving two home runs deep over the center-field wall after walking in her first at-bat.

UT co-head coach Ralph Weekly had seen it coming, having moved Davin up a spot to No. 6 in the batting order for Saturday's game.

"Melissa is strong, she can run, she can throw people out at the plate from the outfield and she can hit the ball out of the park," Weekly said. "It was a good effort from everyone today, but we were still a little slow getting started."

"I just wanted to see the ball big, and hit it hard," said Davin, who drilled her second home run of the day for her second two-homer game in the past two SEC weekend series. "After the first home run today, I knew I could hit another one."

http://www.utladyvols.com/m/sports/w...042812aab.html

http://www.utladyvols.com/m/sports/w...042712aaa.html

Updated Stats..

University of Tennessee Athletics Softball

AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%



Season (tied 4th on team)
15 Melissa Davin.... .316 43-33 76 16 24 2 1 7 26 49 .645 15 2 25 0 .441 0 0 5-6 23 1 0 1.000

League (2nd on team)
15 Melissa Davin.... .386 23-18 44 10 17 1 1 4 15 32 .727 7 2 14 0 .491 0 0 4-5 15 1 0 1.000

[Escape Goat]

She is a great one, no doubt about it. I take it she is your daughter. I loved watching that Two homer performance she had. She, and this team are fun to watch.


Get em Lady Vols!!!!