Freshman pitcher Matty Moss can point to success

[kamoshika]

A loud shout followed by a lively set of hops, some claps into her glove and a finger point toward senior catcher Lexi Overstreet behind home plate.

It's a celebration that those around the Tennessee softball program have grown accustomed to after a Matty Moss strikeout.

"I just get so excited," Moss said Thursday. "This has been my dream school since I was like seven years old and I finally made it here, so I just get excited for my team and everybody else."
UT freshman pitcher Matty Moss can point to success

 

[LVJeff]

Nice article.

This line about Bria Bush caught my attention: "The Vols had also brought in fellow freshman and highly touted prospect Bria Bush, who is still recovering from injuries she suffered in high school."

I don't follow recruiting and did not realize she had been injured. Does anyone know what her injuries were?

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

Nice read. It looks like Matty Moss has made it, doesn't it? Hope she can continue to pitch well down the stretch as she could very well be the difference maker propelling TN into its 8th WCWS appearance.

Bria Bush pitched well during fall ball; I didn't see any lingering effects of past injuries. I read an article somewhere a while ago, and she might have been hurt at one point. But, I thought her struggles this year had more to do with mental aspect of the college game than anything else. Her body language on the mound looks ok. Physically she looks fine to me, but I'm not a team doctor. Hope Bria can fight through whatever ailments she's having, and emerge as a top pitcher which she's supposed to be.

 

[gule]

fire Ralph

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

fire Ralph

I'm hoping that Ralph retires from the game in next 3-4 yrs, maybe become a co-head coach emeritus a la Pat Summit, Maddi Shipman takes over as a full-time assistant coach. Karen coaches for another 10 yrs, retires after which either Maddi or Ashley Andrews gets named as TN's next head coach. Probably Maddi at that point. Either Maddi or Ashley will be a great choice for us IMO.

 

[Sandvol]

Nice read. It looks like Matty Moss has made it, doesn't it? Hope she can continue to pitch well down the stretch as she could very well be the difference maker propelling TN into its 8th WCWS appearance.

Bria Bush pitched well during fall ball; I didn't see any lingering effects of past injuries. I read an article somewhere a while ago, and she might have been hurt at one point. But, I thought her struggles this year had more to do with mental aspect of the college game than anything else. Her body language on the mound looks ok. Physically she looks fine to me, but I'm not a team doctor. Hope Bria can fight through whatever ailments she's having, and emerge as a top pitcher which she's supposed to be.

I thought they talked in the fall about how Bush was limited due to injuries?

 

[RollerVol]

fire Ralph

lol:

GO LADY VOLS!

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

I thought they talked in the fall about how Bush was limited due to injuries?

I missed it. That could explain her inconsistency in the circle I guess. But she hasn't pitched a lot of innings this year anyway and what if she has pitched well in those short innings-- then would the Weeklys have allowed Bria to pitch more? Would she still have been limited? I'm just glad that Matty Moss has stepped her game up and given Tennessee another solid option in the circle after Gretchen Aucoin experiment didn't go so well. The way Matty's been pitching of late, she may very well become the staff's ace heading into the postseason.

 

[sccshortstop]

What are you guys thoughts about pitcher against Oklahoma? I really think it will be Erin but she always has trouble in the 1st inning however you know how Gaffin will do according to how she does in the 1st inning as well. I believe Erin will get the start but who knows!!! I hope the girls that started hitting in the Furman game can continue this weekend but the competition with Oklahoma will be a major step tougher.
I guess I missed it about Bria as well. I know I have been down on her because of her pitching so far. I injured I can kind of see that she may be kind of like Erin has been. Maybe should have taken a redshirt unless with the new kids on the block coming next year was wanted her to work through it>

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

I would start Matty, and should she run into early trouble then I'll have our seniors Erin/Rainey ready in bullpen and bring them in. As has been the case all year, pitch by committee.

This will be a tough test for our left-handed dominant lineup; Oklahoma's ace Paige Parker is one helluva LEFTY pitcher. She's not only a power pitcher but she can also spin the ball extremely well. Look for her to dominate our lefty hitters early on. They have a freshman pitcher Jayden Chestnut and senior pitcher Kelsey Sevens as well. Chestnut is talented and Stevens as we all know is the one who won the deciding game against Tennessee in the 2014 super regional. I expect Abby Lockman and Scarlet McSwain to be in the lineup since they are a few right-handed hitters we have on the team.

 

[tnburban]

I'm hoping that Ralph retires from the game in next 3-4 yrs, maybe become a co-head coach emeritus a la Pat Summit, Maddi Shipman takes over as a full-time assistant coach. Karen coaches for another 10 yrs, retires after which either Maddi or Ashley Andrews gets named as TN's next head coach. Probably Maddi at that point. Either Maddi or Ashley will be a great choice for us IMO.

I like your train of thought except for

1. Ralph for another 1-2 years Karen for maybe 5 more years.
2. Shipman would need to prove herself as an assistant. Great players don't always make the best coaches (Ted Williams in baseball? Wayne Gretzky in hockey? Isiah Thomas in basketball? Mike Singletary in football?).
3. Andrews's heart is in Washington. It's where she's from, where she was raised. I'm sure she still has a lot of orange blood in her, but if Tarr is setting her up to take over that program there is no way UT has a chance to get her.

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

I like your train of thought except for

1. Ralph for another 1-2 years Karen for maybe 5 more years.
2. Shipman would need to prove herself as an assistant. Great players don't always make the best coaches (Ted Williams in baseball? Wayne Gretzky in hockey? Isiah Thomas in basketball? Mike Singletary in football?).
3. Andrews's heart is in Washington. It's where she's from, where she was raised. I'm sure she still has a lot of orange blood in her, but if Tarr is setting her up to take over that program there is no way UT has a chance to get her.

I believe the vast majority of the fan base including myself would like to see Ralph retire sooner than later, but the UT administration will let him coach for another 3-4 yrs I'm afraid. :no: Karen's still young, and she can coach for another 10 yrs no problem while maintaining the standards of excellence of and still attracting high-caliber recruits to the program.

You are right, but there have been a few exceptions such as Larry Bird (although his stint as a HC was short-lived), Mike Ditka, Lenny Wilkins, Joe Torre, Mike Soscia who all turned out to be good coaches. From every interviews I have watched and every press clippings that I have read, Maddi Shipman has impressed me. She's bright, thoughtful, well-organized, insightful and detail-oriented - the qualities we look for in a good head coach. I think She's had a lot to do with the team's success in the past two yrs; I can't remember our offense being this prolific and proficient in the past 10 yrs or so. Meghan Gregg is playing at another level at shortstop under Maddi's tutelage. I think we need to promote Maddi to a permeant assistant coaching position soon or risk of losing her to some big time (rival) school. Ashely Andrews is another bright young coach, and you are probably right about her wanting to stay in Washington. Too bad, she's got such a bright future too.

 

[sccshortstop]

I know Marty is the pitching coach and probably a good one who has been loyal for a long time. Do not know if he actively looks for a head coach position but if he can/does move on I would not hesitate to make Maddi the next assistant. Karen and Ralph can handle the pitchers and Maddi could work with the offense and defense. I know she is engaged or married and she and her family love Tennessee and UT. With sister Ally coming in within the next few years they would be firmly planted. Just my 2 cents worth!

 

[tnburban]

I believe the vast majority of the fan base including myself would like to see Ralph retire sooner than later, but the UT administration will let him coach for another 3-4 yrs I'm afraid. :no: Karen's still young, and she can coach for another 10 yrs no problem while maintaining the standards of excellence of and still attracting high-caliber recruits to the program.

You are right, but there have been a few exceptions such as Larry Bird (although his stint as a HC was short-lived), Mike Ditka, Lenny Wilkins, Joe Torre, Mike Soscia who all turned out to be good coaches. From every interviews I have watched and every press clippings that I have read, Maddi Shipman has impressed me. She's bright, thoughtful, well-organized, insightful and detail-oriented - the qualities we look for in a good head coach. I think She's had a lot to do with the team's success in the past two yrs; I can't remember our offense being this prolific and proficient in the past 10 yrs or so. Meghan Gregg is playing at another level at shortstop under Maddi's tutelage. I think we need to promote Maddi to a permeant assistant coaching position soon or risk of losing her to some big time (rival) school. Ashely Andrews is another bright young coach, and you are probably right about her wanting to stay in Washington. Too bad, she's got such a bright future too.

If Karen really does have 10 years left, and Ralph will get 3 more, what about Maddi become a full time assistant when Ralph retires, does that for two years, and then goes to a small/mid major program like a Sunbelt, Ohio Valley or a MAC conference school, as head coach for 4-5 years before coming back to UT when Karen retires? Get some time in the big chair having total responsibility for a program and see how it works out.

I know everyone loves Maddi, but turning a program over that is in as good of shape as UT and respected nationally, to someone with no head coaching experience is too risky.

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

If Karen really does have 10 years left, and Ralph will get 3 more, what about Maddi become a full time assistant when Ralph retires, does that for two years, and then goes to a small/mid major program like a Sunbelt, Ohio Valley or a MAC conference school, as head coach for 4-5 years before coming back to UT when Karen retires? Get some time in the big chair having total responsibility for a program and see how it works out.

I know everyone loves Maddi, but turning a program over that is in as good of shape as UT and respected nationally, to someone with no head coaching experience is too risky.

It's not just that I like Maddi as a great player (legend) which she was and also a great person that she obviously is, but I REALLY do see a great coaching career in her future. No, I'm not looking into a crystal ball, no I don't have the power to foresee the future events, but I just can feel/sense it. She's that good IMO. Realistically-speacking, you are probably right in that Maddi might have to spend some yrs at a smaller school in a non-P5 conference as an assistant first and then a head coach taking on full array of responsibilities of running a softball program before being considered for a head coach job at a big school. Prove her worth at a smaller school at first, and then move up in the coaching ranks a la Beth Torina. Beth Torina was one good player (pitcher) for Florida Gators in her playing days. She definitely paid her dues before taking over LSU program, and look how well she's done in the past few yrs. But Torina was a fast learner; I think she became the head coach at LSU in her early 30s.

My hope is that Maddi soon becomes our full-time assistant coach somehow overseeing the hitting and defense, serve her apprenticeship right here at Tennessee, and learn the ropes of being a head coach under the watchful eye of Karen. And then take over the program when Karen retires. (Don't' worry Maddi is no Holly Warlick)

At any rate, I have a feeling that when the time comes TN softball program is not gonna mess up its search for next head coach like its WBB program messed up big time. :clapping:

 

[sccshortstop]

I did not explain myself in my post previously. I think and hope as well that Ralph will hang it up in a few more years and Karen stay for several more. That will give Maddi 8 to 10 years not including the time as a LV. These volunteer positions are nearly as important as the assistant position. I would say that if we can keep her here and why would we not with her sister coming she is being groomed for the head job one day. I do not want her to move on to get that assistant position anywhere. Do not know the family at all but from all indications they are all CLASS!!

 

[2Alum4EverVol]

I did not explain myself in my post previously. I think and hope as well that Ralph will hang it up in a few more years and Karen stay for several more. That will give Maddi 8 to 10 years not including the time as a LV. These volunteer positions are nearly as important as the assistant position. I would say that if we can keep her here and why would we not with her sister coming she is being groomed for the head job one day. I do not want her to move on to get that assistant position anywhere. Do not know the family at all but from all indications they are all CLASS!!

Yes, I'd hate to see Maddi in another school colors other than Orange & White. Yes, Madison family/clan is all Class. They are one great Vol family. Can't wait to see Ally play for Tennessee. She'll be a great one.