It’s Championship Monday. Only two remain. Six teams have seen their dreams of a championship dashed upon the rocks. Some people shined while others did not live up to the hype. Here are my Cheers and Jeers at the WCWS.
Cheers
Angela Tincher, Pitcher VA Tech-She is arguably the best pitcher in the nation and it really makes me sad that she her career ended so early in the series. She has amazing movement on her pitches and has become a true leader of the Hokies. She was recently named the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award and rightly so. I heard about Tincher a few years ago and I hate that the rest of the country only got this small glimpse of her this week.
Amanda Scarborough, Pitcher Texas A&M-Her Senior season was abruptly ended in February when she suffered a mid-foot fracture in her right foot. Rather than wallowing in self-pity and shrinking in her Senior responsibilities, she has stepped up, big time. She and fellow Senior, Pitcher Megan Gibson forged a strong friendship and Scarborough began to work with Gibson teaching her all her skills and helping her become the Aggies new #1. Leadership like that is what makes college athletics so amazing. Scarborough is proof that you can still be a vital part of a team, even without stepping foot onto the field.
Kim Waleszonia, Centerfielder Florida-This story really hit home with me. Kim’s Father, Les was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the fall semester. Kim had to make the decision, stay at UF or go home to California. Her decision was easy. She went home for the entire fall semester to spend what little time she had left with her Dad. Les Waleszonia passed away in January with his daughter there to say good-bye. Kim then returned to Gainesville to begin her junior season with the Gators. Playing college ball is hard enough with the usual distractions, but I cannot imagine having that kind of burden on you day in and day out. She is a real inspiration and will be a strong Senior leader for the Florida Gators next season. I am sure her Father is very, very proud.
The Ragin’ Cajun fans, Louisiana-Lafayette-No one, and I mean NO ONE expected to see the Ragin’ Cajuns in the World Series. They are a small team, with an even smaller budget. While the other teams were flying to Oklahoma, the Cajuns chartered buses for a12-hour trip! You would think with that kind of distance the fans might not show up, but oh how wrong you would be. The Cajuns came in FULL FORCE. They were some of the largest crowds and defiantly the loudest! They lived up to the Ragin’ Cajun persona. The crowd enthusiasm is one of the great things about softball. These are real fans. They traveled, they were in every pitch and they stood by the girls till the bitter end. I would be proud to be a Ragin’ Cajun.
The Underclassman, from all the teams-The future of college softball is safe in the hands of the outstanding underclassman of the tournament. Not only were they there for support from the dugout, they were vital on the field. From pitchers to power hitter these Freshman and Sophomores made their presence known this week. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for players like, Charlotte Morgan, Kelsi Dunne, Tiffany DeFelice, Ashley Brignac, Kelsey Spittler, Whitney Davis, Samantha Camuso, GiOnna DiSalvatore and Katie Schroeder.
Jeers
The Arizona Wildcats and the UCLA Bruins-It has been 20 years since the WCWS Championship has been decided without one of these two teams. It’s like both these teams were abducted by Pod People. Where was the amazing Taryn Mowat we saw pitch 8 historic games last year? Where was the power hitting Bruins with the best base runners in the game? They were both flat and uninspired. It’s as though they came expecting all the other teams to roll over and die because of their storied past. Better luck next year you two.
Callista Balko, Catcher Arizona Wildcats-When you look at this girl think sweet Mid-Western blonde, who is self-described as Izzy Stevens from Grey’s Anatomy. But don’t turn your back on Balko, because she will slap you silly. As the Wildcats saw their dream of a three-peat running away in the fifth inning against Alabama, Callista Balko had been pushed to the limit. As Charlotte Morgan came toward home Balko was waiting and tagged her out in an easy play at the plate, but it didn’t end there. With the ball in her free hand Balko took her glove hand and blatantly slapped Charlotte Morgan on the back. I can understand that she was frustrated. She is an Arizona Wildcat. They don’t loose in the World Series, especially to Alabama, but that is NO EXCUSE for that kind of behavior. The stands were filled with young girls who idolize those players on the field. What kind of example is that? Shame on you Callista Balko, what would Izzy Stevens think of your behavior?
All the teams who walked Kaitlin Cochran-OK so I know she is an amazing hitter. I know she will make you pay for even the smallest mistake, but come on coaches. You will never convince me that Patrick Murphy’s decision to walk Cochran at the end of the Bama/ ASU game didn’t cost the Tide the win. Even after the ASU coaches moved Cochran to the leadoff spot teams STILL continued to intentionally walk her! An intentional walk to START the game?!?! Give me a break. This girl is a Senior, she deserves to make her last stand, not stand by and watch as team after team chose not to pitch to her. We shall see if the Aggies keep up this charade in the championship series.
Donna Bourgeois and the other foul-mouthed players who forgot they are on NATIONAL TELEVISION-As frustration set in so did the potty mouths of some of the players on the losing end. The most glaring example I saw was when Donna Bourgeois made the run costing throwing error to third in the BAMA/ LA-Lafayette elimination game. As she made her way back to the circle Bourgeois made a mother reference that had nothing to do with the woman who bore her. As a matter of fact I am sure that woman cringed with horror at the foulness coming out of her daughter’s mouth. There were other sporadic instances throughout the series but this one was unmistakable. PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU LADIES! Little girls who look up to you can see you and your dirty sailor mouths. Women’s sports get enough flack for not being as exciting or as athletic as men’s. Don’t give the critics any more fuel by having visible potty mouths on the field. Real ladies show self control at ALL times, save that stuff for the locker room, where there are NO CAMERAS.
Overall this has been one of the best World Series in a long time, and it ain’t over yet. There have been some amazing shows of talent, great upsets, defensive battles and future stars on the rise. I am very hopeful for the future of this game. I think people are beginning to see what I have known for some time, Women’s Fast-pitch Softball is an exciting fast-paced game with some amazing athletes playing in it. Who knows, maybe in 20 years or so my sister and I will be in OK City watching our daughters play. Wait and see…..
Monday, June 2, 2008
Posted by Donya at 2:32 PM
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18 comments:
"The Ragin’ Cajun fans, Louisiana-Lafayette-No one, and I mean NO ONE expected to see the Ragin’ Cajuns in the World Series. They are a small team, with an even smaller budget."
I thought you said you know sports?!?
The Ragin' Cajuns have been to the World Series 5 times, have won the Sunbelt Conference 8 times in the last 9 years, have consistently been in the Top 20 in the country and have had 35 players selected as All Americans.
You probably should do a little more research before you go spouting off about something you know little about.
This might help you learn a little about Cajun Softball
http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/19430829.html?showAll=y&c=y
http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/stories/060208aam.html
OK let me clarify. I watch ALOT of softball, all season long. As Regionals were announced I saw the UNSEEDED LA-Lafayette in a Region with the #9 LSU. I thought they might could beat LSU, and they did. Then they had to go up against #8 Houston in Super Regionals. I honestly did not expect them to beat Houston. Yes, from what little I had seen during the regular season LA-Lafayette was a talented team, but I wasn't convinced they had the depth to make it through a series. 5 of your 9 starters are underclassmen. This year has been the best overall year of softball in a long time. There were alot of good teams and I, like many, did not consider LA-Lafayette one of the best 8 in the country. Obviously I was wrong, they made it and made some noise while they were in the tournament. I was paying the team and fans a compliment. Don't take it so personally.
The Cajuns took the bus, because they wanted to. A bus allows a level of camaraderie that isn't possible on a plane... that is one of the hallmarks of this team, they are a very close-knit group.
Our poor, pitiful little school has flown them to games and tournaments all over the country, we could certainly "scrape together" the money to get them to the WCWS if they had chosen it.
As for Donna's language, as the Cajuns say, "Da's you."
Or in this case, "Da's her." She's an adult.
And I would guess that you would not take very kindly to her dictating to you what you are permitted, and not permitted, to say or do.
I was simply stating a fact about the team choosing to charter a bus rather than fly. My sister's team CHOSE to charter a bus to the Junior College World Series, when they could have afforded to fly. I was trying to make the point that if it's 12 hours by bus it is at least that long for the fans to travel. That is a long trip, especially with gas prices they what they are today. But still the fans came. Wy do all of ya'll have such an attitude? I have nothing but respect for this team and it's fans. You people are way to sensitive and need to re-read what I wrote. I was saying how great it was that your fans came such a long way in such a large fashion. Chill out!!
Hi Donna, I apologize since the fire storm is my fault I linked here from http://www.raginpagin.com
I honestly don't know where the attitude comes from. No one in the country except die-hard fans gave the Cajuns much of a chance so your take from your perspective was right on.
The respect you gave the team and its fans jumped off the pages of your blog when I read it. I mean how much stronger of an endorsement can one get than for a non fan to say "I would be proud to be a Ragin' Cajun." WOW thanks.
You were right the school is on a small budget and often busses to Houston before taking a flight to a far away game when there is an airport here in Lafayette. In this case bussing to Houston to fly to OK would not have saved much time so bussing all the way made much more sense.
What this team has accomplished on a shoe string budget is unparalleled in sports so reading between the lines thanks for pointing that out.
As far as the language there is simply no room for it.
Anyway I'm just chilling out on this fine morning and wanted to say thanks for the kind words.
I know, you think you're trying to be nice.
But you didn't say they "chose" to travel by bus, you talked about our 'tiny' budget and followed it up with a comment about the bus:
They are a small team, with an even smaller budget. While the other teams were flying to Oklahoma, the Cajuns chartered buses for a 12-hour trip!
You're trying to be nice, but you don't know how you sound. Let me give you an example.
In the 1990's UL popped #4 regional seed OU basketball in the NCAA Men's tournament.
Afterward, one of our fans went up to a Sooners fan, and said EXACTLY what fans from larger schools have told us for decades.
He said to the man, "Listen, you have a great team, you'll be back next year."
To which the OU fan dropped the F-bomb.
So why is it OK for people to say the exact same thing to us???
One other example: a few years ago, we had a clean-up weekend at the Athletic complex. Over 200 supporters showed up to fix the place up.
Our new head football coach came out, and picked up trash to help out.
Our fans posted a picture of him on our website and said, "How cool, the Coach will come out and pick up trash!"
A nearby BCS school took the very same picture and said, "How embarrassing, their Coach has to stoop to picking up trash."
You see a bus, and talk poverty and small time.
We see a bus, and talk community and character.
And BTW? UL is one of the two largest schools in the three-state region of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. You've never heard of us, so you assume we're small-time.
So don't tell me to chill. Tell yourself to think. You believe you're being nice, but you're actually condescending.
Let's get one thing perfectly clear. I would never, NEVER infer that you were small-time or impoverish. I know exactly who you are and exactly where you school is. Alabama has played you numerous times in numerous sporting venues.
I grew up in a small town, surrounded by larger wealthier towns and I never thought of myself as less than them and I would NEVER think that of you or your shcool. Once again I was simply stating facts. No I didn't say they CHOSE to take a bus, but taking the bus was not the point I was making. The 12 HOUR DRIVE was the point.
It is also a fact that LA-Lafayette has a smaller budget than some of the other schools in this tournament. I was certainly not saying they were poor, just that they had done more with less than all the other teams combined.
As far as the language goes I will not deter from what I said. There is no place or reason for foul language when there are children present. I would be lying if I said I never let an obscenity fly when I was alone, in the privacy of my home. But I DO NOT say them in public, and I CERTAINLY DO NOT say them in front of children. There were hundreds of little girls watching, and idolizing her and she, as an adult, should know better.
I take great offense to you calling me condescending. I am no better than you and you no better than I. Maybe you need to take a step back and accept a genuine compliment on a job well done. There was nothing sinister in my comments, just a true appreciation for a group of people I saw as amazing fans and great athletes.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."-Eleanor Roosevelt
I don't understand the hyper-sensitivity in the comment section about the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. I really appreciate the kind words you had about our school and fan support. We are very proud of this team. It's true, they have accomplished what they have on a small budget. That is a compliment, not a knock. It's been nothing but a pleasure to follow this team this season. They are special. Again, thanks for the kind blog entry.
Donya, you seem like a sweet lady. Dont let these cajun jackyls get you down. Keep up the great work on your blog.
Ragin Cajun athletics has a long history of showing their rear ends in public. They were the first team to be involved in a fight at the CWS in Omaha in 2000. They had a bench clearing at their baseball series against UNO just a few weekends ago.
As far as them taking the bus, Joseph is telling lies. The fact is their athletic department cannot afford charter flights or commercial airfare for spring sports. They can barely afford it for football. Their stadium is full of mold and has been a public health risk for a decade. They cannot afford to pressure wash and water seal the stadium. If they pressure wash without sealing it, it will fall apart. The mold is holding it together.
Their own sports information director submitted his job to USA Today for a competition for "The worst job in sports" and won. He wrote in his submission that they are so broke he had to steal pens and paper from hotel rooms. Here is a link to his entire piece. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2005-02-27-10-worst-feedback_x.htm
For more truths about UL-Lafayette athletics, read the official fan message board at
http://forums.delphiforums.com/ullcajuns/start
Jim
Thanks for the nice post.
Regards,
David
a.k.a CajunKahouna
Donya,
Thanks for the nice comments.
Regards,
David T.
a.k.a CajunKahouna
How can you say that no one expected the Cajuns to make the WCWS. It was our 5th trip to the WCWS in school history. Year in and year out UL is a top 25 program, so do a little research before you write next time.
Thanks for the kind words about the Ragin Cajuns. All of Lafayette, Louisiana is proud of these young ladies.
We may not have huge budgets or chartered aircraft, but we have a winning spirit. We prefer it that way! Everyone loves the underdog, right?
We hope to be back in Oklahoma City soon!
I would also like to thank you for the kind words for our RAGIN' CAJUNS!!! It's also nice to see that you can spot a true idiot in the bunch (ulljimjones). If you went on his website, you would see that he's the only one who posts on it!! LOL!!!
Donya, your comments were right on regarding the foul language from the ul-laff player. Please don't let anyone fool you into thinking that this is "OK" language to be using. As a former ul-laff grad. I find it quite embarassing to be associated with such garbage attitudes. It's not a wonder why ul-laff is the laughing stock of the state of Louisiana. There are certain folks, as you now see, that are only worried about a "name" that is unlawful and just incorrect relative to this school. The legal and ONLY correct name of this school is university of louisiana at lafayette. That's what ALL diplomas clearly state. Therefore, keep up your wonderful and informative blog and please don't let these "pretend to be diehard softball fans" come here and brainwash you into thinking along their lines. These people wake up miserable and are nothing but angry envious fans. The TRUE fans of this school know deep down inside that this school is a softball school that is actually proud of the name.......ul-laff. Please keep up your blog as you see fit.
Donya, one more item of note.....the ul-laff softball team took the bus to OK City due to the fact that that was all the budget would allow. Anyone who says otherwise is lying and they know it. The athletic budget at ul-laff is about barely that of a FCS school. I know one of the players personally and she herself said that the bus was all the university would allow and afford!! This player, once she returned to lafayette, was very vocal to me with her displeasure and embarassment about the foul language her fellow player displayed. Her initial thought was "what happened if children were watching". Hopefully this will get addressed accordingly and a public apology, most people feel, is in order. There is absolutely no place for this type of thuggish language anywhere, especially for a sport that is at the forefront of a softball school such as ul-laff. There is nothing wrong with being know as a "softball school" as ESPN clearly stated.
Donya,
Allow me to apologize. You are right. I (and the entire University) run into condescension at times, from people, institutions, review teams and others, who make assumptions about who we are, and what we have done.
Moving up in the world is, of course, exactly that, an uphill battle. I let it get to me sometimes and I shouldn't.
Reading back over what you said about our fan support, I realize you were not trying to be anything but complimentary to our team and our fans.
And we can agree to disagree about Donna Bourgeois.
Best of luck to you and yours--
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