ESPN
GAME OF THE DAY
Texas
Upsets
Oklahoma
1-0
#5
Texas
upset #4
Oklahoma
Friday
on a one-out, two-on double by Tamara Poppe that bounced off the right field
fence, bringing in Wynter Turner with the winning run.
Kami Keiter got Chez Sievers to ground out to short for the first out of
the 9th, but, she walked Turner on a 3-2 count.
Alexis Garcia hit hard back to the mound off Keiter’s leg and Keiter
could not control the ball – the third Sooner missed chance and this one hurt,
putting two on with one out, with Turner in scoring position.
Poppe then laced the winning rbi, the 6th
Texas
hit. OU
had four hits, but Catherine Osterman, who notched 17 Ks, did not give up a hit
after a single by Keiter in the 6th.
She walked Leah Gulla, who had singled to center in the 1st
and 4th, in the 7th and 9th but Gulla could not
advance because Osterman, who had thrown 130 pitches through the 8th,
seemed to get stronger in the last 3 innings.
Cat struck out the side in the 7th and 8th, and
fanned 10 of the last 13 batters she faced.
Kelli Braitsch had the other
Oklahoma
hit. The
Sooners had only two runners reach second safely: Pinch runner Lori Shimasaki
stole second after Keiter singled in the 6th, and Gulla reached
second when a failed pick went out of play.
Each time, Osterman retired the next three batters – two on Ks in the 6th,
three on Ks in the 7th. Longhorn
catcher Marlo Hanks threw out a pinch runner tryng to steal 2nd, and
Braitsch was called out for leaving too soon.
Texas
was having just as much difficulty, with Keiter
fanning seven. Lindsay Gardner’s
first inning popup fell between three Sooners and advanced to 2nd
when Chez Sievers’ grounder was misplayed.
Gardner
hit a deep drive to left in the 3rd
but Jessica Leslie made a great catch.
Texas
would not get another base runner until the 4th
when Turner singled to left, only to be thrown out by OU catcher Heather
Scaglione trying to steal. Keiter
struck out the first two batters in the 5th and the Longhorns went
down on grounders in the 6th.
Texas
bid to win the game in regulation, starting the
7th with Keiter mishandling Sievers’ grounder.
After a sac and a flyout to Kristin Vesely in right, Poppe came in for
Sarah Wiesczak and drew an intentional walk to give OU defensive options.
The next batter grounded out to Braitsch at short.
Texas
threatened again in the 8th; Keiter
fanned Hanks but the #9 batter, Sarah Stelly, slapped a chopper over the mound
and beat the throw.
Gardner
grounded to Tiffany Weight who threw to Braitsch
covering 2nd for the force.
Gardner
stole 2nd when Keiter put a ball in
the dirt. Tina Boutelle worked a 3-2
count, then hit sharply to Braitsch at short – and
Gardner
was called out for interference.
Still,
Texas
had put runners in scoring position three times,
including the 7th and 8th innings, and, when two runners
reached in the 9th on a walk and error, with Osterman in such
command, the end seemed inevitable. Cat
has hurled 36 Ks in her last 16 innings, and has not given up an earned run in
Big 12 competition. Both pitchers
gave up two walks. Osterman is 18-4, Keiter 22-3.
Texas
leads the Big 12 with an 8-2 record;
Oklahoma
is 8-4.
Texas
is 31-7;
Oklahoma
32-7. This
game marked the first time
Texas
has won at home over
Oklahoma
since 1999.
ESPN:
This first of the season game
for ESPN marked the debut of Jennie Finch in the broadcast booth.
Although a bit hesitant at the start, Jennie did an excellent job of
identifying pitches and providing color commentary, especially on pitching
strategy to batters in various situations. The
NCAA sideline reporter, Ellen Weinberg, performed much the same function as NFL
sideline reporters, and got some brief but useful insights from the coaches.
Beth Mowins, who did play by play, made a successful effort to work the
other two reporters into the commentary, but her own remarks seemed to tilt
toward the obvious. I will give her
the benefit of the doubt and conclude she was setting Jennie up with
questions/comments which Jennie could explain for the benefit of the viewing
audience, eg, assistant coaches vs catchers calling pitches.
When Mowins at one point called Osterman “the top pitcher in
softball” and one can make the case that she is, nevertheless I am certain
eyebrows shot up in
Tucson
and Westwood.
And, noting that several
Texas
players like Osterman, Gardner, Boutelle, et al
played together “in high school,” Mowins mentioned that they had played for
“a good local team, the Katy Cruisers”.
Somebody’s backgrounder should have informed Mowins that, led by
Osterman and Gardner, the Katy Cruisers were two-time ASA Gold national
champions. That may seem like nitpicking, but knowledgable softball people know
this stuff. Mowins did a good job on
other filler material, eg, who had played for US national teams, who had played
on the Junior world team, who was in ASA’s list of 25 nominees for player of
the year, former OU and Texas players who had starred in the series like Jen
Stewart and Christa Williams, etc. On the whole, I thought Mowins was balanced;
while obviously praising Cat’s considerable skills, she also took note of
Keiter’s outstanding effort. Bottom line: just as the 2002 WCWS broadcasts
were made much better by having Michele Smith, with help from Jen Sharron, doing
the color commentary, today’s broadcast benefited immensely from having Jennie
in the booth – a good first game for all hands.
I look forward to the next broadcast and encourage softball people at all
levels to watch. A veteran of the
WCWS, who knows what it’s like to be the champion, and to lose, Jennie will
add indepth insights to this year’s games.
SPY for one is very grateful
to ESPN and to the NCAA for providing this coverage of our sport, and for
selecting a very memorable game to inaugurate the viewing season.
PS: Jennie beat Christina
Aguilar in that ESPN Page Two competition.
 |
 |
 |
| Tamara Poppe |
Catherine Osterman |
Kami Keiter |
end
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