2017 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 1Feb 14, 2017 by Chez Sievers
What To Watch For At 2017 Mary Nutter Weekend 1
What To Watch For At 2017 Mary Nutter Weekend 1
What To Watch For At Mary Nutter Weekend 1 with UCLA, Oregon, Cal, Kentucky, and Illinois
February 17-19, 2017 16 teams from 10 different conferences travel to Cathedral City, Calif. to battle at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic weekend 1. Last season, we saw five teams who competed at Mary Nutter advance to the Women's College World Series. We saw the 2016 Player of the Year, Sierra Romero compete against the future champions Oklahoma. This is best preview of post season.
Watch weekend one of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic LIVE Feb. 17-19 only on FloSoftball
Weekend one features new contenders and future post season players UCLA, Oregon, Kentucky, Illinois, UCF and more. When talking about traveling to Mary Nutter, Kentucky Head Coach, Rachel Lawson said, "I love playing UCLA. I love Oregon. When you go out west there's a completely different style of play. It really helps us."
WHY: Can I get an 8-clap for the monster start the Bruins had opening weekend? If the pitching staff remains healthy, prepare to see the Bruins dominate once again. Last season, we saw UCLA struggle in the circle due to injuries. This season Rachel Garcia, Paige McDuffee, Selina Ta'amilo, Johanna Grauer, and Madilyn Nickles round out the pitching staff. The much anticipated debut of Garcia did not disappoint as she posted a 0.00 ERA, 13 strike outs in 10 innings pitched. UCLA blends experience with Delaney Spaulding, Gabriel Maurice, and Kylie Perez with freshmen Madilyn "Bubba" Nickles and Garcia. Expect Hot 100 Nickles to make an immediate impact in the lineup. Spaulding went off last weekend batting .706 with two home runs, two doubles, and a triple. Mary Nutter will definitely be a great challenge for the Bruins who will face off against UCF and Kentucky this weekend.
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WHY: Prepare to see a different style and look to the Oregon Ducks offense and defense. They lost a number of power hitting seniors who made a tremendous on the Ducks program but they gained the No. 1 recruiting class in 2016. The freshmen class are athletic, fast, and versatile. The Ducks add Hot 100 No. 1 player Miranda Elish and No. 4 pitcher Maggie Balint to the pitching staff. Maggie Balint surprised us jumping up the Hot 100 and we believe she'll surprise the country once again. Megan Kleist is expected to take the No. 1 spot in the pitching rotation while the No. 2 and 3 spot in the rotation are up for grabs. Returners Jenna Lilley, Nikki Udria, and Gwen Svekis will have a profound impact on the shape of the Ducks season. Oregon picked up a huge player last fall, sophomore South Carolina transfer Alex Mack. Mack led the Gamecocks in a number of offensive categories. Don't count the Ducks out, I think we're going to see great chemistry from this young group.
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WHY: Head Coach Rachel Lawson has a long history of recruiting gritty players with the tenacity of beating top 25 teams. The Wildcats have a young group and the biggest question is what will their pitching staff will look like. Larissa Spellman, Megan Prince, and Shannon Smith will be splitting games. Spellman currently holds a 0.00 ERA in 10 innings pitched. Prince leads the team in strike outs. On offense, returner Abby Cheeks will be the most dangerous hitter in their lineup. Look for big things from freshman Alex Martens and sophomore Jenny Schaper who big more pop to the order.
WHY: The Illini aims to make it even further in the NCAA tournament. In 2016, the Illini made it to the Lexington region and nearly made it passed Utah and Kentucky. Senior Breanna Wonderly, junior Erin Walker and sophomore Taylor Edwards return the circle. Outfielder Nicole Evans is red hot batting .611 with three doubles and two home runs. Illinois' offense have hit seven bombs in five games with an overall batting average .395.
[polldaddy poll="9665079"]
Watch weekend one of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic LIVE Feb. 17-19 only on FloSoftball
Weekend one features new contenders and future post season players UCLA, Oregon, Kentucky, Illinois, UCF and more. When talking about traveling to Mary Nutter, Kentucky Head Coach, Rachel Lawson said, "I love playing UCLA. I love Oregon. When you go out west there's a completely different style of play. It really helps us."
What To Watch For At Mary Nutter Weekend 1
UCLA
WHEN: Friday (5:30 vs Cal Poly, 8:00 vs UCF); Saturday (3:00 vs UC Davis, 5:30 vs Kentucky)WHY: Can I get an 8-clap for the monster start the Bruins had opening weekend? If the pitching staff remains healthy, prepare to see the Bruins dominate once again. Last season, we saw UCLA struggle in the circle due to injuries. This season Rachel Garcia, Paige McDuffee, Selina Ta'amilo, Johanna Grauer, and Madilyn Nickles round out the pitching staff. The much anticipated debut of Garcia did not disappoint as she posted a 0.00 ERA, 13 strike outs in 10 innings pitched. UCLA blends experience with Delaney Spaulding, Gabriel Maurice, and Kylie Perez with freshmen Madilyn "Bubba" Nickles and Garcia. Expect Hot 100 Nickles to make an immediate impact in the lineup. Spaulding went off last weekend batting .706 with two home runs, two doubles, and a triple. Mary Nutter will definitely be a great challenge for the Bruins who will face off against UCF and Kentucky this weekend.
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Oregon
WHEN: Friday (12:30 vs. Kentucky, 3:00 vs Kent State); Saturday (10:00 vs Liberty, 12:30 vs CSUN); Sunday (9:00 vs Illinois)WHY: Prepare to see a different style and look to the Oregon Ducks offense and defense. They lost a number of power hitting seniors who made a tremendous on the Ducks program but they gained the No. 1 recruiting class in 2016. The freshmen class are athletic, fast, and versatile. The Ducks add Hot 100 No. 1 player Miranda Elish and No. 4 pitcher Maggie Balint to the pitching staff. Maggie Balint surprised us jumping up the Hot 100 and we believe she'll surprise the country once again. Megan Kleist is expected to take the No. 1 spot in the pitching rotation while the No. 2 and 3 spot in the rotation are up for grabs. Returners Jenna Lilley, Nikki Udria, and Gwen Svekis will have a profound impact on the shape of the Ducks season. Oregon picked up a huge player last fall, sophomore South Carolina transfer Alex Mack. Mack led the Gamecocks in a number of offensive categories. Don't count the Ducks out, I think we're going to see great chemistry from this young group.
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Kentucky
WHEN: Friday (10:00 vs UC Davis, 12:30 vs Oregon); Saturday (5:30 vs UCLA, 8:00 vs CSUN)WHY: Head Coach Rachel Lawson has a long history of recruiting gritty players with the tenacity of beating top 25 teams. The Wildcats have a young group and the biggest question is what will their pitching staff will look like. Larissa Spellman, Megan Prince, and Shannon Smith will be splitting games. Spellman currently holds a 0.00 ERA in 10 innings pitched. Prince leads the team in strike outs. On offense, returner Abby Cheeks will be the most dangerous hitter in their lineup. Look for big things from freshman Alex Martens and sophomore Jenny Schaper who big more pop to the order.
Illinois
WHEN: Friday (3:30 vs Illinois, 6:00 vs St. Mary's); Saturday (9:30 vs UC Davis, 12:00 vs Arkansas); Sunday (9:00 vs Oregon)WHY: The Illini aims to make it even further in the NCAA tournament. In 2016, the Illini made it to the Lexington region and nearly made it passed Utah and Kentucky. Senior Breanna Wonderly, junior Erin Walker and sophomore Taylor Edwards return the circle. Outfielder Nicole Evans is red hot batting .611 with three doubles and two home runs. Illinois' offense have hit seven bombs in five games with an overall batting average .395.
[polldaddy poll="9665079"]