Crimson Red Sports

The Crimson Tide will open its season indoors at the UNI Dome Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

"I don't think there's any championship hangover with this group," Alabama coach Patrick Murphy said.

Alabama lost six seniors from last year's national title team, but returns a senior class led by leadoff hitter Kayla Braud.

"We understand what it feels like," Braud said. "We've tasted it."

Back are full-time starters Braud in left field, Courtney Conley at third base and Kaila Hunt at shortstop, as well as Danae Hays, a part-time starter at shortstop. They are joined by seven returning position players, five newcomers and a pitching staff led by ace Jackie Traina, who went 42-3 in the circle to earn Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year honors along with All-America accolades. She also batted .319 with 10 home runs.

Murphy believes this is his deepest team yet, with two or three starting candidates at each position.

"If you don't push it and play hard," Murphy said of his depth situation, "you could get run over. It could be whoever's hot with the bat could start (at any position)."

Murphy points out that no member of the team posted a grade-point average below 3.0 in the fall, and that all four seniors are on schedule to graduate in four years.

I liked these comments by CPM.

Thanks for the link, but no one is defending anything.  This isn't the same team.  That title is won; it's in the record books, no one can take it away.  This team is a different team, and they have to prove what they can do on the field.   :)

Go Tidettes. We hope to see ya in Omaha. RTR!

^^^THIS^^^ :clap:

Bama playing Illinois

After 3 innings, bama leads 7-2, thanks to a grandslam by Kima Davis.

Jury is pitching and struggling with her control.  In 3 innings she has walked 4, hit 2 and made 2 wild pitches.

Hope she settles down.

Bama leads 7-2 with Illinois batting in the top of the 7th. Jury is still on the mound. According to gametracker she has walked 3,  HBP 2 and given up 4 hits and 1 earned run.

Bama plays Northern Iowa at 7:00 so we must be saving Traina for that game.

If we could get Jury or someone else to be able to pitch against some of these lesser opponents from time to time it would allow Traina some rest so maybe she doesn't have to pitch 45 games this year.

If we could get Jury or someone else to be able to pitch against some of these lesser opponents from time to time it would allow Traina some rest so maybe she doesn't have to pitch 45 games this year.