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re: Bama Softball 45-22 (16-11) (2022-23)
Posted on 4/19/23 at 12:05 pm to Alabama_Fan
Posted on 4/19/23 at 12:05 pm to Alabama_Fan
Montana Fouts Named Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year
Fouts has been a finalist for the award three times, previously doing so in 2019 and 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY – For the third time in her Alabama softball career, Montana Fouts is a Top 25 finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award, it was announced Wednesday.
The fifth-year senior was previously a finalist for the award in 2019 and 2021. So far this season, Fouts leads the NCAA with 244 strikeouts, owning a 17-7 record and 1.50 ERA over 158.1 innings pitched. She has won three NFCA and SEC Pitcher of the Week awards and has thrown a pair of no-hitters, including one perfect game, along with seven complete-game shutouts.
The list of 25 will be narrowed to a Top 10, which will be revealed on May 3 with the Top 3 coming May 17 and the winner announced in Oklahoma City prior to the start of the Women's College World Series.
Fouts has been a finalist for the award three times, previously doing so in 2019 and 2021
OKLAHOMA CITY – For the third time in her Alabama softball career, Montana Fouts is a Top 25 finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award, it was announced Wednesday.
The fifth-year senior was previously a finalist for the award in 2019 and 2021. So far this season, Fouts leads the NCAA with 244 strikeouts, owning a 17-7 record and 1.50 ERA over 158.1 innings pitched. She has won three NFCA and SEC Pitcher of the Week awards and has thrown a pair of no-hitters, including one perfect game, along with seven complete-game shutouts.
The list of 25 will be narrowed to a Top 10, which will be revealed on May 3 with the Top 3 coming May 17 and the winner announced in Oklahoma City prior to the start of the Women's College World Series.
1
Posted on 4/19/23 at 3:08 pm to Alabama_Fan
quote:
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:38 pm to Alabama_Fan
How Alabama softball ace Montana Fouts is finding new heights, inspiration in fifth season
Since her commitment a decade ago at 13, Montana Fouts and Alabama softball have been connected. Now in the final stage of her decorated collegiate career, Fouts has found new heights.
The collegiate game has evolved away from aces like Monica Abbott and Jackie Traina, but Fouts has been an Alabama ace during her career. Her resume includes three All-American honors, three All-SEC honors and the SEC Pitcher of the Year Award in 2021.
As of Tuesday morning, Fouts is the national leader in strikeouts (232) and is top 50 in ERA (1.53). She is holding batters to a .159 batting average (the lowest of her career) while allowing 88 hits and 43 runs in 157.1 innings pitched.
Fouts' senior day highlights the start of the Auburn series on Friday (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network). It comes on the heels of her hometown trip where Alabama picked up wins over Marshall. It is the first time that Alabama will host Auburn since 2017.
New coach, new heights
When Stephanie Van Brakle-Protho left for Memphis last offseason it left a hole in the Alabama staff. With Fouts returning for her fifth season, it was important to get someone that could help her elevate her game. Lance McMahon seemed like the perfect fit, with Fouts saying that "his strengths were my weaknesses." Coach Patrick Murphy liked McMahon's coaching style and how he could help the staff with their spins.
Fouts has been known as a riseball pitcher for most of her collegiate career but with help from McMahon, she has been able to use the whole zone. It is something that Murphy feels makes opposing batters start to guess what is coming next.
"When you're in the dugout and you watch hitters start to guess, that's when you know something good is happening because when they guess, they don't have a clue what's coming next, Murphy said. "For me, when I see that on an opposing batter, that's the best feeling in the world for me."
For Fouts, the addition of a drop ball to her game was something that she wanted to work on in her final season.
"I didn't really consider myself much of a spinning pitcher and that's something that I wanted to get better at and that's his expertise," Fouts said. "We're always working on those things and he's been able to critique. We've grown a really great relationship outside of softball."
The hard work is paying off. In her last six SEC appearances, Fouts has allowed only four runs on 20 hits while striking out 65 batters. She has four shutouts and a no-hitter in the stretch. Her work has earned her back-to-back SEC and NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors.
A new why
Whether at home or on the road, Fouts has remained one of the most popular Crimson Tide players. Last Wednesday at Samford when Fouts went to the bullpen, a crowd followed and she never entered the game. On her hometown trip, crowds showed up hours before the first pitch to see her.
The introduction of NIL has brought a new wrinkle. Fouts is able to sell official jerseys with her name and number on them. It's not uncommon for Rhoads Stadium to be full of Fouts jerseys on game days. Between the girls just watching her warm-up or wearing her jersey, it has renewed why Fouts plays the game.
"It still doesn't seem real to me even though it's been a thing now for a couple of years where I've been allowed to the name, image and likeness thing," Fouts said. "It just reminds me of when I was younger. I just dreamed of playing on this field, and every time I see one of those it takes me back when I was 8 years old and wanting to play. It's really good for me to see that and think, this is why I play. I want to play for them and it's good motivation for me."
Murphy believes it goes further, saying those girls "want to be like her."
Since her commitment a decade ago at 13, Montana Fouts and Alabama softball have been connected. Now in the final stage of her decorated collegiate career, Fouts has found new heights.
The collegiate game has evolved away from aces like Monica Abbott and Jackie Traina, but Fouts has been an Alabama ace during her career. Her resume includes three All-American honors, three All-SEC honors and the SEC Pitcher of the Year Award in 2021.
As of Tuesday morning, Fouts is the national leader in strikeouts (232) and is top 50 in ERA (1.53). She is holding batters to a .159 batting average (the lowest of her career) while allowing 88 hits and 43 runs in 157.1 innings pitched.
Fouts' senior day highlights the start of the Auburn series on Friday (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network). It comes on the heels of her hometown trip where Alabama picked up wins over Marshall. It is the first time that Alabama will host Auburn since 2017.
New coach, new heights
When Stephanie Van Brakle-Protho left for Memphis last offseason it left a hole in the Alabama staff. With Fouts returning for her fifth season, it was important to get someone that could help her elevate her game. Lance McMahon seemed like the perfect fit, with Fouts saying that "his strengths were my weaknesses." Coach Patrick Murphy liked McMahon's coaching style and how he could help the staff with their spins.
Fouts has been known as a riseball pitcher for most of her collegiate career but with help from McMahon, she has been able to use the whole zone. It is something that Murphy feels makes opposing batters start to guess what is coming next.
"When you're in the dugout and you watch hitters start to guess, that's when you know something good is happening because when they guess, they don't have a clue what's coming next, Murphy said. "For me, when I see that on an opposing batter, that's the best feeling in the world for me."
For Fouts, the addition of a drop ball to her game was something that she wanted to work on in her final season.
"I didn't really consider myself much of a spinning pitcher and that's something that I wanted to get better at and that's his expertise," Fouts said. "We're always working on those things and he's been able to critique. We've grown a really great relationship outside of softball."
The hard work is paying off. In her last six SEC appearances, Fouts has allowed only four runs on 20 hits while striking out 65 batters. She has four shutouts and a no-hitter in the stretch. Her work has earned her back-to-back SEC and NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors.
A new why
Whether at home or on the road, Fouts has remained one of the most popular Crimson Tide players. Last Wednesday at Samford when Fouts went to the bullpen, a crowd followed and she never entered the game. On her hometown trip, crowds showed up hours before the first pitch to see her.
The introduction of NIL has brought a new wrinkle. Fouts is able to sell official jerseys with her name and number on them. It's not uncommon for Rhoads Stadium to be full of Fouts jerseys on game days. Between the girls just watching her warm-up or wearing her jersey, it has renewed why Fouts plays the game.
"It still doesn't seem real to me even though it's been a thing now for a couple of years where I've been allowed to the name, image and likeness thing," Fouts said. "It just reminds me of when I was younger. I just dreamed of playing on this field, and every time I see one of those it takes me back when I was 8 years old and wanting to play. It's really good for me to see that and think, this is why I play. I want to play for them and it's good motivation for me."
Murphy believes it goes further, saying those girls "want to be like her."
Posted on 4/20/23 at 3:41 pm to Alabama_Fan
Schedule update for the last home series
quote:
Alabama Softball@AlabamaSB·1m
*LSU series schedule update*
The series finale in Tuscaloosa between Alabama and LSU on Sunday, April 30 will now start at 11:30 a.m. CT and will air live on ESPN
#Team27 #RollTide
Posted on 4/20/23 at 7:06 pm to Alabama_Fan
Alabama Softball Prepares for Pitcher's Duel Ahead of Auburn's First Trip to Rhoads Since 2017 (SI)
The top-two strikeout pitchers in the SEC will square off in Tuscaloosa this weekend for a rivalry series with huge implications.
The top-two strikeout pitchers in the SEC will square off in Tuscaloosa this weekend for a rivalry series with huge implications.
Posted on 4/21/23 at 7:27 am to Alabama_Fan
Posted on 4/21/23 at 9:09 am to Alabama_Fan
quote:
Posted on 4/21/23 at 10:42 pm to Alabama_Fan
Mother Nature wasn’t having any part of Montana Day - so now it’s Montana weekend! Widely spaced apart double header tomorrow.
quote:
Alabama Softball@AlabamaSB
*Schedule Update *
Friday's series opener vs. Auburn has been postponed
Game one (Montana Fouts senior day celebration) will be at 11:30 a.m. CT, game two to follow at 3 p.m. CT live on SEC Network
#Team27 #RollTide
Posted on 4/22/23 at 8:02 am to Alabama_Fan
Posted on 4/22/23 at 4:52 pm to Alabama_Fan
Fouts and hitting was good first game. Reversed in second game as we are showing no true number two pitcher vs a good SEC team. Hitting sucks too in game 2. Down 5-1 late
Posted on 4/22/23 at 5:24 pm to mrbroker
Let’s face it, take away Montana for the past 5 years and Murphy would have already been canned at some point. Without her, we would have probably missed the postseason the last 2 seasons and wouldn’t have been to OKC in probably 5 years. It will be interesting to see if the exodus continues after this season and how Murphy responds to it.
Posted on 4/22/23 at 6:54 pm to phil4bama
all of our pitches are probably gone so it will be interesting to see who comes in. My guess he is hoping a big time portal day one type starter. In general we need some solid power hitters. We need to not ever recruit a slash hitter.
Posted on 4/22/23 at 8:52 pm to mrbroker
First game was beautiful for the most part. Montana was great. Gave up a solo home run and that was it. Team got lots of hits. Prange got hurt sliding into 2nd base and was in a boot for game 2. Emma moved to 3rd and Esman was on 1st for game 2.
Second game had some bull shite going on. Top of the inning Bama got the 3rd out at first base and it was challenged and announced as ‘upheld’ over the PA. Bama leaves the field and goes into the dugout to get ready to bat and they take the field to start warming up. Then all of a sudden they pull them off the field and reverse the call to safe and send Bama back out. Ally had to put her catcher gear back on. Instead of a quick inning for Salter, she went back out and subsequently gave up a walk (edit: it wasn’t a walk - it was an error by Cahalan that should have been the 3rd out again that lead to the 2nd runner being on base) then the 3 run home run. In the bottom of the first Bama had the dreaded runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs and, as we know, that means nothing. After that - it was over. If anyone was watching it on TV I’d love to know how that review was explained.
Bama falls to 1-11 when the other team scores at least 5 runs.
Second game had some bull shite going on. Top of the inning Bama got the 3rd out at first base and it was challenged and announced as ‘upheld’ over the PA. Bama leaves the field and goes into the dugout to get ready to bat and they take the field to start warming up. Then all of a sudden they pull them off the field and reverse the call to safe and send Bama back out. Ally had to put her catcher gear back on. Instead of a quick inning for Salter, she went back out and subsequently gave up a walk (edit: it wasn’t a walk - it was an error by Cahalan that should have been the 3rd out again that lead to the 2nd runner being on base) then the 3 run home run. In the bottom of the first Bama had the dreaded runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs and, as we know, that means nothing. After that - it was over. If anyone was watching it on TV I’d love to know how that review was explained.
Bama falls to 1-11 when the other team scores at least 5 runs.
This post was edited on 4/22/23 at 8:57 pm
Posted on 4/22/23 at 9:01 pm to Alabama_Fan
Tribute Video played pregame featuring some of Montana’s biggest fans
This post was edited on 4/22/23 at 9:12 pm
Posted on 4/22/23 at 9:04 pm to Alabama_Fan
Posted on 4/22/23 at 9:10 pm to Alabama_Fan
Posted on 4/23/23 at 7:08 am to Alabama_Fan
Posted on 4/23/23 at 1:15 pm to Alabama_Fan
Fouts coming unglued in top of 6. Bama down 3-1 vs the AU number 1 pitcher. We fixing to lose this series at home unless we put together back to back hits and make them count. Fouts pitches in this inning, expecially up 0-2 to a batter who just got an RBI is not what I expected. Even the announcers said she got too much of the plate.
Posted on 4/23/23 at 1:26 pm to mrbroker
Bama about to get screwed here
Posted on 4/23/23 at 1:28 pm to mrbroker
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