2018 NCAA Softball Tournament Interactive Bracket

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2018 10:33:07 GMT -5 drjensen said:

Home plate umpire was terrible!!!! Whoever hired him should reconsider ever letting him work a game of this importance again. Occasionally an umpire will miss a call but this guy was terrible. When the commentators start oohing and aahing over his mistakes, you know its bad and as I said before, I think they showed favoritism to the UCLA women. One thing is for sure, there are no virgins on the Florida team, the ump screwed them all last night.

In this day and age with the popularity of college softball, it's incomprehensible how college softball isn't using instant replay. It would have taken a couple of minutes to get the call right, but the difference of leaving the inning 4-1 UF instead of 5-4 UCLA can't be understated in importance in who won the game last night. The Gators outplayed the Bruins and deserved to win the game 5-2 even with Kelly Barnhill's one inning meltdown. UF at 2-0 instead of 1-1 would have become the favorite to me with the way they have been playing. Now, all perspective is lost on what could happen with UF after such a screwing.

On the close play in the Oklahoma vs. Washington game, I thought the player had the diving catch in her possession until she tried to get up from the ground. I don't think there would have been enough evidence to overturn the joint call between the plate ump and the 1st base ump. It's a shame we don't have the replay available to confirm a play like that too. 

Someone on Gator Country looked the plate ump up on LinkedIn. He graduated from a small college in Washington state, but he has been working in LA for at least the last 10 years. Can you just imagine the furor had the roles been reversed and a ref from Gainesville blew that call and called the strike zone he called last night. Media darling UCLA would have melted down. Well, I say that as if anybody out there really cares about the integrity of college softball. That may be a stretch after what happened last night.

College softball has to bite the bullet and incorporate instant replay into at least the NCAA tournament. The  major conferences need to make it a priority during the offseason. UF will have a state of the art renovated stadium in 2019 with capacity much higher than the 2,500 covered chair seating when you add the seating available on the berms, maybe 4,000+. It would be so easy for UF and the major conferences to add instant replay. So many of the games are already being televised on ESPN3, the SEC Network+, the ACC Network+, and the B1G Network. I'm sure the PAC 12 Network is doing the same thing for its subscribers. 

[oujour76]

Jun 2, 2018 11:08:34 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

In this day and age with the popularity of college softball, it's incomprehensible how college softball isn't using instant replay. Here's hoping it doesn't happen, except maybe for balls that are fair or foul, things like that. I hate IR when it comes to judgment calls. Fix the umps. It would have taken a couple of minutes to get the call right, but the difference of leaving the inning 4-1 UF instead of 5-4 UCLA can't be understated in importance in who won the game last night. The Gators outplayed the Bruins and deserved to win the game 5-2 even with Kelly Barnhill's one inning meltdown. UF at 2-0 instead of 1-1 would have become the favorite to me with the way they have been playing. Now, all perspective is lost on what could happen with UF after such a screwing.

On the close play in the Oklahoma vs. Washington game, I thought the player had the diving catch in her possession until she tried to get up from the ground. I don't think there would have been enough evidence to overturn the joint call between the plate ump and the 1st base ump. It's a shame we don't have the replay available to confirm a play like that too.  Umps made the call, could be argued either way, but you live with it and no complaints from this OU fan. Sometimes the calls don't go your way at a neutral site. I do not want to see softball go down the road of football with this incessant "process of the catch" bullshit that has (imo) mucked up the game at both the college and pro level.

[Deleted]

From UF's perspective with a still photo of the play:

floridagators.com/news/2018/6/2/chris-harry-bruins-rally-pushes-gators-to-the-brink.aspx

The live replay shows Janell Wheaton up the 3rd base line giving a clear lane to the plate for the UCLA runner while receiving a perfect throw from Sophio Reynoso and then swiping a tag on the backside of the UCLA runner about 6" before her foot got to home plate. If the plate ump had been out of position, I could understand missing the call, but the photo and replay show him in perfect position to make the call. He somehow blew what everyone else saw as the out it was and should have been and a great play by the UF defense. The inning would have been over at 4-1 UF and the 3 run UCLA homer wouldn't have happened.

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2018 11:24:57 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Jun 2, 2018 11:08:34 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

In this day and age with the popularity of college softball, it's incomprehensible how college softball isn't using instant replay. Here's hoping it doesn't happen, except maybe for balls that are fair or foul, things like that. I hate IR when it comes to judgment calls. Fix the umps. It would have taken a couple of minutes to get the call right, but the difference of leaving the inning 4-1 UF instead of 5-4 UCLA can't be understated in importance in who won the game last night. The Gators outplayed the Bruins and deserved to win the game 5-2 even with Kelly Barnhill's one inning meltdown. UF at 2-0 instead of 1-1 would have become the favorite to me with the way they have been playing. Now, all perspective is lost on what could happen with UF after such a screwing.

On the close play in the Oklahoma vs. Washington game, I thought the player had the diving catch in her possession until she tried to get up from the ground. I don't think there would have been enough evidence to overturn the joint call between the plate ump and the 1st base ump. It's a shame we don't have the replay available to confirm a play like that too.  Umps made the call, could be argued either way, but you live with it and no complaints from this OU fan. Sometimes the calls don't go your way at a neutral site. I do not want to see softball go down the road of football with this incessant "process of the catch" bullshit that has (imo) mucked up the game at both the college and pro level.

There was a lot of OU red in the stands against Washington on a 112 degree sunny afternoon. No, from a fan perspective, Oklahoma City is not a neutral site for OU. The OU local fan supporters in the stands along with the fans from Norman dominated the crowd much like a home game.

On the separate issue of instant replay, the replay must also be allowed to correct game changing calls. We have instant replay in college baseball already. We don't need to get creative. Let's implement replay and use the college baseball replay rules. The play at home last night would have been reversed in softball just like baseball. College baseball hasn't been worse off with replay and neither will college softball.

[oujour76]

Jun 2, 2018 11:39:53 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

Jun 2, 2018 11:24:57 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

There was a lot of OU red in the stands against Washington on a 112 degree sunny afternoon. No, from a fan perspective, Oklahoma City is not a neutral site for OU. The OU local fan supporters in the stands along with the fans from Norman dominated the crowd much like a home game. It was just a friendly dig at Bryan, was hoping he was following the thread. OKC is no more of a neutral site for OU in the WCWS than is New Orleans a neutral site for LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Bryan will disagree with me, but we're friends anyway.

On the separate issue of instant replay, the replay must also be allowed to correct game changing calls. Define game changing call. We have instant replay in college baseball already. We don't need to get creative. But, the history of instant replay suggests just that...they will get creative and use it for far more than its initial intended use. Witness this process of the catch bullshit in the past few years. Let's implement replay and use the college baseball replay rules. The play at home last night would have been reversed in softball just like baseball. College baseball hasn't been worse off with replay and neither will college softball. My biggest issue with IR is it becomes a crutch for officials. Not an aid, a crutch.

[Deleted]

Jun 2, 2018 12:03:01 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Jun 2, 2018 11:39:53 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

There was a lot of OU red in the stands against Washington on a 112 degree sunny afternoon. No, from a fan perspective, Oklahoma City is not a neutral site for OU. The OU local fan supporters in the stands along with the fans from Norman dominated the crowd much like a home game. It was just a friendly dig at Bryan, was hoping he was following the thread. OKC is no more of a neutral site for OU in the WCWS than is New Orleans a neutral site for LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Bryan will disagree with me, but we're friends anyway.

On the separate issue of instant replay, the replay must also be allowed to correct game changing calls. Define game changing call. We have instant replay in college baseball already. We don't need to get creative. But, the history of instant replay suggests just that...they will get creative and use it for far more than its initial intended use. Witness this process of the catch bullshit in the past few years. Let's implement replay and use the college baseball replay rules. The play at home last night would have been reversed in softball just like baseball. College baseball hasn't been worse off with replay and neither will college softball. My biggest issue with IR is it becomes a crutch for officials. Not an aid, a crutch.

UF could have used that crutch last night. Not only did the home plate ump blow the call at the plate, the 3rd base ump almost got in the way of Reynoso's throw to Wheaton, the same 3rd base ump that called an illegal pitch on Kelly Barnhill earlier in the inning. ESPN provides the video evidence:

www.espn.com/espnw/video/23673914/controversial-call-plate-extends-ucla-rally

I am concerned that ump crew cut the heart out of the Gators. We'll find out in the Florida vs. Oklahoma elimination game starting in less than an hour.

Your concern that instant replay can continue to grow is founded. The SEC voted at the spring meeting in Destin this week to have a crew on hand in Birmingham to consolidate instant replay reviews in SEC baseball like how they do in SEC football. While I wouldn't expect that in softball, it can't be ruled out once the genie is out of the lamp. Still, I'm for instant replay if it eliminates mistakes like the one that cost UF the game last night.

[oujour76]

Jun 2, 2018 17:11:51 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

UF could have used that crutch last night. Not only did the home plate ump blow the call at the plate, the 3rd base ump almost got in the way of Reynoso's throw to Wheaton, the same 3rd base ump that called an illegal pitch on Kelly Barnhill earlier in the inning. ESPN provides the video evidence:

www.espn.com/espnw/video/23673914/controversial-call-plate-extends-ucla-rally Close call, but she was out. No doubt. 
I am concerned that ump crew cut the heart out of the Gators. We'll find out in the Florida vs. Oklahoma elimination game starting in less than an hour. LOL, I think you're sandbagging a little. Something tells me the Gators still have plenty of heart.

Your concern that instant replay can continue to grow is founded. The SEC voted at the spring meeting in Destin this week to have a crew on hand in Birmingham to consolidate instant replay reviews in SEC baseball like how they do in SEC football. While I wouldn't expect that in softball, it can't be ruled out once the genie is out of the lamp. Still, I'm for instant replay if it eliminates mistakes like the one that cost UF the game last night.  Understood and glad to see SEC is at least doing something. Frustrating as hell to watch a football game and constantly hear..."the previous play is under further review." Maybe it's just me, but seems to happen on an ever-increasing basis.

[Deleted]

Oklahoma over Arizona State - Arizona State eliminated
Florida State over Georgia - Georgia eliminated
Oklahoma over Florida - Florida eliminated
Florida State over Oregon - Oregon eliminated

Next Up:

Washington vs. Oklahoma - OU must win 2 to advance
UCLA vs. Florida State - FSU must win 2 to advance

[Deleted]

No 3peat for Oklahoma:

Washington 3
Oklahoma 0 - eliminated

Washington advanced to the final series pitching 3 shutouts, 2 against the Sooners.

I said from the beginning of the season that the Sooners scheduled a pass to the NCAA tourney, had likely the best team in college softball, and that the soft schedule might leave them non-battle tested when it came to the WCWS. Two shutouts at the hands of Washington and only 4 runs scored in 4 games gives the appearance that I made the right call.

[Deleted]

Florida State 3
UCLA 1

Florida State 12
UCLA 6

The media darling has been eliminated.

[Deleted]

It's Florida State vs. Washington for all the marbles. While I'd prefer that a PAC team didn't win, I can't root for Florida State. That being the case, I'm going to root for a Washington.

Go Huskies! Woof, Woof, Woof!

[trnyerheadncough]

Jun 4, 2018 8:52:24 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

It's Florida State vs. Washington for all the marbles. While I'd prefer that a PAC team didn't win, I can't root for Florida State. That being the case, I'm going to root for a Washington.

Go Huskies! Woof, Woof, Woof!

I watched both games yesterday. I felt like the crew were sort of pulling for UCLA, which struck me as a little odd.

I mean, UCLA is one of the goliaths of college softball. They'd won 99 games in a row when leading after the 5th inning until Game 1 yesterday.

FSU has faced elimination 6 times now during this NCAA regional. And here we are in the finals.

The ACC has never had a team in the finals before. FSU has never won an NCAA softball championship.

Tons of stuff to root for....just struck me as odd.

[oujour76]

Jun 4, 2018 9:49:05 GMT -5 trnyerheadncough said:

Jun 4, 2018 8:52:24 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

It's Florida State vs. Washington for all the marbles. While I'd prefer that a PAC team didn't win, I can't root for Florida State. That being the case, I'm going to root for a Washington.

Go Huskies! Woof, Woof, Woof!

I watched both games yesterday. I felt like the crew were sort of pulling for UCLA, which struck me as a little odd.

I mean, UCLA is one of the goliaths of college softball. They'd won 99 games in a row when leading after the 5th inning until Game 1 yesterday.

FSU has faced elimination 6 times now during this NCAA regional. And here we are in the finals.

The ACC has never had a team in the finals before. FSU has never won an NCAA softball championship.

Tons of stuff to root for....just struck me as odd.

No dog in the fight, and nothing personal, but going to have to root for Washington. Watch out for their right fielder...she is on a hot streak, at least she was against OU. If these plays go the other way (particularly the first one) OU is most likely playing for the title again. But, not to be.

[trnyerheadncough]

Jun 4, 2018 10:12:08 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Jun 4, 2018 9:49:05 GMT -5 trnyerheadncough said:

I watched both games yesterday. I felt like the crew were sort of pulling for UCLA, which struck me as a little odd.

I mean, UCLA is one of the goliaths of college softball. They'd won 99 games in a row when leading after the 5th inning until Game 1 yesterday.

FSU has faced elimination 6 times now during this NCAA regional. And here we are in the finals.

The ACC has never had a team in the finals before. FSU has never won an NCAA softball championship.

Tons of stuff to root for....just struck me as odd.

No dog in the fight, and nothing personal, but going to have to root for Washington. Watch out for their right fielder...she is on a hot streak, at least she was against OU. If these plays go the other way (particularly the first one) OU is most likely playing for the title again. But, not to be.

No offense taken.

If it follows the way it has, Washington will win the first game, and then drop the next two, and FSU will have a title.

Kind of a weird year for us. Football was mediocre at best, but a lot of the FSU teams have really had stellar years otherwise.

It's made me more interested in non-football sports too....which really can't be a bad thing.

[drjensen]

Jun 2, 2018 12:03:01 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Jun 2, 2018 11:39:53 GMT -5 ETGator1 said:

There was a lot of OU red in the stands against Washington on a 112 degree sunny afternoon. No, from a fan perspective, Oklahoma City is not a neutral site for OU. The OU local fan supporters in the stands along with the fans from Norman dominated the crowd much like a home game. It was just a friendly dig at Bryan, was hoping he was following the thread. OKC is no more of a neutral site for OU in the WCWS than is New Orleans a neutral site for LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Bryan will disagree with me, but we're friends anyway.

On the separate issue of instant replay, the replay must also be allowed to correct game changing calls. Define game changing call. We have instant replay in college baseball already. We don't need to get creative. But, the history of instant replay suggests just that...they will get creative and use it for far more than its initial intended use. Witness this process of the catch bullshit in the past few years. Let's implement replay and use the college baseball replay rules. The play at home last night would have been reversed in softball just like baseball. College baseball hasn't been worse off with replay and neither will college softball. My biggest issue with IR is it becomes a crutch for officials. Not an aid, a crutch.

As for the missed call at home plate, that would have been tough, even the announcers thought the girl was safe until IR showed her out. I can forgive the ump on that as it was so close. My disappointment in that particular umpire was his ball/strike calls at the plate. I thought he was pretty inconsistent there. IR isn't going to change that. IR would also slow the game down. One of the great things about women's softball is how quick the game goes, there's no IR, no scratching your balls, no repeated throws to first base, it's a quickly played game with a welcome lack of interruptions.

As for Oklahoma having "home field" advantage, I suppose there are fans who would think that is an unfair advantage and possibly they have a legitimate complaint, but the games have to be played somewhere and I'm thankful they are not in LA or Florida. Oklahoma City has great facilities and the surrounding area have a lot of avid fans and is somewhat in middle America so I am ok with this series being played there. The men always play in Omaha and if the Cornhuskers or Creighton Blue Jays would make it to the College World Series, someone would complain. We are a funny bunch, if our team wins, everything is usually hunky dory, if they lose, we find something to complain about.