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SEC SOFTBALL
Congrats to Florida's Lady Gators -- who are into the 2009 NCAA Women's College World Series final -- facing Washington. Go Gators!!
Wow, SEC Softball is really taking off. Last season, the Southeastern Conference sent 8 teams to the NCAA Softball Tournament. That was a record. And, Florida was the top seed. That was also a first for SEC Softball. Florida's amazing 70 wins was the most wins ever by any team in NCAA softball history (read more about Florida softball below). Alabama got a #3 seed and both Florida and Alabama made it all the way to the semifinals. So 2 of the top 4 2008 NCAA Softball teams were from the SEC.
Auburn softball pitcher Holly Currie pitches a no-hitter .
Thanks to www.helmsingphoto.com for the photo .
SEC SOFTBALL
SEC SOFTBALL
So, which conference is the best college softball conference?
of the sport.
The answer?
As is commonly the case with women's sports – the PAC-10 is king – or rather queen.
BUT, as noted above, the SEC is moving up. Read the May 07 Story of the Month about Pac-10 vs SEC Softball. The big story is that SEC Softball is now challenging the Pac-10 for supremacy of Division I College Softball.
1. PAC-10 PAC-10 schools have won the Division I NCAA Softball Championship nine of the past twelve and 18 of the past 22 years – including ten straight years between 1988 and 1997. Since 1982, either UCLA (11) or Arizona (8) has won the NCAA tournament 18 times. Last season (2008), it was Arizona State's turn to win it all. Can you say "DOMINATION"? Historically, at least. In the 2009 Softball preseason polls, the Pac-10 has ASU ranked #3; UCLA #4; AZ #7; and Stanford #9.
2. SEC However, it now clear that SEC softball is a strong #2. You can see that from Tennessee's run all the way to the NCAA softball championship game in 2007. Then, Florida and Alabama's performance last year. The SEC has a weaker softball tradition and history than the Big 12, but right now, it is the better softball conference. SEC Softball is the newest sport in the SEC – only been at it for now 13 years. So, not bad at all. The SEC needs to win an NCAA Championship to take SEC Softball to the next level. They have never managed to do that--so far. However, in the 2009 preseason polls, Florida is ranked #1 in the nation; Alabama #2.
Thanks to utsports.com for photos 1, 3 and 4 above. Thanks to ukathletics.com for photo 2 above. All rights are reserved for these photos.
3. Big 12. Most of the relevant statistics are discussed in the paragraph above. The big advantage for the Big 12 vs. the SEC is that even though the Big-12 has not won the Softball National Championship since 2000, they have won it 3 times to 0 for the SEC. Oklahoma in 2000 and Texas A&M in 1983 and 1987. Sometimes, we'll give the nod to a conference because of its rich tradition and history in a particular sport (i.e. the ACC in Men's Basketball). But, in this case, I wouldn't characterize the Big 12's history and tradition in softball as "rich". I mean they are nowhere near the PAC-10 and they haven't won a championship for 8 years. So, I defer to current strength in this case. And, clearly, the Big 12 is not currently as strong as the SEC. However, in '09 preseason polls, OK is ranked #3; Texas A&M #10.
4. Big Ten. Six teams picked for the 2006 NCAA tournament. Michigan won it in 2005. Right now, Michigan is ranked 5th; Northwestern 11th.
5. ACC. Four teams made it into the 2006 NCAA tournament. But none made it to the final eight. No NCAA Softball Championships. No teams in the top 20 right now. UNC at #21; Va. Tech at #25.
The SEC softball teams are ranked for the 2009 season as follows: (Click link for individual team pages)
1. Florida Gators Wow. The Lady Gators went 27-1 in the SEC last year and 70-5 overall. That set a record for most wins ever by an NCAA softball team. Florida ended up 3rd in the 2008 NCAA Softball Tournament. Tim Walton was named SEC Coach of the year; Stacey Nelson -- Pitcher of the Year. UF starts 2009 ranked #1 in NCAA Softball (first time ever for a Southeastern Conference softball team). They lead the league with 5 pre-season All - SEC players.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide Went 58-8 last year. Made it to the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Kelsi Dunne was the SEC's Freshman of the Year; Jordan Praytor was Scholar-Athlete of the year. Bama is ranked #2 nationally right now. They have 4 pre-season all-conference players.
3. Tennessee Volunteers Finished 2008 with a 50-16 record; 3rd in the SEC. Tonya Callahan led the Conference in hitting and was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. In 2006, the Lady Vols finished the season ranked #3 nationally. In 2007, the Lady Vols Softball team went all the way to the NCAA Softball Tournament championship game and ended up #2 in the nation (lost to Arizona in NCAA finals). The 2009 preseason polls ranks UT Softball #13 nationally.
4. LSU Tigers Historically, the Tigers usually win the SEC West. They’ve won 6 of the last 11 SEC Softball Tournament Championships. They came in second in most of the tournaments they didn’t win. However, the past two years, Alabama has moved past LSU in the SEC West. Right now, the Lady Tigers are ranked 17th in the nation.
5. Georgia Bulldogs Ranked 23rd nationally right now.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs Ranked 26th nationally.
7. Auburn Tigers Ranked in top 35 right now.
8. Arkansas Razorbacks 8th SEC team picked for the 2008 NCAA Softball Tournament.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
11. Kentucky Wildcats Worst record all the way around -- in the touch SEC.
12. Vanderbilt Commodores Has no softball program. You get no credit if you don't play the game.
Kentucky women's softball pitch.
Thanks to ukathletics for the photo .
SEC SOFTBALL
SEC SOFTBALL
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Wow, SEC Softball is really taking off. Last season, the Southeastern Conference sent 8 teams to the NCAA Softball Tournament. That was a record. And, Florida was the top seed. That was also a first for SEC Softball. Florida's amazing 70 wins was the most wins ever by any team in NCAA softball history (read more about Florida softball below). Alabama got a #3 seed and both Florida and Alabama made it all the way to the semifinals. So 2 of the top 4 2008 NCAA Softball teams were from the SEC.
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As is commonly the case with women's sports – the PAC-10 is king – or rather queen.
BUT, as noted above, the SEC is moving up. Read the May 07 Story of the Month about Pac-10 vs SEC Softball. The big story is that SEC Softball is now challenging the Pac-10 for supremacy of Division I College Softball.
1. PAC-10 PAC-10 schools have won the Division I NCAA Softball Championship nine of the past twelve and 18 of the past 22 years – including ten straight years between 1988 and 1997. Since 1982, either UCLA (11) or Arizona (8) has won the NCAA tournament 18 times. Last season (2008), it was Arizona State's turn to win it all. Can you say "DOMINATION"? Historically, at least. In the 2009 Softball preseason polls, the Pac-10 has ASU ranked #3; UCLA #4; AZ #7; and Stanford #9.
2. SEC However, it now clear that SEC softball is a strong #2. You can see that from Tennessee's run all the way to the NCAA softball championship game in 2007. Then, Florida and Alabama's performance last year. The SEC has a weaker softball tradition and history than the Big 12, but right now, it is the better softball conference. SEC Softball is the newest sport in the SEC – only been at it for now 13 years. So, not bad at all. The SEC needs to win an NCAA Championship to take SEC Softball to the next level. They have never managed to do that--so far. However, in the 2009 preseason polls, Florida is ranked #1 in the nation; Alabama #2.
Thanks to utsports.com for photos 1, 3 and 4 above. Thanks to ukathletics.com for photo 2 above. All rights are reserved for these photos.
Was Monica Abbott the best ever? Find out at Best All-Time SEC Softball Player
3. Big 12. Most of the relevant statistics are discussed in the paragraph above. The big advantage for the Big 12 vs. the SEC is that even though the Big-12 has not won the Softball National Championship since 2000, they have won it 3 times to 0 for the SEC. Oklahoma in 2000 and Texas A&M in 1983 and 1987. Sometimes, we'll give the nod to a conference because of its rich tradition and history in a particular sport (i.e. the ACC in Men's Basketball). But, in this case, I wouldn't characterize the Big 12's history and tradition in softball as "rich". I mean they are nowhere near the PAC-10 and they haven't won a championship for 8 years. So, I defer to current strength in this case. And, clearly, the Big 12 is not currently as strong as the SEC. However, in '09 preseason polls, OK is ranked #3; Texas A&M #10.
4. Big Ten. Six teams picked for the 2006 NCAA tournament. Michigan won it in 2005. Right now, Michigan is ranked 5th; Northwestern 11th.
5. ACC. Four teams made it into the 2006 NCAA tournament. But none made it to the final eight. No NCAA Softball Championships. No teams in the top 20 right now. UNC at #21; Va. Tech at #25.
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The SEC softball teams are ranked for the 2009 season as follows: (Click link for individual team pages)
1. Florida Gators Wow. The Lady Gators went 27-1 in the SEC last year and 70-5 overall. That set a record for most wins ever by an NCAA softball team. Florida ended up 3rd in the 2008 NCAA Softball Tournament. Tim Walton was named SEC Coach of the year; Stacey Nelson -- Pitcher of the Year. UF starts 2009 ranked #1 in NCAA Softball (first time ever for a Southeastern Conference softball team). They lead the league with 5 pre-season All - SEC players.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide Went 58-8 last year. Made it to the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Kelsi Dunne was the SEC's Freshman of the Year; Jordan Praytor was Scholar-Athlete of the year. Bama is ranked #2 nationally right now. They have 4 pre-season all-conference players.
3. Tennessee Volunteers Finished 2008 with a 50-16 record; 3rd in the SEC. Tonya Callahan led the Conference in hitting and was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. In 2006, the Lady Vols finished the season ranked #3 nationally. In 2007, the Lady Vols Softball team went all the way to the NCAA Softball Tournament championship game and ended up #2 in the nation (lost to Arizona in NCAA finals). The 2009 preseason polls ranks UT Softball #13 nationally.
4. LSU Tigers Historically, the Tigers usually win the SEC West. They’ve won 6 of the last 11 SEC Softball Tournament Championships. They came in second in most of the tournaments they didn’t win. However, the past two years, Alabama has moved past LSU in the SEC West. Right now, the Lady Tigers are ranked 17th in the nation.
5. Georgia Bulldogs Ranked 23rd nationally right now.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs Ranked 26th nationally.
7. Auburn Tigers Ranked in top 35 right now.
9. Ole Miss Rebels
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
11. Kentucky Wildcats Worst record all the way around -- in the touch SEC.
12. Vanderbilt Commodores Has no softball program. You get no credit if you don't play the game.
What do you think?
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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flordia gators softball !!!
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when i was watching the games to see who would win i was off my chair. i was so happy about all the good pitching they are doing!!! stacy nelson is an ...
From SEC SOFTBALL to SEC Sports |Official SEC Softball Site SEC Sports Blog | SEC Football | SEC Basketball | SEC Women's Basketball | SEC Baseball | SEC Track and Field | SEC Swimming and Diving | SEC Tennis | SEC Golf | SEC Gymnastics | SEC Soccer | SEC Softball | SEC Volleyball | Best College Sports Conference | SEC vs Big Ten Debate | SEC Sports News | Current SEC Sports News | SEC Sports Pictures and Videos | SEC Sports Fan Forum | College Football Association | SEC Sports Fan Trips | College Sports Tickets | Fathead | College Sports Tailgate Party Shop | College Sports Merchandise | College Sports Apparel | SEC Sports Fan Store |
