Other

Cardinals OFF-Season Talk (COST)

Tom Knuppel Other
Cardinals OFF-Season Talk (COST)

Welcome to the Cardinals Off-Season Talk , otherwise known as COST. Isn’t that ironic that is the exact word the Cardinals organization are relaying to the fans. It’s all about the COST. hey have stated they will not be putting a competitive team on the field and will trim the COST from the roster to reapply it to other areas, such as player development and minor league upgrades.

These are the same owners that laughed at the fans for not attending games when the 2024 season went terrible. Now they are going to purposely not add to the payroll. They Cardinals ORGANIZATION THINK THE FANS ARE STUPID! that is because they won’t like fans not showing up. But they will entice fans with their history. Things like another round of Yadi and Albert  promotions. Along with former World Series promos. They already started by bringing in the Savannah Bananas to play two games.

They already bought themselves one more year with an elaborate hoax within the front office. Mozeliak needed to go but he is around for little purpose. LAME DUCK GM is a bad thing. The incompetence inside the front office has been horrific!

 

Next time, I will be discussing who should go and who should stay. Also, let’s dive into the prospects.

 

Travers Stakes 2024- from the Horse Guy

Tom Knuppel Other , , , , , , , ,

The Travers Stakes (also known as Mid-Summer Classic) is held at Saratoga Race Course and is likely the most important and biggest race between the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup.This is a Grade 1 , $1,25 million race for a field of eight where all entrants have won either a stakes races or are a Grade 1 winner. the combined winnings of all of the entries are more than $18 million.

Let’s take a look at the field by their post position.

  1. Thorpedo Anna– is getting the most buzz out of this group as she is the only filly in the Travers Stakes. She is trained by Kenny McPeek and has opening odds of 3-1 to win the race. She started 2024 by winning the GR Fantasy at Oaklawn and then went on to victory oat the grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. She won two races ar Saratoga with the Coaching Club American Oaks and Acorn. Each win was by over four lengths. She is the daughter of Fast Anna.
  2. Sierra Leone– is the son of Gun Runner and is trained by Chad Brown. The opening odds are 7-2 to win. He got second in the Jim Dandy behind Fierceness. He was a Grade 1 winner of the Blue Grass Stakes. This will be his sixth start of the year. Look for him to close strong in the Travers Stakes.
  3. Unmatched Wisdom- at 9-1 odds he is also a son of Gun Runner and trained by Chad Brown He is undefeated in three starts. This is his first graded stakes races. Irad Ortiz, Jr, will be on board. Odds are 9-1 to gain victory at the Travers Stakes.
  4.  Corporate Power– the son of Tapit and is 15-1 odds. Trained by Shug McGaughey. Don’t look for this one to give up. A sleeper in the group.
  5. Batten Down–  trained by Bill Mott, this son of Tapit is 20-1 odds to win the Travers Stakes. In April, this horse broke his maiden at Churchill Downs and went on to win the Ohio Derby and got third in the Jim Dandy
  6. Honor Marie is a longshot at 20-1 and the son of Honor Code and finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes. He will wear blinkers to help him.
  7. Dornoch- This is an impressive horse trained by Danny Gergen . He is the son of Good Magic. Dornoch won his previous two race in the Belmont and Haskell Stakes. Jockey Luis Saez has won the Travers Stakes in previous years. opening odds to win are 5-2.
  8.  Fierceness– is trained by Todd Pletcher and is the son of City of Light. He is 3-1 odds to win. He likes to run near the front of the pack most of the time and is a previous winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Florida Derby.

Travers Stakes Pick and Prediction

The majority of interest is in Thorpedo Anna, as a filly hasn’t won this race since 1915. There are four quality horses in the Travers Stakes. You probably can’t go wrong with any of the four(Thorpedo Anna, Dornoch, Fierceness, Sierra Leone).

My money goes to Dornoch first, then Fieceness second, Thorpedo Anna third and Sieraa Leone fourth.

 

Travers Stakes Past Winners

Notable Travers winners from years past include Kentucky (1864), Ruthless (1867), Duke of Magenta (1878), Hindoo (1881), Henry of Navarre (1894), Broomstick (1904), Roamer (1914), Man o’ War (1920), Twenty Grand (1931), Granville (1936), Whirlaway (1941), Native Dancer (1953), Gallant Man (1957), Sword Dancer (1959), Buckpasser (1966), Damascus (1967), Arts and Letters (1969), Alydar (1978), Temperence Hill (1980), Forty Niner (1988), Easy Goer (1989), Holy Bull (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995), Point Given (2001), Medaglia d’Oro (2002), Bernardini (2006), Street Sense (2007), Arrogate (2016), Essential Quality (2021), and Arcangelo (2023).

 

How to Watch the Travers

The 155th Travers will be broadcast nationwide on FOX during NYRA’s “Saratoga Saturdays” show airing from 3 to 6:30 p.m. ET. Post time is set for 6:10 p.m.

Check us out each Saturday on race day here.

Alabama Stakes- from the Horse Guy

Tom Knuppel Other , , , , , , ,
Alabama Stakes

Alabama Stakes 2024 Overview

Saratoga race course will once again have the best in thoroughbred racing this weekend. The Alabama Stakes 2024 will highlight the weekend card. Before we give our winners, let’s look at some past Alabama Stakes races.

The inaugural running of the Alabama Stakes took place on July 19, 1872 and was won by a chestnut filly named Woodbine owned by prominent New York financier August Belmont Sr. Jockey Jorge Velasquez has won the Alabama Stakes six time to lead all Jockeys. In 2023. Randomized. trained by Chad Brown was the Alabama Stakes winners.

In 1990, Go For Wand. set the track race record for the Alabama Stakes in a time of 2.00.98.

 

Alabama Stakes 2024 Entries

On Saturday, on the main track at Saratoga there will be eight fillies vying for first place in the 1 1/4 mile races known as the Alabama Stakes. Let’s look at them by post position.

The Alabama is carded as race 10 of 12 with post time scheduled for 5:43 p.m. EDT.

  1. Intricate– Is the daughter  of Gun Runner and trained by Tyler Gaffalione with 8-1 odds to win the Alabama Stakes 2024. So far this year, this horse is not won any of the four horses she as entered. Use this horse down on your card.
  2.  Chatalas is 8-1 odds to win and is a Kentucky bred horse that also the daughter of Gun Runner. She won the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks this year. Also, not a threat.
  3.  Power Squeeze is from Union rages and is trained by Jorge Delgado at 4-1 odds to win the Alabama Stakes race. She has won four stakes races this year and is the horse to best in this race.
  4. Just Basking  – is the daughter of Arrogate and enters with 5-1 odds to win. She won the Iowa Oaks and will face her stiffest challenge to date. Not a bad horse but third at best.
  5. America’s Vow– is 12-1 odds and has Contitution as it’s dam. She got third in the Suncoast and hasn’t had many good outings. Not a good finisher in the Alabama Stakes.
  6. Miss Justify – enter with 9-2 odds and is trained by Todd Pletcher and will have Falvien Prat on board. She has won a few races and appears to have a chance to threaten with a win.
  7. Candied – is the daughter of Candy Ride and is also trained by Todd Pletcher. She is the only Grade 1 winner in the field. In the CCA Oaks, she was second to Thorpedo Anna. Possible winners of the Alabama Stakes.
  8.  Neon Icon is 12-1 to win. She has already won a 1 1/4 mile. She is from the Arrogate family with Louis Saez aboard.

Picks and Predictions

Be sure to check the odds before you bet as they will change before post time.

Candied is the class and is our pick to win and she has the most career earnings and a Grade 1 win under her belt.

Exacta- 7-3-6-4  Please bet responsibly!

 

 

Next week Travers Stakes then we have the Saranac, followed by Jockey Cup Gold and the Hopeful. Also, we are working on the Breeders’ Cup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were winners last week, so check out the article on the Arlington Million!

Fourstardave Stakes Pick and Prediction by The Horse Guy

Tom Knuppel Other

The Fourstardave is part of the Breeders’ Cup challenge series, with the winner getting a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2. This is a seven horse race for $500,000 at Saratoga. It is a one-mile turf race with the winner getting an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 2 at Del Mar.

Each of these seven entrants have won stakes races and  some have won more than one. Let’s look at the entries by post position and what The Horse Guy has for winning picks this week.

** Also this weekend The Horse Guy has his picks for the Arlington Million.

1– Strong Quality is the son of Quality Road and is trained by Mark Casse and has an early odds of 8-1 to win. In June, this horse finished eighth in the Grade 1 Manhattan and later won a restricted stakes at Churchill Downs and then went to the Fair Grounds and won the Colonel Bradley. Not likely for this horse to win but could fit underneath.

2- Master of the Seas has been scratched.

3. Major Dude- Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velasquez, this is the son of Bolt d’ Oro and is 8-1 to win. This horse won the Penn Mile and Kitten’s Joy in 2023. This will be his second start this year. He won an allowance race just a few weeks ago. This horse isn’t seen as a contender.

4.Carl Spackler is the son of Lope de Vega- is a Chad Brown trained horse and will have Tyler Gaffalione on board. This is the top choice at 9-5 odds with three graded stakes wins at Saratoga. in the Kelso, the Saranac and the Hall of Fame. He has been the favorite in his last seven races. Likely winner.

5. Money Supply is 10-1 odds to win and will be ridden by Manny Franco. This son of Practical Joke won the Horseshoe Invitational in Indiana along with the Grade 1 Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds. He has won five in a row. Could be a top four finisher

6. Ottoman Fleet- is 8-5 odds to win this race. He has won three graded stakes in the USA and three group stake in Europe. He was won 2 of his previous 4 races. He is a contender.

7. More Than Looks is 7-2 to win the Fourstardave. He is the son of More Than Ready and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. as his mount. This is his first start since last year when he finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Could lead the chase before falling back to a spot out of the money.

 

Pick and Prediction

When Master of the Seas scratched, many things changed. Now, look for Ottoman Empire to take the race and Carl Spackler getting into a second position. Be sure to check the latest odds from the track before betting.

 

 

Check out what The Horse Guy has to say each and every Friday on the graded stakes races.

 

Arlington Million- from The Horse Guy

Tom Knuppel Other

THE RAIN on the EAST COAST MAY MOVED THIS RACE to SUNDAY or later.

The Arlington Million was held in the Chicago area for many years until it closed two seasons ago. Last year was the first time it was held at Colonial Downs. 2024 marks the second running of this high stake race.

Let’s take a look at the entries in this race and analyze each one. This is the 11th race of 12 on August 9th at this track with a 5:40 CT for the scheduled post time.

Horses are listed by post position.

 

  1. Integration- This horse will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche and is trained by Shug McGaughey. The current odds are 5-2 to win. This horse has won every race (3) it has entered at Colonial Downs. also, Integration was victorious in the Million Preview by 6.5 lengths on soft turf. This horse is the son of Quality Road and is possibility to win this race but also the longest race of his career.
  2. 2. Ancient Rome– the son of War Front, this horse is trained by Charlie Hills and will have Jamie Spencer on board.This horse won the Mint Million in September at Kentucky Downs. Appears to have enough to win this race.

3. Sugoi-This horse is a long shot. At 8-1 odds, this 7 year old son of Krakonite has not shown the propensity to winning. Trainer Mike Maker can and does turn these types into winners.

4. Nations Pride– at 8-5 odds , this horse looks to be the one to beat. The son of Teofilo has raced all over the world with good success. Trainer Charlie Appelby has raced and won in Canada, Dubai, Germany and Bahrain

5- Highland Chief- comes in at 19-1 odds and appr\ears to be outclassed in this race. He has won a few races by of the lower level. Not likely a top finisher.

6. Talk of the Nation is 5-1 to win and is trained by Todd Pletcher. This is a decent hosrse that has finished out of the top three once in 11 starts. He has ran mile races many times and may have that advantage. All that said, he is not in the money after the race has finished.

 

Picks and Predictions

This race may get moved several times before it can ran as the East Coast is expecting and getting heavy rains for several days due to the Tropical storm/ Hurricane known as Debby.

Nations Pride is the class of this bunch . Bet him to win. Second place is harder to determine. Choices are Ancient Rome and Integration.

 

***Be sure to check out the Horse Guy each and Every Friday for more graded Stakes winners!

Final! College Baseball Top 25 2024

Tom Knuppel Other

The 15 week season is complete. It is now time for the postseason to get underway.  In a day or two the brackets will be filled and the tourneys shall begin. Here is Tom’s Top 25 after the completion of the 2024 season.

 

1- Tennessee 46-10

2. Texas A&M 44-11

3. Kentucky 39-12

4. Clemson 40-13

5. Arkansas- 43-13

6. Oregon State 41-13

7. UNC       41-12

8. Florida State 39-13

0. Oklahoma 34-18

10. East Carolina    40-13

11. Georgia 39-14

12. UCSB      39-12

13. UC Irvine   41-11

14. Virginia     43-11

15. Miss State    36-19

16. NC State   32-19

17. Oklahoma State   36-16

18. Duke      39-18

19. Arizona    33-20

20. Wake Forest   36-19

21 Indiana State   36-16

22. Louisiana    40-16

23. Texas   38-20

24. Oregon    37-16

25. Southern Miss    37-18

 

 

Very soon I will post information on the postseason. Thanks for reading!

 

-Tom

 

Tom’s Top 25 College Softball week 11

Tom Knuppel Other

This is my second week of following along with the college softball teams and the Top 25. Here is my lists after Week 11 of the schedule.

My Top 25 College Baseball

 

Collegiate Softball

#1- Texas- The Longhorns are 35-6 for the season and face Iowa State for a series next.

#2- Oklahoma 42-4 will travel to Orlando and face UCF.

#3- Stanford 34-7  face a Top ten team in Washington.

#4- Duke 32-4 The Blue Devils will face NC State

#5- Tennessee 32-7  The Vols face a Top 25 teams in Alabama

#6- Washington 28-7 They take on 33 Stanford in a huge three game series.

#7- Oklahoma State 35-8 will be at home facing Kansas.

#8- LSU 36-8 Gets a challenge by playing Arkansas.

#9- Florida 35-9 The Gators play another ranked squad in Georgia.

#10- UCLA 29-9 has a regional match-up facing Arizona.

#11- Texas A&M 33-9 faces SamHouston.

#12- Missouri 33-11 and Mississippi State have a three game series this weekend.

#13- Arkansas 30-11 The Razorback

#14- Georgia 33-13

#15- Virginia Tech 31-9=1

#16- Florida State 31-10

#17- Miss State 29-12

#18- alabama-30-10

#19- Arizona 28-13-1

#20- Louisiana 29-14

#21- Northwestern 26-8

#22- Clemson 28-14

#23- Boston University  35-11

#24- Kentucky 36-15

#25- Oregon 26-15

 

another top  game this week include a Pac-12 contest between Arizona and UCLA. Also,here is last weeks Top 20 in college softball.

Please send me a note if you read or enjoy this segment on women’s softball.

College Football Friday – Big Ten Wins and Losses 2024

Tom Knuppel Other

I know. There is still over three months until the first kickoff. Here at tomknuppel.com I am going to segment this into once a week college football posts. I will start this off with the Big Ten.

Feel free to comment with  your thoughts.

Illinois –

Not much news coming from Champaign and that is likely good. The Memorial Stadium will be celebrating its 100th year. Oh if those walls could talk! If you are a fan, check out IlliniBricks.com to purchase a  brick with your name on it for the celebration.

Archie McDaniel is the new linebackers coach for Illinois.  after spending three seasons with the Houston Cougars as their linebackers coach. Prior to Houston, he spent a lot of time in Texas and surrounding states, with stops at Texas State, New Mexico and SMU, among others. Head coach Bret Bielema has said he wants more quality players from Texas. The Illini have gotten two player from Texas since 2020.

What about wins and losses? Here is  my college football guesses for the Fighting Illini in 2024

Predicted Record: 7-5
Aug 24 Eastern Illinois W
Aug 31 OPEN DATE
Sept 7 Kansas W
Sept 14 Central Michigan W
Sept 21 at Nebraska L
Sept 28 at Penn State L
Oct 5 OPEN DATE
Oct 12 Purdue W
Oct 19 Michigan L
Oct 26 at Oregon L
Nov 2 Minnesota W
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 Michigan State W
Nov 23 at Rutgers W
Nov 30 at Northwestern L

Thoughts: The Rutgers game I went back and forth, I could see  loss there.

 

INDIANA

Bad news came out of Bloomington on Tuesday as it was announced QB Broc Lowry, WR Derrick Bohler transferring from IU football.

From Canfield, Ohio, Lowry was a consensus three-star recruit in the 2023 class. He was rated the No. 25 pocket passer nationally by ESPN, and the top quarterback in Ohio.

 

Predicted Record 5-7
Aug 31 FIU W
Sept 7 Western Illinois W
Sept 14 at UCLA L
Sept 21 Charlotte W
Sept 28 Maryland L
Oct 5 at Northwestern L
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 Nebraska W
Oct 26 Washington L
Nov 2 at Michigan State L
Nov 9 Michigan L
Nov 16 OPEN DATE
Nov 23 at Ohio State L
Nov 30 Purdue W

 

IOWA

Wide Receiver Jacob Bostock has entered the transfer portal.

Bostick, a 6’3″, 182 lb sophomore wide receiver out of Palatine, Illinois, was a member of Iowa’s 2022 recruiting class. A high three-star prospect, Bostick chose Iowa over several other offers, including Illinois, Kansas State, Cincinnati, Louisville, Pitt, Army, Navy, Air Force,

Predicted Record: 8-4
Aug 31 Illinois State W
Sept 7 Iowa State W
Sept 14 Troy W
Sept 21 at Minnesota L
Sept 28 OPEN DATE
Oct 5 at Ohio State L
Oct 12 Washington W
Oct 19 at Michigan State L
Oct 26 Northwestern W
Nov 2 Wisconsin W
Nov 9 at UCLA L
Nov 16 OPEN DATE
Nov 23 at Maryland W
Nov 29 Nebraska W

 

MARYLAND

Predicted Record: 7-5
Aug 31 UConn W
Sept 7 Michigan State W
Sept 14 at Virginia W
Sept 21 Villanova W
Sept 28 at Indiana W
Oct 5 OPEN DATE
Oct 12 Northwestern W
Oct 19 USC L
Oct 26 at Minnesota L
Nov 2 OPEN DATE
Nov 9 at Oregon L
Nov 16 Rutgers W
Nov 23 Iowa L
Nov 30 at Penn State L

 Michigan

Predicted Record: 9-3
Aug 31 Fresno State W
Sept 7 Texas L
Sept 14 Arkansas State W
Sept 21 USC W
Sept 28 Minnesota W
Oct 5 at Washington W
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 at Illinois W
Oct 26 Michigan State W
Nov 2 Oregon L
Nov 9 at Indiana W
Nov 16 OPEN DATE
Nov 23 Northwestern W
Nov 30 at Ohio State L

 Michigan State 

This squad is likely to show improvement after the hiring of former Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith. He brought in his former quarterback Aidan Chiles an all Pac-12 offensive lineman Tanner Miller. A third member from the OSU team is AP all-conference tight end Jack Velling, who set an Oregon State single-season record for tight ends with eight touchdown receptions.

Spring Predicted Record: 7-5
Aug 31 Florida Atlantic W
Sept 7 at Maryland L
Sept 14 Prairie View A&M W
Sept 21 at Boston College W
Sept 28 Ohio State L
Oct 5 at Oregon L
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 Iowa W
Oct 26 at Michigan L
Nov 2 Indiana W
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 at Illinois L
Nov 23 Purdue W
Nov 30 Rutgers W

 Minnesota

Predicted Record: 6-6
Aug 29 North Carolina W
Sept 7 Rhode Island W
Sept 14 Nevada W
Sept 21 Iowa W
Sept 28 at Michigan L
Oct 5 USC L
Oct 12 at UCLA L
Oct 19 OPEN DATE
Oct 26 Maryland W
Nov 2 at Illinois L
Nov 9 at Rutgers W
Nov 16 OPEN DATE
Nov 23 Penn State L
Nov 30 at Wisconsin L

 Nebraska 
Predicted Record: 7-5
Aug 31 UTEP W
Sept 7 Colorado W
Sept 14 Northern Iowa W
Sept 21 Illinois W
Sept 28 at Purdue W
Oct 5 Rutgers W
Oct 12 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 at Indiana L
Oct 26 at Ohio State L
Nov 2 UCLA L
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 at USC L
Nov 23 Wisconsin W
Nov 29 at Iowa L

Northwestern
Predicted Record: 5-7
Aug 31 Miami University W
Sept 7 Duke W
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 at Washington L
Sept 28 OPEN DATE
Oct 5 Indiana W
Oct 12 at Maryland L
Oct 19 Wisconsin L
Oct 26 at Iowa L
Nov 2 at Purdue L
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 Ohio State L
Nov 23 at Michigan L
Nov 30 Illinois W
TBD Eastern Illinois W

  Ohio State
Spring Predicted Record: 12-0
Aug 31 Akron W
Sept 7 Western Michigan W
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 Marshall W
Sept 28 at Michigan State W
Oct 5 Iowa W
Oct 12 at Oregon W
Oct 19 OPEN DATE
Oct 26 Nebraska W
Nov 2 at Penn State W
Nov 9 Purdue W
Nov 16 at Northwestern W
Nov 23 Indiana W
Nov 30 Michigan W

Oregon

Predicted Record: 11-1
Aug 31 Idaho W
Sept 7 Boise State W
Sept 14 at Oregon State W
Sept 21 OPEN DATE
Sept 28 at UCLA W
Oct 5 Michigan State W
Oct 12 Ohio State L
Oct 19 at Purdue W
Oct 26 Illinois W
Nov 2 at Michigan W
Nov 9 Maryland W
Nov 16 at Wisconsin W
Nov 23 OPEN DATE
Nov 30 Washington W

Penn State 

Predicted Record: 10-2
Aug 31 at West Virginia W
Sept 7 Bowling Green W
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 Kent State W
Sept 28 Illinois W
Oct 5 UCLA W
Oct 12 at USC L
Oct 19 OPEN DATE
Oct 26 at Wisconsin W
Nov 2 Ohio State L
Nov 9 Washington W
Nov 16 at Purdue W
Nov 23 at Minnesota W
Nov 30 Maryland W

Purdue Football
Predicted Record: 3-9
Aug 31 OPEN DATE
Sept 7 Indiana State W
Sept 14 Notre Dame L
Sept 21 at Oregon State L
Sept 28 Nebraska W
Oct 5 at Wisconsin L
Oct 12 at Illinois L
Oct 19 Oregon L
Oct 26 OPEN DATE
Nov 2 Northwestern W
Nov 9 at Ohio State L
Nov 16 Penn State L
Nov 23 at Michigan State L
Nov 30 at Indiana L

 Rutgers 
Predicted Record: 2-10
Aug 31 Howard W
Sept 7 Akron W
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 at Virginia Tech L
Sept 28 Washington L
Oct 5 at Nebraska L
Oct 12 Wisconsin L
Oct 19 UCLA L
Oct 26 at USC L
Nov 2 OPEN DATE
Nov 9 Minnesota L
Nov 16 at Maryland L
Nov 23 Illinois L
Nov 30 at Michigan State L

UCLA 
Predicted Record: 7-5
Aug 31 at Hawaii W
Sept 7 OPEN DATE
Sept 14 Indiana W
Sept 21 at LSU L
Sept 28 Oregon L
Oct 5 at Penn State L
Oct 12 Minnesota W
Oct 19 at Rutgers W
Oct 26 OPEN DATE
Nov 2 Nebraska W
Nov 9 Iowa W
Nov 16 at Washington L
Nov 23 USC L
Nov 30 Fresno State W

 USC 
Predicted Record: 10-2
Sept 1 vs LSU (in Las Vegas) L
Sept 7 Utah State W
Sept 14 OPEN DATE
Sept 21 at Michigan L
Sept 28 Wisconsin W
Oct 5 at Minnesota W
Oct 12 Penn State W
Oct 19 at Maryland W
Oct 26 Rutgers W
Nov 2 at Washington W
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 Nebraska W
Nov 23 at UCLA W
Nov 30 Notre Dame W

Washington 
Predicted Record: 7-5
Aug 31 Weber State W
Sept 7 Eastern Michigan W
Sept 14 Washington State W
Sept 21 Northwestern W
Sept 28 at Rutgers W
Oct 5 Michigan L
Oct 12 at Iowa L
Oct 19 OPEN DATE
Oct 26 at Indiana W
Nov 2 USC L
Nov 9 at Penn State L
Nov 16 UCLA W
Nov 23 OPEN DATE
Nov 30 at Oregon L

Wisconsin
Predicted Record: 6-6
Aug 31 Western Michigan W
Sept 7 South Dakota W
Sept 14 Alabama L
Sept 21 OPEN DATE
Sept 28 at USC L
Oct 5 Purdue W
Oct 12 at Rutgers W
Oct 19 at Northwestern W
Oct 26 Penn State L
Nov 2 at Iowa L
Nov 9 OPEN DATE
Nov 16 Oregon L
Nov 23 at Nebraska L
Nov 30 Minnesota W

 

College Softball 2024 Top 20

Tom Knuppel Other

I have been delving into the Collegiate baseball scene for quite some time and have made the decision to give the women’s softball some of my time. As I am not an expert, I am a strong follower of the game. Let’s jump in with the inaugural edition of College Softball Top 20. (4-15-24)

 

 

#1- Texas– The Longhorns out of the Big 12 conference are 35-6 and look to be the best team in college softball right now. They are second in NCAA softball batting average at .362. They are 19-2 at home in Easton Stadium. The team is led in batting by Ashton Maloney  and hitting .453 in 39 games played. the home run leader is  Reese Atwood with 13 bombs on the year. Teagan Kavan leads the Lady Longhorns in pitching with a 12-2 record along with a 1.81 ERA. Next up on the schedule is Kansas.

#2- Oklahoma- The Sooners are out of the Big 12 Conference and are 38- 4 on the season. They have two hurlers that are doing outstanding work as Karlie Keeney sports a 1.03 ERA and Kiersten Deal is at 1.02. The Sooners lost a game to BYU this past weekend and it was the only time they the Sooners had been outhit for the season.

#3- Stanford – The Cardinals are in the Pac-12 conference and are currently 34-7. They are lead in the pitching department by Nijaare Candady with a 0.48 ERA and Emily Jones is the top hitter with a .378 batting average. Ava Gall leads the Lady Cardinals in home runs and RBI’s. The next contest is a doubleheader  with UC Davis on the road.

#4- Duke – The Blue Devils are 37- 4 on the season and 20-1 at home.   They take on UNC Greensboro for a doubleheader on Wednesday and then face a Top 20 team in Virginia, all at Duke Softball Stadium. The  Blue Devils are led by senior pitcher/outfielder Claire Davidson in batting with a .458 average. The pitching finds Jala Wright at 13-1 and a 1.27 ERA.

#5 – LSU– The Tigers are 33-8 on the year and the top team in the SEC. Pitcher Kelley Lynch pitched a no-hitter on Friday while also fanning eight batters in the Auburn line-up. They are 24-4 at home in Tiger Park.  They face #11 Arkansas at home for a three game series this next weekend.

 

#6 – Georgia  -Another team from the SEC, they are 33-10 on the year. Their defense is stable as they have the 14th fewest errors on the season  with 25. Jayda Kearney leads the offense in several categories. She lead in batting average at .366 and 15 home runs with 36 RBI’s. Pitcher Madison Kerpics is the winningest pitcher on the roster at 11-2 with a  2.72 earned run average. They face Missouri at Turner Softball Field for a three game weekend series.

#7 – Alabama – At 30-9, they are the 3rd SEC in the Top 20. They face Arkansas in a three game series this weekend. Abby Duchscherer leads the Crimson Tide with 29 RBI’s and Lauren Johnson is the team leader in batting average at .329.

#8 – Missouri – The Tigers are another SEC team and are 33-11 overall this season but only 7-8 in the conference. Jenna Laird has the top batting average at ,371 with Alex Honnold right behind her at .355. She is also the home run and RBI leader for the Tigers. Cierra Harrison has a 2.02 ERA and a 12-2 record. She also has garnered 73 strikeouts. They play SIUE midweek and then travel to play the Georgia Bulldogs for three.

#9 – Tennessee– The Vols are now currently 32-7 overall. McKenna Gibson is batting .367 with 7 homers and 36 RBI’s. Kiki Milley is at ,353 on the year. Payton Gottshall is 15-3  as a starter with a  1.19 ERA along with Karlyn Pickens at 15-3 and a 1.19 ERA.

#10 – Texas A&M –  They are 32-9. Head Coach Trisha Ford puts a formidable nine on the field and the Aggies are led by Jazmine Hill batting .389 and  24 runs batted in. Trinity Cannon leads the team with 10 home runs. Emily Kennedy has a 1.58 ERA and a 15-7 record. The Aggies face Ole Miss at home on Davis Diamond.

#11 – Arkansas – The Razorbacks are currently 30-11 on the season. They are in the SEC  in the middle of the pack. They will face Alabama for three games at Bogie Park this weekend.

#12- Oklahoma State – The Cowgirls record is at 35-8 and they are in the Big 12 conference. The pitching staff is anchored by Lexi Kilfoyl with her 0.87 ERA. They take on Texas Tech for three at Cowgirl Stadium this coming weekend.

#13- Florida State –Their record sits at 31-10, This past weekend, they 10 run ruled the Notre Dame Irish for a win. They will face Boston College for three on the road this weekend. The Lady Seminoles have the 9th best team batting average at .342

#14- Auburn- This team has a 23-23 record and will face Kentucky at Jane B Moore Field for three game series. The Tigers are led in batting average by Anna Wohlers at ,333. Amelia Lech leads in RBI’s for the team with 30.

#15 – Louisiana- Out of the Sun Belt conference, the Ragin’ Cajun team are 29-14. They take on LSU in a midweek contest and then play Southern Miss for a series this coming weekend. Mihyla Davis is batting .409 to lead the team in average and Alexa Langeliers has 30 runs batted in.

#16 – UCLA – The Bruins are 24-9 on the year and will face #3 Stanford for a series this weekend. Maya Brady is leading the team with a  .398 batting average. She also has ten home runs and 38 runs batted in. The pitching staff is anchored by Kaitlyn Terry with a 11-0 record in 12 games along with 7 complete games.

#17– Mississippi State – The Bulldogs are 29-12 on the year and are scheduled to face Southern Miss this weekend. Madisyn Kennedy leads the Bulldogs with a .380 batting average, home runs and RBI’s. Aspen Wesley has 11 wins and 2 saves as their leading hurler.

#18 – Florida – The Gators are 35-9 and from the SEC. They will host the South Carolina team for a three game series this weekend.

#19– Texas State -the Thundering Herd from the Sunbelt conference are 33-12. They just lost 2 of 3 from #14 Louisiana and now travel to ULM to take them on for three games.

#20 – Clemson -The Tigers are 28-24 and from the ACC. McKenzie Clark is batting .371 with 9 homers and 32 runs batted in. The team ERA is 2.26. Next up for Clemson is Notre Dame for three games on the road.

 

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

  • Duke leads the nation with a 1.25 ERA and Tennessee is 2nd at 1,26
  • Virginia Tech is 12-0 at home
  • Jessica Clements from Cal Poly is leading the nation with a .510 batting average
  • Alex Coleman from UNC is 2nd in batting average at .504
  • Bradley University Sydney Kennedy leads the nation with 14 complete games