[BobK]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu2Uw7bvKyG/...IwNjQ2YQ==

Welcome Taryn Kern the Big 12 Frosh of the year

148 ABs.  22 HRs.  67 RBIs. 412 Batting Average

[BobK]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu2Uw7bvKyG/...IwNjQ2YQ==

Welcome Taryn Kern the Big 12 Frosh of the year

148 ABs.  22 HRs.  67 RBIs. 412 Batting Average

[cardfan77]

Wow! This is an incredible get. She will definitely be an offensive boost. The team just keeps getting stronger.

[cardfan77]

Wow! This is an incredible get. She will definitely be an offensive boost. The team just keeps getting stronger.

[GK3]

Wow! This is an incredible get. She will definitely be an offensive boost. The team just keeps getting stronger.

More detail on her stats
https://www.si.com/college/indiana/other...o-stanford

[GK3]

Wow! This is an incredible get. She will definitely be an offensive boost. The team just keeps getting stronger.

More detail on her stats
https://www.si.com/college/indiana/other...o-stanford

[BobK]

Here are the incoming Frosh.


https://gostanford.com/news/2023/5/2/sof...class.aspx

https://gostanford.com/news/2022/11/9/so...-trio.aspx

[BobK]

Here are the incoming Frosh.


https://gostanford.com/news/2023/5/2/sof...class.aspx

https://gostanford.com/news/2022/11/9/so...-trio.aspx

[Softball Fan]

"The class is rated the 31st-best in the nation according to Extra Inning Softball."

My honest assessment is I'm not impressed.  Stanford will have to do better in future years if the team is going to have World Series as a goal.  I believe there is an elite pitcher coming to the farm in fall 2024 which should be helpful.  

I would be interested in d4cohn's opinion of the incoming freshmen class.  Perhaps there is an underrated gem that will contribute this coming season.

[Softball Fan]

"The class is rated the 31st-best in the nation according to Extra Inning Softball."

My honest assessment is I'm not impressed.  Stanford will have to do better in future years if the team is going to have World Series as a goal.  I believe there is an elite pitcher coming to the farm in fall 2024 which should be helpful.  

I would be interested in d4cohn's opinion of the incoming freshmen class.  Perhaps there is an underrated gem that will contribute this coming season.

[BobK]

Wow I do disagree. This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country. Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1. No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

[BobK]

Wow I do disagree. This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country. Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1. No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

[Softball Fan]

Do you think Alyssa Houston will be a starter this coming season?     

[Softball Fan]

Do you think Alyssa Houston will be a starter this coming season?     

[BobK]

Almost certainly. Unless a miracle with Vawter
Don’t forget Kern. That’s 5 new players

[BobK]

Almost certainly. Unless a miracle with Vawter
Don’t forget Kern. That’s 5 new players

[d4cohn]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

[d4cohn]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

[Jamesy]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

I'm new to softball so curious to hear your thoughts. Will a recruiting class of just 5 come back to bite the team in a few years position/depth wise, similar to when FB was having small/unbalanced classes?

[Jamesy]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

I'm new to softball so curious to hear your thoughts. Will a recruiting class of just 5 come back to bite the team in a few years position/depth wise, similar to when FB was having small/unbalanced classes?

[BobK]

Stanford softball with have 20 or so players next season. Rittman used to carry 15 or so. I sure don’t see 5 as a small class at all. It is a partial scholarship sport so fewer players means more money for each player to pay for school

We have 4 commits for 2024 at this point. We have had the 4 for quite a while but at this point assume all accepted to Stanford
Only 10 can play.

Football with 85 scholarships and yes often we had 80-81. Plus 15 or more walk ons

[BobK]

Stanford softball with have 20 or so players next season. Rittman used to carry 15 or so. I sure don’t see 5 as a small class at all. It is a partial scholarship sport so fewer players means more money for each player to pay for school

We have 4 commits for 2024 at this point. We have had the 4 for quite a while but at this point assume all accepted to Stanford
Only 10 can play.

Football with 85 scholarships and yes often we had 80-81. Plus 15 or more walk ons

[Softball Fan]

There are three incoming freshmen on scholarship.  So the class of 2023/2024 has three scholarship players and a walk-on  The pitcher, Alyssa Houston, may be the only one who sees much playing time. The transfer Kern from Indiana will be a sophomore and is in a different class from the freshmen.

Edit: Corrected comment to include a walk-on in the 2023/2024 class.

[Softball Fan]

There are three incoming freshmen on scholarship.  So the class of 2023/2024 has three scholarship players and a walk-on  The pitcher, Alyssa Houston, may be the only one who sees much playing time. The transfer Kern from Indiana will be a sophomore and is in a different class from the freshmen.

Edit: Corrected comment to include a walk-on in the 2023/2024 class.

[BobK]

4 plus Kern makes 5 see my post on the April signing above.

[BobK]

4 plus Kern makes 5 see my post on the April signing above.

[d4cohn]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

I'm new to softball so curious to hear your thoughts. Will a recruiting class of just 5 come back to bite the team in a few years position/depth wise, similar to when FB was having small/unbalanced classes?

I don't think roster size (on the whole) will necessarily come back to bite our team. With Vawter transferring, my biggest concern is do we have enough pitching depth in the event of an injury if Houston is a contributor but not immediately an ace like Canady was. 

Gabi Peters was I believe a Gatorade player of the year from Idaho, and unfortunately only pitched 5 innings in her Cardinal career. I say that to say that being (one of) the best HS player in one's state unfortunately does not always translate to the college game. We will just have to see with Houston in February/March. 

I do disagree with Bob on 4-5 players and whether that is a "small" class or not. Programs with a lot more turnover and players in the portal sometimes have classes with double digit recruits. The reason we don't have classes of those size or even 7-8 players very often is we rarely have outbound transfers, and more rarely inbound transfers.

[d4cohn]

Wow I do disagree.  This is a very strong class and includes one of the best HS/Travel pitchers in the country.  Iv’e following softball recruiting almost since day 1.    No Mendoza but the she was at one time the best player in the world

I agree with Bob PA. Firstly, class ratings in many sports including softball are (inevitably) biased in favor of classes with more recruits. Since this is a small recruiting class, it inevitably wasn't going to be at the top of recruiting lists. Secondly, rating incoming players solely on HS matriculations does not consider Stanford's biggest addition this year, which was adding the Big 10 player of the year and the power hitter the Cardinal desperately needed. 

Third, the game at the highest echelons is about pitching; if Houston is an immediate contributor if not a starter, the wins above replacement delivered by the incoming class will be high. 

Finally, any team with NiJaree Canady is a contender to win a title, like the teams in the early 2000's were WCWS contenders with Mendoza that Bob refers to.

I'm new to softball so curious to hear your thoughts. Will a recruiting class of just 5 come back to bite the team in a few years position/depth wise, similar to when FB was having small/unbalanced classes?

I don't think roster size (on the whole) will necessarily come back to bite our team. With Vawter transferring, my biggest concern is do we have enough pitching depth in the event of an injury if Houston is a contributor but not immediately an ace like Canady was. 

Gabi Peters was I believe a Gatorade player of the year from Idaho, and unfortunately only pitched 5 innings in her Cardinal career. I say that to say that being (one of) the best HS player in one's state unfortunately does not always translate to the college game. We will just have to see with Houston in February/March. 

I do disagree with Bob on 4-5 players and whether that is a "small" class or not. Programs with a lot more turnover and players in the portal sometimes have classes with double digit recruits. The reason we don't have classes of those size or even 7-8 players very often is we rarely have outbound transfers, and more rarely inbound transfers.

[BobK]

https://twitter.com/justfactsmaam/status...01985?s=46

Vawter to South Carolina

[BobK]

https://twitter.com/justfactsmaam/status...01985?s=46

Vawter to South Carolina

[BobK]

The 2024 Roster with Kern and Lim is back No frosh yet and pending the additional coach

https://gostanford.com/sports/softball/r...er-coaches

[BobK]

The 2024 Roster with Kern and Lim is back No frosh yet and pending the additional coach

https://gostanford.com/sports/softball/r...er-coaches

[BobK]

Our added assistant. Now softball can have 3 assistants not just 2

https://gostanford.com/news/2023/9/28/so...staff.aspx

[BobK]

Our added assistant. Now softball can have 3 assistants not just 2

https://gostanford.com/news/2023/9/28/so...staff.aspx

[GK3]

Our added assistant.  Now softball can have 3 assistants not just 2

https://gostanford.com/news/2023/9/28/so...staff.aspx

Do you think Alyssa can find a spot say as DH when not pitching?  She showed great power and hit for a good average in highschool.  I think she was also among the top 20 high school pitchers last year.  It is possible we will get more than just a pitcher.

[GK3]

Our added assistant.  Now softball can have 3 assistants not just 2

https://gostanford.com/news/2023/9/28/so...staff.aspx

Do you think Alyssa can find a spot say as DH when not pitching?  She showed great power and hit for a good average in highschool.  I think she was also among the top 20 high school pitchers last year.  It is possible we will get more than just a pitcher.

[BobK]

Allister has mentioned Canady hitting so could be Houston might hit. Houston is listed as P/Utl

[BobK]

Allister has mentioned Canady hitting so could be Houston might hit. Houston is listed as P/Utl

[BobK]

https://stanforddaily.com/2023/10/09/tit...the-ranks/

Great story Brother committed to cal for football

---

https://gostanford.com/sports/softball/schedule

Fall schedule

[BobK]

https://stanforddaily.com/2023/10/09/tit...the-ranks/

Great story Brother committed to cal for football

---

https://gostanford.com/sports/softball/schedule

Fall schedule