Flying Dutchmen Fans

Yeah, not trying to be a jerk, but I'm still not impressed with this team - they've played literally no one - the wins are vs some very weak teams - the minute they go against a decent squad and they don't look as 'unbeatable' as they do against those bad programs.

I get it, it's year 1, I'm not screaming 'fire' yet, just saying I don't see future juice at this point - they have a lot still to build and prove.

The difference between now and the Edwards days is he used to challenge his team with power programs down south early - those struggles were fully understandable and worth it - this program isn't doing that - we aren't challenging ourselves at all, so when we do play the better teams they aren't weathered for it.

Not a fan of that soft approach - weak scheduling is going to be the downfall for this year. Hope this new coach fixes that next season - cowgirl up and go play and tough OOC so we can get back to winning the CAA.

True we had been playing top 25 teams in the past. Last year right out of the gate we played Baylor(top 25), Oklahoma #3, Liberty and Virginia. We took our lumps but hopefully these were learning experiences.

The schedule was set up from our former coach
Susan had no say in the schedule this year
Actually, the OOC wasn't horrible
We played some decent mid majors
Remember, we lost our top pitcher from last year Carley Ernst

Polito wrote: ↑Thu Apr 02, 2026 5:47 pm Yeah, not trying to be a jerk, but I'm still not impressed with this team - they've played literally no one - the wins are vs some very weak teams - the minute they go against a decent squad and they don't look as 'unbeatable' as they do against those bad programs.

I get it, it's year 1, I'm not screaming 'fire' yet, just saying I don't see future juice at this point - they have a lot still to build and prove.

The difference between now and the Edwards days is he used to challenge his team with power programs down south early - those struggles were fully understandable and worth it - this program isn't doing that - we aren't challenging ourselves at all, so when we do play the better teams they aren't weathered for it.

Not a fan of that soft approach - weak scheduling is going to be the downfall for this year. Hope this new coach fixes that next season - cowgirl up and go play and tough OOC so we can get back to winning the CAA.

Sorry, but you do sound like a jerk (your word, not mine).

Let's give our new staff some time to improve before burying them with criticism. And for people who support Hofstra athletics, how about making a donation to the softball team to help with recruiting, etc.?

We scored 7 in the sixth to win 14-0 at Towson. It was our seventh consecutive CAA win, and five of our last six CAA games were shutouts. We have the best CAA record in either division. We are .750 all-time against Towson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHN7taTeql0 is highlights.

This game was weird went to watch the replay on Flo and no matter what I did I couldn't watch the first two innings like they had technical difficulties showing the video thus no recording of it. The game starts in the 3rd I believe when we're already winning 4-0. No write up also of this game on gohofstra?? Of note Emma Falon pitches a complete game 1 hitter with 7 strikeouts. A real Gem! Morse goes 3-5 with 2 rbi's, Villar 4-4 with 2RBI'S AND CANCEL 2-2 with 3 rbi's. This team continues to play at a very high level. We walk off after the 6th.

Good bounce back games, take every win.

Appreciate that Stu, makes more sense now - she's inherited some things, so this year will be one to figure things out. I know she's a high level coach with incredible experience, and it's quite fair that she gets a chance to set the course. I'm not hatin on her or the program, but I'm also looking at what I would consider average results thus far. It's the first year, but that doesn't make the results any more magical - it is what it is this year.

Jojo, we don't know each other well, but what I can tell is that you are a very loyal HU fan. And for that I tip my cap - we need every fan we can get. I respect your love for the blue and gold, it's palpable and welcomed.

You need to recognize I am the same. We may have differing styles, but I bleed this too bud, and been a diehard for 30 years - I'm not some noob you need to educate, and I'm definitely not the bear you want to be poking by fan policing me every time you get your undies in a bunch. I'm not the guy for that, take it to someone else.

I would suggest that you learn how to have a balanced exchange. I get that you are not a fan who's going to provide much criticism, but it's also beneficial when you can display some objectivity.

This is a sports message board bud, not a propaganda board. We need to be able to have some candid conversation and varied opinion that looks at all angles. That's a dialogue, and it makes us all better.

I've had some great conversation with Stu on Softball - I'm not a softball expert, I root for the girls, and I only know the standard Edwards set.

You may not like what I've said, but I haven't said anything wrong thus far. I am not impressed yet (my opinion), we've played no one so far (fact), we've struggled some (fact), and we have a lot to prove (fact).

I understand it's year 1, and that it is highly likely to improve. I simply stated I want to see some stability in the program, which is quite fair considering the numerous coaching changes since Edwards. This program has a standard, and it hasn't met it consistently yet over the last decade. It hasn't been bad, but it hasn't been fantastic either.

I'm 100% rooting for them to get it back to that level. And next year I want to see a schedule that is worthy of making a champion.

So maybe yesterday's game will smooth out the differences here as we dominate(again) Towson winning 9-2. Freshman Madison Steppe goes the distance giving up 6 hits 2 runs and striking out 6. She's now 9-3 not too shabby for a freshman. The story in this game is that we tie a record set by a couple of other teams in the past 2006,2013,2016 and in 2018 as we hit 5 home runs. Comparing what we have done this year to last year we're blowing those stats away. All of last year in 50 games we had 19 home runs so far this year 30 we had 175 RBI's we now have 184 in just 35 games. In the world of the CAA this has become a team to be reckoned with as we have the best record at 13-1 and have been winning in convincing fashion with overpowering bats and strong pitching. Freshman Ryleigh Smith has garnered center stage all of a sudden getting playing time and hitting the long ball. Yesterday with 2 more home runs. She's hitting 346 has 17 RBI's and 5 Home Runs in just 52 at bats. She has caused the coaching staff to reevaluate the batting order and has taken at bats from Gemma D'Orazio sophomore who was an every day player. Looking up and down the lineup Victoria Frobosilo the right fielder is only hitting .192 and could find her position in jeopardy to D'Orazio who's hitting .280 with 3 home runs and who can play the outfield. Also waiting in the wings is speedster Kimmya Sims but she has yet to get the at bats and needs consistency. It remains to be seen whether the coach will continue to play Frobosilo who's a good outfielder with an inept at bat right now or will she experiment to get another productive bat in the lineup? All and all this team is rolling at the moment with a lot of big bats!!

I believe we are still pitcher short of being the dominant team in the league
If I had to pick right now, it would be Campbell number one and UNCW and Hofstra as 2 and 2A
Steppe is a very good pitcher but not at Emmas level yet

Seems like our softball team is back to form and the old days. Would love to see our softball team get back to greatness

So Emma pitches another gem shuts out Towson for the 2nd time in this series winning 5-0 giving up 2 hits and striking out 8. We sweep Towson no real surprise there but it was a 2-0 game until the 7th when Ryleigh Smith yes that freshman who hit two Home Runs yesterday goes yard again a three run shot to up the lead to 5-0. Just as I had predicted Gemma D'Orazio who was the starting catcher now gives way for freshman Smith to be the every day catcher and get her big bat in the lineup. Now D'Orazio replaces Frobosilo in right field because she hitting aroung .280 and Frobosilo is hitting under .200. Kudos to Gemma who's a versatile fielder and can play a lot of positions. After Palacio got hurt and came out of the game after she dived for a ball at first Fitzgerald the regular third baseman went to first and Gemma D'Orazio went from right field to third base. Being versatile is a big plus in this game and Susan knowing this had been looking for a backup 3rd baseman.

So we now have injuries to Palacio starting 1st baseman and the DP Gabby Sultan both hitting at the top of the order and both having very good years. The extent of those injuries unknown as of right now but could impact us in a big way. Palacio got hurt diving for a ball at first and Sultan got hurt by a HBP on her right wrist and appeared to be in a lot of pain leaving the field. Hopefully nothing broken.

stuball888 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 05, 2026 1:27 pm I believe we are still pitcher short of being the dominant team in the league
If I had to pick right now, it would be Campbell number one and UNCW and Hofstra as 2 and 2A
Steppe is a very good pitcher but not at Emmas level yet

We could be a pitcher short but remember freshman Steppe in the CAA is 7-0 and has an ERA of 2.45 pitched 51 innings and has gotten 41 strike outs. I would like to be in Susan's position with those pitchers. Emma leading the CAA with a 7-0 record an an ERA of 0.60!! However to your point we don't have the reliable third pitcher. Steppe right now I believe is pitching better then Carly Ernst did last year as a freshman. Two years ago we pitched Julia Apsel just about every game however we are in a better place with freshman Steppe whose numbers speak for themselves. We play Campbell this week and we will see just how good our pitching really is.

21-15 and 14-1 in conference is trending in the right direction, at least in conference - the CAA is relatively weak this year, so this squad could continue to develop and win the league - that would be a great start in year 1 under this staff to re-establish HU softball as a premier mid major program.

Team is definitely a better hitting group than last year, just need to keep seeing the pitching develop.

Have some interesting OOC matchups coming up, but obviously the only thing that matters is taking the conf crown. They are in position to battle for it - still likely a tad short in their current state, but let's see how they mature through this last group of series - good thing is they don't have to leave LI for any remaining CAA games.

The standards are high and I'm not fooled by a good conf record in a below average league, BUT I also understand full well that all they need to do is win said meh league and they can achieve a nice goal in year 1.

And to my point, HU is currently ranked 195 in RPI while Campbell, UNCW, CofC, and Elon are all ranked ahead of them, even though they have the best conf record. The highest is Campbell at 100 - that's not very impressive. This league is not great right now, and HU can take it if they can elevate their pitching.

Polito my dear friend
Let's take a step back for a second
I just looked at the NCAA rankings 10 days ago. We were number 240 in the
Today we are now at 186 and rising
We play number 93 St. John's tomorrow
Let's see how that goes
Do we play our best players or is this a game to also find out what some of the bench players have?
Elon, who was ahead of us dropped to number 192
The three teams ahead of us Charleston is at number 146
UNCW is that number 116
Campbell, who I think is still the best team in the league at this point is that number 103
So this week is a big week for us. We played number 93 and number 103 win most of these games and we're right where we have to be.
We started the season 1-8
We are now 21-15
Over the last 27 games we are 20-7

I will be at the game on Friday
My granddaughter's Little League team will be there

We played an OOC game against St John's yesterday and in a pitchers duel we come out on the short end. We lose 2-0 as St John's gets a run in the second inning and another in the 5th. We had our chances but left quIte a few runners on base. Their pitcher worked herself out of jams getting K's in crucial parts of the game. She gives up 3 hits and struck out 9. Emma Falon gave up 6 hits and struck out 5 but walked 4. Madison Steppe picthed an inning and a third giving up no hits and had 2 K's. Friday we start a series with Campbell who's in 1st place tied with UNCW at 10-2. This is a big series and we finally will play on our home field that has been newly resurfaced and renovated.

This weekend series is huge.

Again they played a decent squad and good pitcher in SJU and lost. It was close though, so they do appear to be improving - but to my earlier points, this team has played little quality and beaten even fewer of them. I will certainly agree the gap is closing - just not there yet. The Campbell games can go a long way in showing tangible data these ladies rising up.

If all you folks who keep telling me this team is on the up are right, then I would expect a series win at home. Don't give me the 'they're best in conf" stuff, the CAA is not a strong softball league this year, zero ranked teams, a bunch of 100+ RPIs. This is absolutely winnable for our ladies.

Go get em girls, protect this new home turf - start this new era strong!!!

So I'll mention this game briefly watched parts of it on Flo and not indicative of our team this year. We lose the game in the 2nd inning when we make an error in left field on a ball that should have been caught with 2 outs enabling them to score an additional 3 runs. Should have been 1-0 going into the third but regardless of the error we got schooled by Campbell who just flat out played better then us in every aspect of the game eg Pitching, Hitting, base running and defense. When we have to go to our 3rd and fourth backup pitchers we're in trouble. Last night was proof of the pudding. We were charged with 2 errors but could have been three all leading to runs. Lets hope we clean all this up and we come back in the second game of the series. Final score 10-1. Just ugly ball for us.

So we bounce back with a 9-7 win today
Campbell with 5 errors

Yeah was at this game and right out of the gate we're down 4-0. Campbell puts the bat on the ball, hits line drives and doesn't hit a lot of home runs. My feeling seeing them for the first time is maybe we have to cheat a bit and play them shallower in the outfield which I think we were doing on certain players. Their right fielder is a very good player made a diving catch robbing Fitzgerald of xtra bases. Their centerfielder was able to cut off hits up the gap and stopping them from going to the wall. Their infield however didn't have a good game making 3 errors at short and another 2 at second base setting us up for some rallies. They were using one of their 3rd string type pitchers who had a high ERA. We stole a few bases and just put pressure on them to make plays in the infield and they had a lot of trouble doing that. Emma Falon came in and pitched 3 innings only allowing one run and had a few K's. She was fired up on the mound and helped to motivate the team. We win 9-7 but again leave quite a few runners on base.

I wonder tomorrow who do we pitch after Steppe gave up 6 runs but probably deserved a better fate. An important game to win the series against one of the better teams in this league.