Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Photoessay #271 - Coach Suzie


Disclaimer: My daughter's name is Susanna. She is very particular that her immediate family refer to her as "Susanna" NOT "Suzie" Suzie is for the rest of the world. In this blog, I almost always refer to her as Susanna.

My oldest daughter Susanna is serving as the students assistant softball coach at the University of Oregon this year. Sometimes, the coaches will retain one (or more) of their seniors as assistant coaches the following year. Gives the young people some valuable professional experience plus provides their expert help for the team. The university does not pay the student coaches but they can (may be expected to) travel with the team with appropriate expenses covered. Susanna attended the first two pre-season tournaments in Palm Springs and Las Vegas.

The coaches told Susanna on her recruiting visit during her senior year in high school that she would serve as the student assistant coach. I don't know how they were so sure about that. But Susanna has excellent coaching skills, she understands what makes a team tick. One of her former coaches says "Everybody plays better when Suzie's on the field. She has that knack". So, for right now, she feels "How can the infield run without me?"

Coach S (in dark green shirt) in action last weekend in Las Vegas. Likely congratulating freshman MF who hit two home runs in one game. Right after, I bet! Ducks now 5-5, have fallen out of the rankings.

In that last softball picture which I posted Feb 12, was Susanna safe or out on that steal? Will Lisa Dodd get the tag down? Through journalism forensics, I have decided that she was called out. On April 14, 2007 UCLA vs UO, Susanna did have a stolen base but Lisa Dodd was playing 1B in that game. On April 15, Susanna was caught stealing and Lisa Dodd was playing 2B. Dahl correctly identified that Susanna was sliding into second and there's no way a 1B would be in that position for that play. So I think she was OUT.

Photo courtesy of Phil Vitek

3 comments:

bonnie said...

I love watching Doddie play. (I checked out your Feb.12 post). I know her story so it's fun to see her. I watched her get coached by that old geezer that you can't believe is still alive. I check with Jess on his name.

bonnie said...

It's Ernie Parker. You are so lucky to be able to still have softball so much in your life. My daughter coaches a local 16U community team now. She adores it. She says God speaks to her through sports.

azure said...

Yes, Ernie Parker is a very well-known pitching coach out of SoCal. He's been up here but I have never met him. Lisa Dodd never really made an impact at UCLA as a pitcher but an excellent player nonetheless. Oregon could usually hit her when she pitched.