Megan.Husslein
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Ohio State Softball: Buckeyes miss NCAA Tournament, fire head coach
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Department of Athletics
Kelly Kovach Schoenly was the Buckeyes’ head coach for 12 years.
The Ohio State softball season did not end in the way a lot of people thought it would. After finishing the regular season with a ton of momentum, their postseason ended as soon as it started.
As a result of losing in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and failing to make the NCAA Tournament again, the Department of Athletics informed head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly that she would not be returning for the 2025 season. Schoenly, who had one year remaining on her current contract, just completed her 12th season as head coach of the Buckeyes. Her teams posted a record of 367-226-1 and advanced to five NCAA Regionals.
This could be exactly what the Buckeyes need in order to start making splashes in the postseason. The past few years they have been way too talented to not make the NCAA Tournament and make it far into the Big Ten Tournament.
While Schoenly has led them to 30 win seasons almost every season she’s been there, she ultimately hasn’t been able to find success in the postseason.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25446776/644976138.jpg "COLLEGE SOFTBALL: FEB 19 Ohio State v Louisville")
Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was shocking that the Buckeyes didn’t make the NCAA Tournament for one reason: Penn State did. The Nittany Lions and the Bucks both finished in sixth place in the Big Ten for the regular season. However, since the Buckeyes swept PSU when the two teams played each other, OSU got the higher seed in the conference tournament.
It wouldn’t even matter, as both teams lost in the first round. When it comes to strength of schedule, Penn State’s biggest wins came against Arkansas and Florida Atlantic, who are both in the tournament. Ohio State’s biggest wins came against Kentucky, Northwestern and TTUN, who are all in the tournament.
So, when it comes down to it, these teams are almost equal. But, the Bucks were 2-0 against them this year, so you would think they would get chosen ahead of Penn State. But, the selection committee must’ve thought that the Nittany Lions’ SOS was more difficult. Personally, I think the Buckeyes got robbed, but there is nothing to be done about it now.
To end this wrap-up on a high note, several Buckeyes earned postseason honors. KamI Kortokrax was named to First-Team Big Ten, Allison Smith and Taylor Heckman to Second-Team, Jasmyn Burns earned a spot on the All-Freshmen Team and Kirsten Eppele was the Sportsmanship Honoree.
Ohio State is losing a bunch of seniors, including their two main starting pitchers in Smith and Emily Ruck, so it is going to be a brand-new team next year. Look for Kortokrax to be the main leader of this team entering her senior year, as she has been during her entire collegiate career.
A new team with a new head coach. The search begins now, and I’m excited to see who they come up with. The 2025 season will mark a new chapter for Buckeye softball.
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State Department of Athletics
Kelly Kovach Schoenly was the Buckeyes’ head coach for 12 years.
The Ohio State softball season did not end in the way a lot of people thought it would. After finishing the regular season with a ton of momentum, their postseason ended as soon as it started.
As a result of losing in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and failing to make the NCAA Tournament again, the Department of Athletics informed head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly that she would not be returning for the 2025 season. Schoenly, who had one year remaining on her current contract, just completed her 12th season as head coach of the Buckeyes. Her teams posted a record of 367-226-1 and advanced to five NCAA Regionals.
This could be exactly what the Buckeyes need in order to start making splashes in the postseason. The past few years they have been way too talented to not make the NCAA Tournament and make it far into the Big Ten Tournament.
While Schoenly has led them to 30 win seasons almost every season she’s been there, she ultimately hasn’t been able to find success in the postseason.
It was shocking that the Buckeyes didn’t make the NCAA Tournament for one reason: Penn State did. The Nittany Lions and the Bucks both finished in sixth place in the Big Ten for the regular season. However, since the Buckeyes swept PSU when the two teams played each other, OSU got the higher seed in the conference tournament.
It wouldn’t even matter, as both teams lost in the first round. When it comes to strength of schedule, Penn State’s biggest wins came against Arkansas and Florida Atlantic, who are both in the tournament. Ohio State’s biggest wins came against Kentucky, Northwestern and TTUN, who are all in the tournament.
So, when it comes down to it, these teams are almost equal. But, the Bucks were 2-0 against them this year, so you would think they would get chosen ahead of Penn State. But, the selection committee must’ve thought that the Nittany Lions’ SOS was more difficult. Personally, I think the Buckeyes got robbed, but there is nothing to be done about it now.
For the first time since, the are dancing.#NextStop? Aggieland.#WeAre pic.twitter.com/ahyyWCueQ6
— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) May 12, 2024
To end this wrap-up on a high note, several Buckeyes earned postseason honors. KamI Kortokrax was named to First-Team Big Ten, Allison Smith and Taylor Heckman to Second-Team, Jasmyn Burns earned a spot on the All-Freshmen Team and Kirsten Eppele was the Sportsmanship Honoree.
Ohio State is losing a bunch of seniors, including their two main starting pitchers in Smith and Emily Ruck, so it is going to be a brand-new team next year. Look for Kortokrax to be the main leader of this team entering her senior year, as she has been during her entire collegiate career.
A new team with a new head coach. The search begins now, and I’m excited to see who they come up with. The 2025 season will mark a new chapter for Buckeye softball.
Continue reading...