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2025 season outlook interview with Coach Anderson
Posted on: January 20, 2025 at 12:39:37 CT
Harvest MU
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Yesterday I listened to a YouTube interview with Coach Anderson from November providing a preview of the 2025 season. As usual, she did a nice job with the interview, although I thought the guy asking the interview questions could have gone more in-depth on player personnel questions. He got sidetracked at times with discussion about the Giants and other topics.
A few things I picked up:
- She feels very good about the pitching staff. She said they have 7 pitchers. Expects Harrison and McCann to be the two primary starters. Commented briefly that she was impressed with Touchet's progress and expected her to be helpful pitching this fall, that she has a hard drop ball down that none of the other pitchers has so provides a good contrast in style. She briefly mentioned the JuCo transfer, Donahue, helping eat some innings and that she had improved during the fall.
- Interviewer asked if Pannell would stay in closer role or have potential to start. Anderson commented on that at some length, but my take away was that she expected Pannell to stay in the closer role, though she didn't rule out using her as an occasional starter. She didn't really offer any specifics about Harrison and McCann other than to say that all the pitchers had gotten stronger.
- When asked about the overall outlook for the season, she said a lot would hinge on how the infield comes together, especially the two middle infield positions. She had earlier in the interview said that the transfer Ebbs from KY was doing very well at second and would be helpful as a left hand power bat. She added that they could potentially play Crenshaw at second if Abruscato keeps improving at catcher. I think she was alluding to the possibility of having Crenshaw occasionally play at second rather than implying she would play her full-time at second, but it was hard to tell from her quick comment about that.
She talked more about shortstop, saying they had given a lot of time in the fall to figuring that out, including trying Kara Daly there (which others on this board have noted from fall games). I kind of got the impression that she was reasonably satisfied with Daly there, saying that by playing Daly at short they could bring their freshman infielders along more slowly (also said they recruited five middle infielders). She did say that whether Daly would play at short would depend somewhat on how things worked out at third, with a brief mention of Walker playing at third in place of Daly.
- Another general comment she made was that she thought the team overall would have a lot of athleticism this year, I think particularly referring to the incoming freshmen. At that point of the interview she also said that the team has a lot of depth and gives her a versatile lineup.
- When asked about the leaders on the team, she said Crenshaw is the most vocal leader. Kara Daly is another vocal leader. Also added that a number of the sophomores add a lot personality to the team.
- She gave kudos to new assistant coach Bella Norton giving them some expertise on coaching catchers, which they hadn't had previously. Also said Norton will be helping with the hitters quite a bit. Anderson made a quick comment about the team maybe having more potential on offense in 2025 but didn't elaborate.
- I didn't hear Coach Anderson say anything about the outfield, so I don't know who she plans to lean on there.
Here's the recorded interview for those that want to watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9reDw6mWY9w
A few things I picked up:
- She feels very good about the pitching staff. She said they have 7 pitchers. Expects Harrison and McCann to be the two primary starters. Commented briefly that she was impressed with Touchet's progress and expected her to be helpful pitching this fall, that she has a hard drop ball down that none of the other pitchers has so provides a good contrast in style. She briefly mentioned the JuCo transfer, Donahue, helping eat some innings and that she had improved during the fall.
- Interviewer asked if Pannell would stay in closer role or have potential to start. Anderson commented on that at some length, but my take away was that she expected Pannell to stay in the closer role, though she didn't rule out using her as an occasional starter. She didn't really offer any specifics about Harrison and McCann other than to say that all the pitchers had gotten stronger.
- When asked about the overall outlook for the season, she said a lot would hinge on how the infield comes together, especially the two middle infield positions. She had earlier in the interview said that the transfer Ebbs from KY was doing very well at second and would be helpful as a left hand power bat. She added that they could potentially play Crenshaw at second if Abruscato keeps improving at catcher. I think she was alluding to the possibility of having Crenshaw occasionally play at second rather than implying she would play her full-time at second, but it was hard to tell from her quick comment about that.
She talked more about shortstop, saying they had given a lot of time in the fall to figuring that out, including trying Kara Daly there (which others on this board have noted from fall games). I kind of got the impression that she was reasonably satisfied with Daly there, saying that by playing Daly at short they could bring their freshman infielders along more slowly (also said they recruited five middle infielders). She did say that whether Daly would play at short would depend somewhat on how things worked out at third, with a brief mention of Walker playing at third in place of Daly.
- Another general comment she made was that she thought the team overall would have a lot of athleticism this year, I think particularly referring to the incoming freshmen. At that point of the interview she also said that the team has a lot of depth and gives her a versatile lineup.
- When asked about the leaders on the team, she said Crenshaw is the most vocal leader. Kara Daly is another vocal leader. Also added that a number of the sophomores add a lot personality to the team.
- She gave kudos to new assistant coach Bella Norton giving them some expertise on coaching catchers, which they hadn't had previously. Also said Norton will be helping with the hitters quite a bit. Anderson made a quick comment about the team maybe having more potential on offense in 2025 but didn't elaborate.
- I didn't hear Coach Anderson say anything about the outfield, so I don't know who she plans to lean on there.
Here's the recorded interview for those that want to watch it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9reDw6mWY9w
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2025 season outlook interview with Coach Anderson - Harvest MU - 1/20 12:39:37