Charles Fischer

You nailed it Alex. This is the biggest, most consequential off-season in Oregon football history, IMHO. Meanwhile, in October last year I wrote, "Forget about next year, as you rarely have so much experience stacked into one season as we do this year." And that was true until the incredible off-season! That was the definition of, "this did not age well!" I am still shaking my head at all the good fortune... Do Oregon Fans ‘GET’ How Special the 2023 Team Is? | FishDuck FISHDUCK.COM A high percentage of Oregon fans and media sources outside the state do not truly understand how special and unique this 2023 team is in terms of experience.

Google is your friend....explanations in the article below. Bracket set for 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament in Scottsdale PAC-12.COM 2024 Pac-12 Baseball Tournament | Pac-12 Standings | Tickets | Bracket (PDF) | Pac-12 Tournament Record Book

AMEN Duck-Brother. I'm sure the Pig-2 know what they're doing....

NORMAN, Okla. — Oregon took three-time defending national champion Oklahoma down to the wire Sunday, before the No. 2 Sooners eked out a 3-2 win at Love's Field to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals and end the Ducks' season. A home run by Tehya Bird and an RBI single from fellow senior Emma Kauf tied the game at 2-2 in the third. Another senior, Morgan Scott, got the final 10 outs in the circle for Oregon, but she took over after the Sooners had rallied for a run in the fourth — which proved to be the difference in a tightly contested game. "Any time you're in a game like this, it's going to be tough — we're gonna throw punches, they're gonna throw punches," UO coach Melyssa Lombardi said. "And it's about just staying in it, staying in it. We always talk about that it doesn't have to look a certain way. It's just the ability to fight and persevere and stick together and go get what we want, and you could really see that from our group today." The loss ended the UO careers of nine seniors, including Bird, Kauf, Scott, Ariel Carlson, Hanna Delgado, Vallery Wong, Alyssa Daniell, KK Humphreys and Raegan Breedlove. "Version 6" of the Ducks under Lombardi finished the year 30-21, having reached an NCAA Regional final for the fourth year in a row. "I grew up going to games at Oregon, and it's always been a dream of mine to play here," said Carlson, a Eugene native who is planning to remain with the program next season as director of player development and analytics. "Wearing this jersey is so special and I'm so proud of the direction this program is going. Playing for this staff and with these girls, it's been amazing. I couldn't ask for a better team or a better program." How It Happened: Elise Sokolsky started in the circle for Oregon and allowed two singles to open the game, for which the Ducks were the designated home team. But she minimized the damage by allowing just one run, on a sacrifice fly, a theme for UO pitchers on the day as they kept the Ducks in the game. Freshman Taylor Spencer (7-4) took over for Sokolsky in the second after a one-out double brought in another run that made it 2-0. Spencer walked a batter with two outs but stranded both runners, again limiting the damage. "I'm so proud of this team," Carlson said. "We knew they were going to come out hot from the start — that's what they do. So nothing really surprised us. We knew it was going to be that kind of game, back and forth. So we were prepared for it. The Pac, our entire schedule prepared us for that, so we were ready to go when that happened." The Ducks proved it in the third, after Spencer threw a 1-2-3 top of the inning. Bird hit a one-out solo home run, her second of the weekend to give her multiple homers in two straight NCAA Regionals. With two out in the inning, Kai Luschar singled. She took second on a base hit by Carlson and advanced to third on an error, and Kauf drove in Luschar with a single to tie the game, though Carlson was thrown out at home trying to score the go-ahead run on the play. "It was really special to be able to do that for my team and keep us in the game," Bird said of her homer that sparked the inning. "It's something I'll never forget, for sure." The Sooners answered in the top of the fourth. Spencer got two quick outs, but the next three batters reached, the third on an RBI single that put Oklahoma back in front, 3-2. Oregon managed a two-out double by Daniell in the fourth, and Kauf singled again in the sixth. But the Ducks weren't able to forge another tie or take the lead, and their season came to an end. "I've been going to Oregon camp since I was 9 years old, so Oregon means everything to me," Bird said. "It was the only school I've ever wanted to go to, and as soon as I got that offer, there was no place else. When coach Lombardi came in as coach and I was already committed, I knew that I was going to stay a Duck no matter who was there, and it just made it so special that coach Lombardi was there for us. So Oregon means everything to me and I'll be a Duck for life." The Ducks ended the Norman Regional 2-2, with a win over Boston University on Friday, a loss to the Sooners followed by a win over the Terriers in an elimination game Saturday night, and ultimately Sunday's finale of the double-elimination weekend. "I just can't say enough about my team and how proud I am of them," Lombardi said. "This group of seniors has been an absolute blessing. They all came at different times, but they're all leaving together and what they've created together — the standard that they've set for our future teams — I think Version 7, they are gonna be able to take Version 6's lead. "I know that no matter what's next for them, that they're going to excel, and then they're gonna be just really, really good at what they do. They're invested in us, not just in softball, but just invested in us as people and willing to do what it takes for us all to be great together. So I love the fight that we had today. We were right there, just needed a couple more. But to see us yesterday and then to see what we did today, that's Duck softball right there. And so I'm just proud and blessed to have these guys by my side." Notable: Carlson's third-inning single gave her a 10-game hitting streak, the longest by a Duck since Terra McGowan had a 12-game streak last season. McGowan spent this year in the staff position Carlson will take over next spring. … Carlson tied Janie Takeda Reed (2013) for sixth on the single-season total bases list with 121. … Bird wrapped up her career with five homers and 13 RBIs in NCAA Regional play.

I brought it up, because I have heard of quite a few problem parents for coaches in the past. Something plausible to ponder in the long off-season…

But I will always remember Akili for this...(the winning points) And this!

I have thought about this before...how a notable alum and player could be a problem for our coaches. Akili was a QB coach for hire, and I believe counseled prior players at Oregon. He is a great fan, and has a very talented son who will sign as a QB this December for Oregon. In fact "Jr." was up here this weekend to help recruit the big group of recruits to OBD, so I love how he is helping the staff. But could a consultant who-has-a-Duck-in-the-fight be an issue later? Playing time? NIL? The complexities of being a college coach these days---whew!

Oregon ended up third in the conference, by only a game. The Ducks were picked to be fourth in the pre-season, and I cannot complain as we had our chances a ton of times where a game would slip through our fingers. We lost three one-run games where we left multiple runners on bases to end innings in those losses, where one hit wins the game and our conference. (We had the tiebreaker on Arizona, as Oregon won that series) We play in the conference tournament on Wednesday against Utah at 2:30, and USC on Thursday at 2:30 in our three-team pod. Oregon needs to do well, to assure our spot in the NCAA tournament, as last year our conference had two very good teams that should have been in the tournament, but were left out. Even though the Pac-12 has won more Baseball 'Nattys than all the other conferences combined....we don't get enough respect. Imagine that!

Ducks got it done, winning 10-4! Now if Oregon State beats Arizona tonight, they win the conference and the Wildcats and Oregon tie for second. Since Oregon won the Arizona series earlier this season...Oregon would become the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament and second in the final Pac-12 conference season. Cheer for the Bastard Beavers tonight?

Oregon leads 10-4 after eight innings!

The Good-Guys lead 8-4 after six innings!

After five innings, Our Beloved Ducks lead 7-3!

After four innings, Our Beloved Ducks lead 5-3! Gosh...what a sweet swing!

In a big surprise...Oregon will be playing WSU on the Pac-12 Network at noon today! The stakes are high, because we have a real shot at being second in the conference. The game in Tucson is for the conference championship between the Beavers and Wildcats, and I believe OSU gets it done. If so, that could put Oregon at second place if we win today as well. Why is it important? Because Coach Waz says that nearly every time--the second place Pac-12 team hosts a regional NCAA tournament game, and that is a very big deal. C'mon Ducks! Get it done!

Oregon being in on No. 1 players...is just mind-boggling for us veteran Duck fans. Whew!

A great start in the tournament for the women, and they face Oklahoma Saturday at noon, (same time the Baseball team plays) on ESPN!

Because you are not in our spot. You are at the top of CFB, crunching most who dare to step on the field with you. You have the luxury of being nostalgic, having ‘Nattys, and thus can be gracious. If you existed in a conference that was almost invisible to 80% of the population, and then guaranteed to be relegated to permanent lower status forever....you would welcome the move-out, the move-up, even without immediate success. You have no idea how much I've realized the time difference has been real, and Oregon could be on the moon as far as most think in the eastern time zone. We will be top-of-mind this year, as the team we will present will be a challenge to most.

Look how Bryce Boettcher takes on a sidewinder pitcher, and digs it out....for a three-run homer!

Wowsa. It was a pitcher's duel for most of the game as Grayson Grinsell only gave up two runs in six innings. Brock Moore had a tough outing as he gave up two more runs in the top of the eighth, and things looked bad for Our Beloved Ducks down 4-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. Then the Ducks stunned everyone with a miracle eighth inning that scored SEVEN runs, and then Logan Mercado took down the Cougar batters in the 9th...1-2-3 for the win! I will post more when the media press release is available. The throwback uniforms are so cool.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Eighth Inning Gives Ducks Series Win and a Top-Three Seed in Pac-12 Tournament EUGENE, Ore. — No. 20 Oregon scored seven runs in the eighth inning to overcome a deficit en route to an 8-4 win over Washington State in Pac-12 Conference action in front of 4,130 fans at PK Park on Friday night. The win clinched the series for Oregon while also guaranteeing a top-three seed in next week’s Pac-12 Conference Tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. Oregon will either be the two seed or the three seed depending on the Saturday’s results. Either way, the Ducks will open tournament play on Wednesday. WSU (21-31, 9-20 Pac-12) took a three-run lead into the bottom of the eighth inning but Oregon was finally able to get to Cougar starter Connor Wilford in the inning. Drew Smith led off the big inning with a base hit and moved to second when Mason Neville was hit by a pitch. Jacob Walsh delivered a two-RBI double into right-center that rolled all the way to the wall allowing Smith and Neville to score, cutting the lead to one and ending Wilford’s night. Reliever Kaden Wickersham hit Jeffery Heard to put runners on first and second setting up an Anson Aroz sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Freshman Maddox Molony followed with a two-run hit giving Oregon the lead and sending the Cougars to the bullpen again. After Chase Meggers reached on a hit-by-pitch to put two on base, Bryce Boettcher lined a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give Oregon a four-run lead. Logan Mercado came in to get the final three outs and give Oregon (36-16, 18-11 Pac-12) the win. How It Happened: Oregon stole a run in the bottom of the second to take the early lead. With runners at the corners and two outs, Oregon attempted a double steal with Meggers intentionally getting into a rundown. The Ducks’ catcher was able to avoid being tagged out long enough to allow Molony to score. Washington State took the lead with single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. A solo home run tied the game in the fifth before back-to-back walks in the sixth led to a run on a ground-ball hit up the middle. WSU extended the lead to three in the top of the eighth with a pair or runs before Oregon answered in its half of the inning. Box Score Notes: Oregon’s sellout tied for the sixth-largest crowd in program history while also tying as the largest regular-season crowd to see a game at PK Park … Oregon clinched its eight Pac-12 Conference series of the season … Walsh (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R) moved into third all-time on Oregon’s career RBI list, sixth on the hit list with 17 and into a tie for fourth all-time with Ryon Healy (2011-13) on the career doubles list, while also claiming sole possession of third on the career multi-RBI list and 10th on the multiple-hit list … Oregon starter Grayson Grinsell (6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 11 K) set a career high for strikeouts while matching Kevin Seitter (vs. Lafayette) for the most Ks by a Ducks’ pitcher this season … Brock Moore (4-0) picked up the win despite surrendering two runs in two innings of work. On Deck: The Ducks and Cougars will play the final Pac-12 Conference game ever at PK Park on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. The Ducks will look for their first conference sweep of the season. Quotes: Head Coach Mark Wasikowski On Jacob Walsh’s day... “Really good, you know. I mean, he was the guy that was scuffling and then got a big hit, I think it was yesterday, for three RBI, a base hit up the middle, or a double or something like that. Today he had, what I think was probably the game winning hit. When you’re middle of the order, guys are doing that good with Mason Neville setting him up, and then Drew Smith leading us off. He didn’t have an awesome offensive game, but we got an awesome at bat out of him when we needed it.” On Grayson Grinsell’s start with Scottsdale coming up... “Scottsdale is not in my mind. But Grayson’s start is, and Grayson was really good tonight. He walked those two guys I think in that one inning and one of them scored and it was disappointing. I thought that he could have gone deeper in the game, we could have left him out there, especially with a left-on-left matchup leading the next inning off. Chose not to, because he was at 92 pitches, he had thrown a very good game.” Grayson Grinsell On growing this year… “I’d say maturity. Being around all of the old guys we’ve got: Brad (Mullan), (Logan) Mercado, Brock (Moore), Kevin (Seitter), and RJ (Gordon). All of these old guys we have on the pitching staff, I’ve been watching them every day and how they go about their stuff. I’m just trying to take it all in and grow and mature.” Momentum after today’s quality start… “It definitely helps a lot to build off of. RJ (Gordon) yesterday setting the tone with a quality start as well. We’re just trying to build off it and keep it going tomorrow with Kevin (Seitter).” Bryce Boettcher On adding another PK Park memory with the homer tonight… “There’s a lot of PK Park memories in my mind, but that one is definitely up there.” On hitting the homer after getting two robbed yesterday… “It felt good to get that one over the wall. It’s a plus at-bat when you hit a ball that gets robbed, so it’s good for the team aspect in that regard. You caught a barrel and it’s unfortunate to see it not go over, but in the back of my mind, I know I’ve robbed quite a few homers in my time here. As ‘Waz’ would say, the game knows and on to the next. You just have to keep a good mindset about it.” Maddox Molony On whether confidence grows throughout the game... “Of course. Every at bat I learn from and learn from the next. By the third at-bat, it like, I know what I have to do.” On staying grounded and in the moment... “Just stick to my approach. Like I said, I was just going up there waiting for my pitch to hit and I was on, that was on my head.” Jacob Walsh On getting back into a groove at the plate... “I’m always trying to stick to my approach, tweaking things here and there when the game calls for it. But getting good pitches to hit and put good swings on balls.” On you’re development during time at Oregon... “Just know, baseball is evening itself out. You know, we get tested by the Lord every day. And, you know, being able to just keep going knowing that you’re going to end up positive on the other end is important. As far as you go down, you’re going to have a day where you go right back up, right, and always just even itself out. So just staying to that approach helps you out a lot.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the Bastard Beavers can win tomorrow, and Our Beloved Ducks win tomorrow, starting at noon....we could finish a strong second place in the Pac-12 after being picked for fourth in the preseason.

Great point. That is not fair, and especially so considering what the viewership will be in total by the end of the season. You will note that I said nothing about my frustration with the Pig-2 stealing 300 million, as that will always irk me. But we will be fine, and our upside is so vast... The Pig-2 are celebrating, as they know what they're doing...