I am just throwing this in because this has been discussed just about each time there is a game. Ashlynn often brings this up.

Let's say you have two players... a senior and a freshman. The senior started three years straight, and is aiming for her fourth year as a starter. Up pops the freshman who is surprisingly talented, maybe just as good as the senior, though less experienced.

There are, of course, two possibilities.. One, the coach decides to start the senior. Her reasoning is that the senior is more experienced and deserves to start her final year at the school. The senior is also the “spiritual leader” of the team. The freshman has three more years to play, and will start all three of those years.

The other alternative is to go with the younger player, benching the senior/spiritual leader in favor of the younger player. It gives the younger player a chance to have three years of experience for when she enters her senior year. It also serves to keep the freshman from leaving.

Which would you do, and why?

Personally, I'd go with the senior, for several reasons. One, a coach does not want the reputation of bumping off a three year starter in favor of a newcomer. Imagine what that would do for recruiting...prospective players would have to wonder, and always be looking over their shoulder for someone to come and take their position from them.

There is a chance it could hurt team morale if the girl they are expected to look to as leader has lost her position to a Freshman.

So, what I think I would do is go with the senior at least for a good while unless she falls below what she is capable of, plays disastrous defense, etc.

A good example is Madi Gibson at Auburn. She is a pretty good outfielder but this year she struggled at the plate and failed to come through in clutch situations. The Rivera girl, a Freshman, is a much better player, in every facet of the game, but Gibson was given a chance to prove herself worthy of being a starter. Her batting average is somewhere around .240. The Rivera girl is pushing .400 and is a clutch hitter. She is fast, has a strong arm, and possibly the best outfielder, defensively, in the country.

After giving Gibson a chance, Myers yanked her and put Rivera in. I thought the way he handled it was best.

As the season draws to a close, we have to play our best players, and I hope that Quinn remains on the field, and that Dawson is in the lineup somewhere. Regardless, if Sanchez is benched, or if Quinn had faltered badly and was benched in favor of Dawson, complaining about it would be senseless.

Beth has given all these players a chance to shine. If Waljasper doesnt get to DP, and Dawson is chosen instead, how could anyone disagree? Look at the numbers.

What Beth has done is give everyone a chance. Now we have to hope that whatever decision she makes actually works. I am a supporter of the head coach. I hope she stays here for her career. I wouldn't want to be her right now, though.