re: Ali Kilponen

Kilponen’s entire throwing motion was changed by the coaches when she arrived at LSU, everything that she had learned prior to coming to LSU was changed pretty much. Ali had amazing control all throughout high school (just look at her stats) then was changed, so of course she was going to have control issues. Torina is a great pitching coach and In the end Ali will be WAY better because of it...growing pains of learning a new style are tough though. Would have been nice to see her red shirt last year.

Wickersham and Gorsuch are and should be LSU’s go to pitchers in the big games early in the year. Wickersham and Gorsuch have an amazing change up which can keep top opponents off balance throughout a long game. Kilponen really needs a good change that she can through for a strike and she will be huge.

Kilponen coming in late in games is actually a pretty good idea in a closer type role with her throwing as hard as she does. I think with Wickersham starting and being a dropball pitcher with a great change then having Kilponen come in late who is a riseball/curve with much more speed is a deadly combo. At this point Kilponen starting against top teams is a bit risky without her having the change. After a great hitter has seen her a couple times through the lineup they will be ready for the speed.