grizzlyjournal
Well-known member
I know the headline of this thread looks like sour grapes from my point of view. I admit that STATISTICAL ANALYSIS drives my belief that Montana's Delene Colburn should have been named to the Big Sky's All Conference First team, and should have been named MVP for her individual play and the fact that the led Montana to a second place Big Sky Conference finish, a mere 1/2 game behind Weber State.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Congratulations to Montana players named to the Big Sky Conference All Conference Teams:
• Bethany Olea, Sr. -- FIRST TEAM third base
• Michaela Hood, Fr. -- FIRST TEAM pitcher
• Delene Colburn, Jr. -- SECOND TEAM short stop
• Madison Saacke, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION catcher
• Ashlyn Lyons, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION, first base
• Gabby Martinez, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION, second base
There are likely arguments being made right now that Kacie Burnett of sixth-place Idaho State, did things beyond mere stats to earn the MVP over Colburn. Burnett is an outstanding senior leader of the Bengals.
And there are probably arguments being made as well to justify why Erica Dick of seventh-place Northern Colorado (which did not qualify for the post-season tourney) was named a Big Sky First Team All-Star while Colburn was named to the second team.
I watched both players. Both are outstanding players and game-changers, as is Colburn for Montana.
In many sports, the post-season MVP award goes to a senior leader on the first-place team. Not so in softball (three players were considered for the MVP; I do not know who the third candidate was). That being the case, even if Montana had won the Big Sky, Colburn would likely not have been named.
Nonetheless, I am one who believes Colburn should have been named MVP and Big Sky First Team All Conference. I base my opinion on two facts: she's an elite Big Sky player; and Statistics PROVE that. I believe the stats prove Colburn to be the best player in the Big Sky on stats alone. I did a brief statistical analysis. The categories below constitute a majority of the statistical categories. I left out those categories where none of the three candidates were mentioned. JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.
FINAL BIG SKY CONFERENCE STATISTICS
(conference play only)
BATTING Avg
1. Burnett/ISU -- .463
4. Colburn/UM -- .461
7. Dick/UNC -- .369
SLUGGING Pct.
1. Colburn -- .784
3. Burnett -- .654
4. Dick -- 601
ON BASE PCT.
3. Burnett -- .507
4. Colburn -- .495
5. Dick -- .460
RUNS SCORED
4. Colburn -- 38
6. Burnett -- 33
6. Dick -- 33
HITS
3. Colburn -- 65
4. Burnett -- 63
4. Dick -- 62
RBI
1. Colburn -- 56
Burnett & Dick not
ranked in top 10
DOUBLES
1. Colburn -- 18
3 Dick -- 15
6. Burnett -- 12
TRIPLES
2. Burnett -- 4
4. Dick -- 3
6 (tied w/8) -- 1
HOME RUNS
1. Colburn -- 14
Burnett & Dick not
ranked in top 7
TOTAL BASES
1. Colburn -- 127
3. Dick -- 101
8. Burnett -- 89
WALKS
3. Colburn -- 27
5. Dick -- 25
Burnett not
ranked in top 10
STOLEN BASES
1. Burnett -- 24
8. Dick -- 13
Colburn not
ranked in top 10
ERRORS
Burnett -- Not ranked
in top 10
5. Colburn -- 17
1. Dick -- 25
ASSISTS
1. Dick, -- 137
Eolburn and Bennet
not ranked in top 10
(Colburn had 84)
FIRST THINGS FIRST: Congratulations to Montana players named to the Big Sky Conference All Conference Teams:
• Bethany Olea, Sr. -- FIRST TEAM third base
• Michaela Hood, Fr. -- FIRST TEAM pitcher
• Delene Colburn, Jr. -- SECOND TEAM short stop
• Madison Saacke, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION catcher
• Ashlyn Lyons, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION, first base
• Gabby Martinez, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION, second base
There are likely arguments being made right now that Kacie Burnett of sixth-place Idaho State, did things beyond mere stats to earn the MVP over Colburn. Burnett is an outstanding senior leader of the Bengals.
And there are probably arguments being made as well to justify why Erica Dick of seventh-place Northern Colorado (which did not qualify for the post-season tourney) was named a Big Sky First Team All-Star while Colburn was named to the second team.
I watched both players. Both are outstanding players and game-changers, as is Colburn for Montana.
In many sports, the post-season MVP award goes to a senior leader on the first-place team. Not so in softball (three players were considered for the MVP; I do not know who the third candidate was). That being the case, even if Montana had won the Big Sky, Colburn would likely not have been named.
Nonetheless, I am one who believes Colburn should have been named MVP and Big Sky First Team All Conference. I base my opinion on two facts: she's an elite Big Sky player; and Statistics PROVE that. I believe the stats prove Colburn to be the best player in the Big Sky on stats alone. I did a brief statistical analysis. The categories below constitute a majority of the statistical categories. I left out those categories where none of the three candidates were mentioned. JUDGE FOR YOURSELF.
FINAL BIG SKY CONFERENCE STATISTICS
(conference play only)
BATTING Avg
1. Burnett/ISU -- .463
4. Colburn/UM -- .461
7. Dick/UNC -- .369
SLUGGING Pct.
1. Colburn -- .784
3. Burnett -- .654
4. Dick -- 601
ON BASE PCT.
3. Burnett -- .507
4. Colburn -- .495
5. Dick -- .460
RUNS SCORED
4. Colburn -- 38
6. Burnett -- 33
6. Dick -- 33
HITS
3. Colburn -- 65
4. Burnett -- 63
4. Dick -- 62
RBI
1. Colburn -- 56
Burnett & Dick not
ranked in top 10
DOUBLES
1. Colburn -- 18
3 Dick -- 15
6. Burnett -- 12
TRIPLES
2. Burnett -- 4
4. Dick -- 3
6 (tied w/8) -- 1
HOME RUNS
1. Colburn -- 14
Burnett & Dick not
ranked in top 7
TOTAL BASES
1. Colburn -- 127
3. Dick -- 101
8. Burnett -- 89
WALKS
3. Colburn -- 27
5. Dick -- 25
Burnett not
ranked in top 10
STOLEN BASES
1. Burnett -- 24
8. Dick -- 13
Colburn not
ranked in top 10
ERRORS
Burnett -- Not ranked
in top 10
5. Colburn -- 17
1. Dick -- 25
ASSISTS
1. Dick, -- 137
Eolburn and Bennet
not ranked in top 10
(Colburn had 84)