Sam at third isn't happening. Could be Mia. Could be Lefty. Could be Alyssa Hovermale. Or any of those three could be at second. I don't know how it will shake out and nobody else does either. As for catching...Emily probably has a leg up but Ariel Kowalewski may surprise. Probaly Reagan at first but Walton may want to work both Keagan and Ava Brown in to the lineup when not pitching. DP or first at times. Ava already has plenty of experience playing first. Walton told Keagan to learn how to play first while in her last year in high school.
While young people often look at what seems best *right now,* hopefully the coaching staff is selling this to the parents. Unless you are Montana Fouts or at that uber level, the current NIL money is meaningless compared to what a UF degree will do for you for the rest of your life.
I will bet my last dollar that Olivia is about to enter the portal. All references in her bio to UF are gone and she is retweeting things like "worst feeling is doing your best and it isn't good enough" and "whatever happens, happens."
Emily has announced she is staying. I am happy for her. She has a chance to be the starting every day catcher and, more than that, she seems to be a wonderful kid from everything I know.
In the last few years the major players that have transferred in are Kendyl, Charla, Skylar and Pal. Lexie, Julia and Cali transferred out. I think we are ahead of the game.
Makes sense to me, as a proven player in college is a far easier task to assess than a young teen working their way through the myriad of high school divisions, etc. All the more reason a team needs top notch assistants with the skills to recognize whose got the skills, heart and fight to survive at the D1 level. Kenny and Rocha were integral to CTW finding the Best players, and it showed in the results.
Aubrey Barnhart, sophomore infielder/catcher, has transferred from Alabama to Texas Tech. https://twitter.com/barnhartaubrey?lang=en