Softball Transfer Portal

So, since I am well known as "Mr. Optimism", Vawter is simply touring Florida and her last stop, which is always the important stop, will be Gainesville.

 

After the Otis pickup, I was hoping it would be like a waterfall of pickups and hirings... mostly the hiring.. BUT, still pretty happy about the pickup.. hope Aric doesn't mess her up.

 

I'm fairly confident she is smarter than Arc.

 

This pickup was fantastic. She had the 5th highest batting average in the ACC and has two years left. Florida's Kendra Falby had the 5th highest batting average last year in the SEC and she has two years left. Bring in one more good pitcher and then book your tickets to next year's WCWS.

 

The criticism of Tim Walton is ridiculous. All he has done is win two Natty’s, eight SEC regular season titles, five SEC Tournament titles and has led UF to 10 World Series appearances. Yes, this past season was frustrating but we have a top recruiting class coming in and today we picked up a second team All American OF from the portal.

Just let the man do his job and something tells me UF will be back at the WCWS real soon.

 

She is quite the athlete. In 2019 her sophomore season, she was the Colorado high school softball player year with a BA of 695, a pitching record of 24 & 2 with an ERA of .091. Also, she is the current record holder at Columbine HS in both the 100 and 200 meter dash.

 

Let's hope this isn't just a one-off solely due to med school. I highly doubt there are many wannabe cardiothoracic surgeons left in the portal.

 

There is nothing wrong with questioning what any coach is doing, last years class didnt work out great. You never know what or how a freshman class is going to perform. We lost a ton of players and had not heard anything about any players. We got 1 who is very good, but we are relying on 2 true freshman pitchers right now. I am still wondering what is going to happen. I dont consider that criticism

 

Transfer News: Oklahoma State Picks Up Incoming Sophomore Macy Graf from Mississippi State - Extra Inning Softball

 

New pitching coach hired, so maybe we'll see the Gators getting a couple of pitchers from the portal soon.

 

Being reported on another board that Washington grad transfer pitcher Kelley Lynch has signed with LSU.

 

Former Marshall C Autumn Owen is following head coach Megan Smith Lyon and transferring to North Carolina. Owen was a 3rd Team All-American in 2023 and won the Sun Belt Offensive Triple Crown.

Justin McLeod @justfactsmaam
Former Washington P/UT Kelley Lynch is transferring to LSU. Lynch, a two-way standout, was a PAC12 All-Freshman Team member in 2021 and an All-Region honoree in 2023.

 

Just unbelievable we can't get a pitcher. That's a serious blow.

 

I don't know. Lynch has never really lived up to her billing. Maybe she will under Tornina but I wouldn't call it a huge blow.

 

There isn't much left in the portal. Blow #1. Lynch can provide added and competent hitting depth. Blow#2. She could provide a significant amount of competent innings to take the pressure off of two young kids. Blow #3. She didn't need to be an All-American to be of significant value to us in our situation. At this point we have two freshman pitchers. You can't get through many games with two pitchers. You can't possibly get through a season with two pitchers. Let alone it is bad for us overall, it is a huge disservice to two young and very talented kids. I doubt we get Vawter and after that, most of the apparent quality pitching in the portal has already been grabbed elsewhere. Will we actually head into next season with only two pitchers? I have no way of knowing. But that's the way it stands now and nothing has happened to this point to move it in a positive direction.

 

I understand maybe being disappointed about not getting a player you wanted in the portal.... but to me that means they didn't want to come here and why would you want somebody that doesn't want to be part of the program to be in it? So they chose somewhere else? Good for them. The sky is not falling on Gator Softball.

 

There was a pitcher on UNC that will be a junior and she looked fairly decent going by stats alone. Lilli Backes. I would be happy if she decides to follow Dobbins to UF.

 

I have to believe CTW is prepared and has a plan to supplement our pitching staff. No way he wants to go into a new season with only two true freshmen on the mound. I’m sure he and the new pitching coach will be addressing this in short order.

 

While I hope you are correct with every last ounce of my being, there is nothing that has occurred in going on three years now that can possibly make you "sure".

 

She announced she's transferring to Georgia June 12.
Justin McLeod @justfactsmaam
Former North Carolina P Lilli Backes is transferring to Georgia. Backes posted a 2.79 ERA with a career-high 39 appearances and 180.2 innings of work in 2023. A Peachtree City, GA native, Backes owns 251 career strikeouts. She has two years of eligibility remaining.