(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Unless we get some portal transfers (which we desperately need), the 2022 recruiting class consists of 3 players and one of them is already on the team. Pollard is supposedly a great player who could take over at 2nd base.
Softball Adds Three Newcomers on Signing Day - Florida Gators

 

Gigante was rated as the #19 2022 recruit in the nation in 2018 according to FloSoftball's Top 100. But that was based on her travel ball status as an 8th or 9th grader. In June 21, she had slipped to the #50 prospect in the state of California. So time will tell with her, but not counting on her to be a savior in the pitching circle.

 

Florida softball got swept by Arkansas, as they lost Sunday to Arkansas 2-0. The Gators only got 2 hits and just looked pathetic at the plate. Skylar Wallace and Sarah Longley got singles and Wallace got hit by a pitch for the only base runners the Gators had all game. Elizabeth Hightower pitched pretty well, but gave up a solo HR in the 2nd inning and was relieved by Rylee Trlicek in the 6th inning after giving up a single and hitting a batter. Arkansas got a 2 out run in that inning ona throwing error by Longley. The Razorbacks only got 4 hits in the game, but it was enough, as Florida falls to 35-12, 11-10. They host Stetson Wednesday and then finish the SEC part of their schedule at LSU over the weekend. To me, they are now fighting just to be able to host a Regional, as it seems their hope of being a Top 8 seed is gone.

Yep. The 2023 class has 3 of the top 4 players in the nation coming to Gainesville, unless they change their minds, plus the numbers 11 & 13 players!! Will be the best recruiting class in UF softball history and one of the best in d1 softball history. player. High school softball: Top 20 players in the Class of 2023 - MaxPreps
Commit News: Our Q&A with Alyssa “Lou” Hovermale… One of 5 Top-Rated Florida Gator Commits in the Class of 2023 - Extra Inning Softball

 

See links in my prior post.

 

In 2019 we finished 12-12 in the SEC and tied for 6th place. But we won the SEC tournament, were seeded 5th in the NCAA tournament and made it to the WCWS. The last actual losing SEC record was in 2002, when we finished 12-18, 32-35 overall and didn't make the NCAA tournament, the only time this century that has happened.

 

Even after the disastrous weekend, Gator softball (35-12, 11-10) is still ranked 11th by D1 Softball and is at #8 in the RPI rankings, which is the primary gauge for NCAA tournament seedings. Alabama sits at #7, with an RPI ranking of #3. Florida is still very much in line to host a regional, although they have work to do the rest of the way. And they are on the bubble for a Top 8 seed and Super Regional host, believe it or not. They have 3 SEC games left this weekend at LSU (#25 in D1, #17 RPI), plus non-conference games hosting Stetson, Mercer for 2 games and Florida Gulf Coast for 2 games, plus a road game at FSU (#3, #5 RPI). I agree there are problems with the softball program, but don't forget that Hannah Adams is hurt, Baylee Goddard, after having an outstanding fall and expected to be a major bat in the lineup, was lost for the year to injury just before the season started and Julia Cottrill transferred out the end of November. Those were huge hits to the team. And pre-season 1st team AA and U.S. National Team selectee Charla Echols is in a massive slump by her standards and could bust out at any time. I'm not a rose-colored glasses type of fan and think I see things realistically. The team has not performed up to expectations for sure, but I don't see the softball team in the same way I see the baseball team (23-17, 6-12), which has underperformed in 2019, 2021 and 2022.