(SB) OGT: Game 3 UF @ Ole Miss April 13, 2025, 2 pm SEC +

Taking her out was normal, but now that I think about it, I think you are right that not putting her back in was a message. That was the top of the 7th, no outs, and I recall yelling at my TV that pinch runners don't bat! I had forgotten that she was in for Ava.

 

It's felt like that a lot lately tbf, he seems to have his favourites, as do we all, but I don't think Ava is on his list. Just a feeling and my opinion. He doesn't seem very warm towards her and she seems more downcast this year.
I know she loves being a Gator, and her team mates, it makes me sad to wonder if she might not be a regular moving forward.

 

Ava is hitting .143 in SEC games.

 

I have the opposite take.

I think Ava is CTW project/favorite this year, where he sees something that none of the rest of us do. Or he things she needs to be DP in games to keep her involved and her head on straight so that she can fulfill her role this year as #3 pitcher. CTW had Mia playing last year when her average hovered around .200 and there were howls to bench her. CTW saw something different, and he turned out to be totally right. Something clicked at the Georgia series last year for Mia and it's been lights out ever since. Going back, Jamie Hoover is another who we all gave up on, but CTW didn't -- and was right.

If you continue to play with a .143 average -- while Comia sits on the bench at .316 (and needs the experience) -- I think you're on the coach's favorites list.

 

I agree that CTW isn’t giving up on Ava, you’d have to be a horrible coach to give up on the caliber of player she is. He’s gone off gushing about how great she is on multiple occasions. Is she having a sophomore slump? Maybe, sophomore slump is a cliche and people say it all the time because it’s a real thing for many players. Ava is a true talent skill wise, her FIRE can’t be taught, she has it, most don’t. Ava’s going to be just fine. Don’t be too quick to discount the Haeger comparisons just yet. If you do it won’t age well.

 

I don’t think Comia vs Ava is a thing. People, myself included would like to see more Comia at SS. Comia at SS doesn’t effect Ava directly.

 

And that's 70 points higher than she went into the weekend

 

You mean lower? She was 0 for 5 and went into the weekend hitting .188 in SEC games only.

 

Nope....she was 1-15 in conference in SEC play coming in (.067). Goes 0-3 in game 1 to drop to .055
Goes 2-3 in final 2 games (one a bloop as has been discussed) to get to 3-21/.143. So she went from .067 to .143.......76 point jump