Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Bartow would be an odd place for them to move

 

Doubt it, last name is spelled differently.

 

BINGO! Tracking RPI as we get deeper into the season is worthwhile for seeding purposes, nothing more. I pay no attention to ELO as there is no fun in talking computer generated rankings.

Talking about the major rankings is what happens across sports. That's all-in fun and matters for discussion until we get closer to the end of the season when RPI become a major tool by the selection committee.

 

Comparing Gators to LSU in SEC play.
BA Gators 3rd/302 LSU 4th/299
ERA LSU 3rd/2.70 Gators 7th/3.88
Advantage LSU. Hopefully the freshman girls will pitch a little better.

 

As everyone must know by now, I have been predicting Taylor as our next superstar for over a year. She has everything....speed, average, power.

 

Jocey is the No. 1 Catcher in Softball America’s rankings:


2024 Catcher Rankings: April
By
Brady Vernon
-
April 2, 2024

Courtesy of Ball State Athletics
Each month of the Division I season, we’ll update our position power rankings to track the best players at each position. Our power rankings are determined by offensive and defensive statistics, the eye test on the field, strength of schedule and the player’s value to their team’s success.

Florida’s Jocelyn Erickson rises to the top spot of the catcher rankings. The Gators’ backstop has provided a ton of power at the plate and has stopped plenty of potential base stealers with her rocket arm. Oklahoma State is also reaping the benefit of a transfer behind the dish as Caroline Wang has been a great defender and a spark for the Cowgirls lineup.

New to the rankings are Ball State’s McKayla Timmons, Miami’s Allie Cummins and Southern Miss’ Hannah Borden. Timmons has nearly matched her career home total this season alone. Cummins has been a piece of Miami’s explosive offense. While Borden is enjoying a breakout year as a graduate student.

Statistics through April 1 games

Search:
Rank Player School Stats Previous Rank





1 Jocelyn Erickson Florida .431 BA, 1.259 OPS, 9 2B, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 18 BB, 2 SBA, 10 CSB, 0 PB, .995 FLD% 2
2 Caroline Wang Oklahoma State .368 BA, 1.128 OPS, 8 2B, 11 HR, 29 RBI, 2 BB, 5 SBA, 7 CSB, 3 PB, 1.000 FLD% 4
3 Michaela Edenfield Florida State .369 BA, 1.271 OPS, 6 2B, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 9 SBA, 1 CSB, 5 PB, .993 FLD% 5
4 Reese Atwood Texas .400 BA, 1.263 OPS, 7 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 52 RBI, 7 SBA, 1 CSB, 1 PB, .961 FLD% 1
5 Kennedy Miller Arkansas .415 BA, 1.186 OPS, 4 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 9 SBA, 2 CSB, 3 PB, .995 FLD% 6
6 McKayla Timmons Ball State .347 BA, 1.312 OPS, 5 2B, 15 HR, 37 RBI, 19 BB, 9 SB, 16 SBA, 8 CSB, 5 PB, .982 FLD% NR
7 Sharlize Palacios UCLA .333 BA, 1.147 OPS, 2 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SBA, 5 CSB, 1 PB, 1.000 FLD% 9
8 Kinzie Hansen Oklahoma .377 BA, 1.161 OPS, 3 2B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 5 SBA, 3 CSB, 0 PB, .984 FLD% 3
9 Allie Cummins Miami .378 BA, 1.217 OPS, 5 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 23 RBI, 31 BB, 10 SBA, 5 CSB, 0 PB .972 FLD% NR
10 Hannah Borden Southern Miss .387 BA, 1.222 OPS, 5 2B, 12 HR, 34 RBI, 15 BB, 38 SBA, 8 CSB, 6 PB, .972 FLD% NR

 

That will happen coming off a slugfest with Mississippi State.

Insofar as LSU is concerned, I like our chances to win the series, a sweep wouldn't shock me.

 

April‘s Softball America shortstop rankings, Skylar is No. 2:


2024 Shortstop Rankings: April
By
Brady Vernon
-
April 3, 2024

Courtesy of Crash Kamon/Softball America
Each month of the Division I season, we’ll update our position power rankings to track the best players at each position. Our power rankings are determined by offensive and defensive statistics, the eye test on the field, strength of schedule and the player’s value to their team’s success.

Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings and Florida’s Skylar Wallace are both firmly in the National Player of the Year race as each has an OPS above 1.500. Meanwhile, Jess Oakland has her eyes set on potentially on the Big Ten Player of the Year having already smashed 14 home runs for Minnesota.

New shortstops to the rankings include UNCG’s Brooklyn Maxwell, Cal’s Acacia Anders and FAU’s Kiley Channell.

Statistics through April 2 games

Search:
Rank Player School Stats Previous Rank





1 Tiare Jennings Oklahoma .446 BA, 1.520 OPS, 11 2B, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 19 BB, .978 FLD% 2
2 Skylar Wallace Florida .484 BA, 1.582 OPS, 11 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 27 BB, 24 SB, .982 FLD% 1
3 Jess Oakland Minnesota .468 BA, 1.468 OPS, 8 2B, 14 HR, 40 RBI, 21 BB, .922 FLD% 4
4 Erin Coffel Kentucky .354 BA, 1.339 OPS, 10 2B, 11 HR, 28 RBI, 26 BB, .961 FLD% 5
5 Billie Andrews Nebraska .413 BA, 1.338 OPS, 9 2B, 2 3B, 12 HR, 31 RBI, 10 BB, 10 SB, .961 FLD% 6
6 Maya Brady UCLA .407 BA, 1.321 OPS, 7 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 14 BB, .901 FLD% 7
7 Brooklyn Maxwell UNCG .431 BA,1.396 OPS, 10 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 20 BB, .961 FLD% NR
8 Acacia Anders Cal .400 BA, 1.190 OPS, 16 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 11 BB, .952 FLD% NR
9 Kiley Channell FAU .380 BA, 1.064 OPS, 17 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, .981 FLD% NR
10 Taylor Pleasants LSU .323 BA, 1.038 OPS, 4 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 22 BB, .956 FLD% 3

 

I put 2 and 2 together and don't get 4. When her stats are significantly better how is Wallace #2 behind Tiare.... OU bias is so old.

 

I just watched the replay of Saturdays game. I hope Ava is alright after that play at first in the 7th. She seemed to be moving a little gingerly after.

 

I agree, Skylar is way better. SA loves OU.

 

I’ll go one step further. The two best position players in the NCAA: Skylar and Jocey.

 

Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. Christina Wellen should have stayed at Florida. She only has three at bats at Charlotte and is used exclusively as a pinch runner as she was at Florida, stealing 5 bases in 7 attempts. She would have gotten that much playing time here while playing for a team with the potential of winning the SEC and getting to WCWS.

 

She’ll be on our Women’s national team imo

 

I may have posted this here several months ago. Don't remember. Last summer Jocey gave a wide ranging interview just prior to the Alliance National Championship tournament. They brought up that the year before, Jocey's last year of travel, she won the Triple Crown at the National Championships which, apparently, had never been done before. She was asked if there was anyone in last summer's tournament capable of doing it again. She immediately answered: Taylor Shumaker.

 

There is absolutely no national love for our beloved Gators. D1Softball has just predicted the Gators to be the 13th seed in the upcoming regionals behind the likes of A&M, UCLA, Bama, and MO. Unbelievable.

 

Just keep winning and proving the naysayers wrong

 

Agreed

 

Bulletin board material and motivation. Go gettem gals !

 

In the top of the 3rd, Mississippi State is up over UAB 14-0 and still batting. Everyone missed the boat regarding MSU when they were picked last in the SEC. They can hit. As we found out last weekend.