Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

First home game at KSP is Friday and no chatter? What? No one is excited about Fall ball?

 

• 2024 Pitcher/Utility
  gatorsb

• 
  katelynnred39
  I’m so happy to announce I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Florida! I wanna thank all my coaches and family for helping me get here. Go Gators!!!
  1d

 

We also have Layla Lamar from that list. Heavener is headed to LSU and Francik to FSU

 

Florida's Kendra Falby Is The Ultimate Spark Plug

 

Maybe I'm just looking through rose-colored glasses, but the future looks very very bright. CTW seems to be doing outstanding recruiting, especially 2024.

 

Agree. I think the softball team is going to wreck stuff in the coming years and hopefully knock OU off their perch.

 

Don't sleep on that 2023 class.

 

Hopefully this year as well. Alabama could be a major problem. Shipman and Fouts are back.

 

Looking forward to Friday’s game versus JU and Sunday against FSU. I’ll be at both!

 

So anyone who was there tonight have any takeaways?

 

Looked like the same team as last year.

 

By that, do you mean the uniforms and faces, or the play ??? We may have to just ‘enjoy’ this year and wait till the next 2 recruiting classes get in before we see a major uptick in performance.

 

Hannah and Cheyenne gone a big loss. However, practically everyone else back with a year more experience. I expect them to have a better season than last and would not be surprised if they don't make it to CWS. Charla, Kendra, Skylar and Lexie are elite players and make for a great nucleus.

 

Who played 2b?

 

Kaila Pollard. Not really tested at 2B. I don't think she got a hit.

From a sample size of one.....

I thought Gigante did okay, albeit these were not SEC hitters she was facing.
I thought Hightower looked pretty good, especially out of the gate.
I thought Trlicek seemed to have a new delivery, although maybe my old brain just forgot and its the same. She seems more hunched over. But she was pretty good.
I thought Bender was not ready for prime time.

I liked the safety bag at first and hope that is an NCAA thing and not just an "our field, our rules" thing.

Our base running was super aggressive, as it always is in the preseason. Two legit steal attempts for third and we schooled the Jacksonville pitcher twice on "ball is live if you aren't in the circle." Head's up, for sure.

And I *think* I saw Smiley. It would be nice if he's back, but hopefully his wife is doing okay and he's not forced to work just for the health care.

 

Can't imgine Bender being a factor.
Any thoughts on Gigante in the circle? Curious if she can make an impact as a frosh

 

Hoping for Charla to have a bounce back year. She had a good season last year, just not up to her standard.