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2023 Baseball & Softball Thread

instaGATOR said:
From an earlier post of mine, I talked about Walton needing a pitching coach of the Rocha quality. (you couldn't get her back out of OKLA with dynimite imo) 😣

And I was wishing for a pitcher of the Lauren Haeger / Kelly Barnhill talent level to grace a coming roster.

Well, at least 1/2 of my wishes were answered it seems with the B-2-B TX 5A Champs, She's 81-0 with a Sr season 27-0 0.53 ERA, Ava Brown's UF commit... She also struck out 292 hitters and gave up just 30 walks. Brown also plays first base and does wonders at the plate. In 2022 she hit .462 with 9 home runs, 65 RBI and an a .888 slugging percentage. In the classroom, Brown posted a 3.55 GPA and she volunteers as a youth softball coach and works with the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

sports.yahoo.com

Ava Brown wins 2022-23 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year

As a pitcher, Brown went 27-0 this past season and posted a ludicrous 0.53 earned run average.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com

Question for the board. Does Walton have a pitching coach replacement in mind yet?
Jenny Gladding Denischuk - Former Gator Player
Taryne Mowatt-McKinney - Arizona Player
Doug Gillis - Former fired VaTech Pitching Coach (iG says NO)

Fond this: https://www.gatorsports.com/story/s...l-looks-for-a-new-pitching-coach/70311296007/

Very young for a coach, but someone that I'd at least consider anyway is Lauren Haeger herself.

www.softballamerica.com

What It's Like For Lauren Haeger To Coach Travel Ball

Former Florida star Lauren Haeger is now a travel ball coach in North Carolina.
www.softballamerica.com www.softballamerica.com
Click to expand...
Everybody's waiting for an announcement on the new pitching coach. The thinking was that he had somebody lined up when he fired Mike Bosch. None of the 3 names in that article have been mentioned anywhere else that I've seen. With only 2 incoming freshmen pitchers on the roster, he needs to sign at least 3 from the portal. FSU had 7 pitchers last year and most teams have 5 or 6. But until he gets a pitching coach in place, I can't imagine any pitcher signing with us from the portal. And every day pitchers in the portal are being grabbed up by other teams. It's getting a little scary. On top of that, Coach Walton is coaching a US National team and they're leaving the country in early July, so you would think announcements would be coming any day. Also, the NCAA is allowing a 3rd paid assistant for baseball and softball effective July 1, so he can actually hire 2 new coaches.
 
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ocalaman said:
Everybody's waiting for an announcement on the new pitching coach. The thinking was that he had somebody lined up when he fired Mike Bosch. None of the 3 names in that article have been mentioned anywhere else that I've seen. With only 2 incoming freshmen pitchers on the roster, he needs to sign at least 3 from the portal. FSU had 7 pitchers last year and most teams have 5 or 6. But until he gets a pitching coach in place, I can't imagine any pitcher signing with us from the portal. And every day pitchers in the portal are being grabbed up by other teams. It's getting a little scary. On top of that, Coach Walton is coaching a US National team and they're leaving the country in early July, so you would think announcements would be coming any day. Also, the NCAA is allowing a 3rd paid assistant for baseball and softball effective July 1, so he can actually hire 2 new coaches.
Click to expand...
What is he waiting on,it's past time to get busy
 
Jeff from Jax said:
Country,

Wake 2-0 top 2nd
LSU going to the Bull Pen for 2nd time
Looks like I may get my wish & Wake will spank the Bayou Bengals & send them home crying.

Too many Jell-o Shots taking their toll !

EDIT / UPDATE
Country,
As little as I know about baseball & softball, I should know to keep my mouth shut & listen to you & Ocala.
LOL

LSU 5 --- Wake 2
You may get your wish after all !

Well, Gators are in the finals & we'll see who they play.
Click to expand...
We will have our hands full with either as they have been basically the two teams that spent most of the year ranked #1. But I would rather not face either of their aces. LSU kid has basically been unbeatable.
 
ocalaman said:
Everybody's waiting for an announcement on the new pitching coach. The thinking was that he had somebody lined up when he fired Mike Bosch. None of the 3 names in that article have been mentioned anywhere else that I've seen. With only 2 incoming freshmen pitchers on the roster, he needs to sign at least 3 from the portal. FSU had 7 pitchers last year and most teams have 5 or 6. But until he gets a pitching coach in place, I can't imagine any pitcher signing with us from the portal. And every day pitchers in the portal are being grabbed up by other teams. It's getting a little scary. On top of that, Coach Walton is coaching a US National team and they're leaving the country in early July, so you would think announcements would be coming any day. Also, the NCAA is allowing a 3rd paid assistant for baseball and softball effective July 1, so he can actually hire 2 new coaches.
Click to expand...
Well let's get moving! We will need some portal help for sure.
 
LSU beat Wake Forest tonight 5-2. They play Thursday night to see who faces Florida in the National Title best 2 out of 3 starting Saturday. Both Wake & LSU will be starting their aces tomorrow night. That's a huge break for the Gators, as that pretty much eliminates our opponents #1 pitcher for the weekend.
 
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ocalaman said:
LSU beat Wake Forest tonight 5-2. They play Thursday night to see who faces Florida in the National Title best 2 out of 3 starting Saturday. Both Wake & LSU will be starting their aces tomorrow night. That's a huge break for the Gators, as that pretty much eliminates our opponents #1 pitcher for the weekend.
Click to expand...
Ocala,

Sully has got to be smiling.
Having LSU & Wake go to this extra, winner-take-all, game - with all the pitching it is bound to use up - is Great for the Gators.

Doesn't guarantee we will win, but Damn sure doesn't hurt.
 
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ocalaman said:
LSU beat Wake Forest tonight 5-2. They play Thursday night to see who faces Florida in the National Title best 2 out of 3 starting Saturday. Both Wake & LSU will be starting their aces tomorrow night. That's a huge break for the Gators, as that pretty much eliminates our opponents #1 pitcher for the weekend.
Click to expand...
I would be very surprised if we don't see their aces tomorrow night, but the lsu coach can be a bit unconventional at times. I could see him possibly starting someone and saving his stud for a save opportunity. But it's do or die so thats risky.
 
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Countygator1 said:
I would be very surprised if we don't see their aces tomorrow night, but the lsu coach can be a bit unconventional at times. I could see him possibly starting someone and saving his stud for a save opportunity. But it's do or die so thats risky.
Click to expand...
When did Skenes pitch? I’d be surprised if they started him on short rest but would be happy if they did it.
 
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bradleygator said:
When did Skenes pitch? I’d be surprised if they started him on short rest but would be happy if they did it.
Click to expand...
Brad,

Checked the NCAA CWS site where they list the game stats

https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/...ns-college-world-series-scores-schedule-omaha

& last Skenes appearance I found was -
June 17
Game 4 | LSU 6, Tennessee 3

Skenes - 5 days of rest since June 17 ?
good to go IMO
hoping they play long extra inning game &
like yesterday, both teams use every pitcher they have - LOL

PITCHERPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA
20PAUL SKENES7.2522112281.81

June 18 - LSU did not play
June 19 - LSU vs Wake - P - TY FLOYD
June 20 - LSU vs Tenn - P - NATE ACKENHAUSEN
June 21 - LSU vs Wake - P - 5 - see ALL of Them below
PITCHERPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA
49JAVEN COLEMAN1.11224297.07
44BLAKE MONEY0.11000025.67
35GRIFFIN HERRING4.230016193.93
1GAVIN GUIDRY1.12000263.60
38RILEY COOPER1.10001254.53
 
bradleygator said:
When did Skenes pitch? I’d be surprised if they started him on short rest but would be happy if they did it.
Click to expand...
Skenes pitched last Saturday, LSU's first game in Omaha. He's had enough rest and will pitch tonight vs. Wake. Wake's #1, Rhett Lowder, also pitched last Saturday and will go tonight. There is no question about either, IMO. The game announcers said the same thing last night. You have to win this game to get to the championship series and no coach is going to sit his ace hoping to make it without using them. You go with your best to win this game and worry about the Gators on Saturday.
 
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Listening to radio broadcast - one of the announcers said that Historically, #1 seeds in CWS haven't done too well.

If that is true, we may well see an all SEC finals - again !

CWS becoming like CFP ?
LOL
 

Gino DiMare steps down as Miami Hurricanes Head Baseball Coach -​


His successor probably here in Omaha.

Will Canes go for a proven HC or try their luck with an Asst ?

DiMare’s 24 years as a member of the Miami baseball staff included 21 postseason appearances, 10 College World Series appearances and two national championships.
The Hurricanes won 42 games this past season – their most since 2016 – and hosted an NCAA regional in Coral Gables for the second straight year - lost to Texas who lost to Stanford in Super Regional.

Horns will be a significant addition to SEC Baseball.

https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2023/06/08/dimare-stepping-down-as-miami-baseball-coach/
 
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ocalaman said:
Skenes pitched last Saturday, LSU's first game in Omaha. He's had enough rest and will pitch tonight vs. Wake. Wake's #1, Rhett Lowder, also pitched last Saturday and will go tonight. There is no question about either, IMO. The game announcers said the same thing last night. You have to win this game to get to the championship series and no coach is going to sit his ace hoping to make it without using them. You go with your best to win this game and worry about the Gators on Saturday.
Click to expand...
Yes I think both Skenes and Lowder will pitch tonight. Likely good news for us
 
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Who do we want to play ?​

LSU (51-16) vs Wake (54-11)

ALL SEC Final or Kick some ACC Butt ?


Who do we want to face ?​

Pick Your Poison

Paul Skenes (6-6, 235, RHP) vs Rhett Lowder (6-2, 200, RHP)

Skenes
2023, he is 12-2 with a 1.81 ERA over 114.2 innings;
200 strikeouts vs 19 walks.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=skenes000pau

Lowder
2023, he is 15-0 with a 1.92 ERA over 108 innings;
131 strikeouts vs 21 walks.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lowder000rhe

Unless the CWS Finals goes to 3 games; doubt we see either of these pitchers - but you never know !

Bad weather could delay Game 3.
 
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Jeff from Jax said:
Who do we want to play ?​

LSU (51-16) vs Wake (54-11)

ALL SEC Final or Kick some ACC Butt ?


Who do we want to face ?​

Pick Your Poison

Paul Skenes (6-6, 235, RHP) vs Rhett Lowder (6-2, 200, RHP)

Skenes
2023, he is 12-2 with a 1.81 ERA over 114.2 innings;
200 strikeouts vs 19 walks.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=skenes000pau

Lowder
2023, he is 15-0 with a 1.92 ERA over 108 innings;
131 strikeouts vs 21 walks.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lowder000rhe

Unless the CWS Finals goes to 3 games; doubt we see either of these pitchers - but you never know !

Bad weather could delay Game 3.
Click to expand...
Both really good. But Skenes is better.
 
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KingofHedgehogs said:
Now let's get B. Amick
Click to expand...
King,

Had to look him up; hope this is who you were referring to.

Clemson's Billy Amick enters transfer portal; 5 possible landing spots​


CLEMSON, S.C. (BVM) – Billy Amick was a key player for Clemson baseball this past season, hitting .413 for the Tigers with a .772 slugging percentage.

Now the corner infielder is in the transfer portal.

Amick will be a junior next season, but he will likely only be at his new school for one season. He is the No. 53 college prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft according to Joe Doyle of Future Star Series.

Possible Teams ? -

LSU
USCe
Tennessee
Miami
TCU

Gators not currently listed
BUT
that, hopefully, subject to change based on our play in CWS Finals.

https://bvmsports.com/2023/06/16/billy-amick-enters-transfer-portal-5-possible-landing-spots/
 
Jeff from Jax said:
King,

Had to look him up; hope this is who you were referring to.

Clemson's Billy Amick enters transfer portal; 5 possible landing spots​


CLEMSON, S.C. (BVM) – Billy Amick was a key player for Clemson baseball this past season, hitting .413 for the Tigers with a .772 slugging percentage.

Now the corner infielder is in the transfer portal.

Amick will be a junior next season, but he will likely only be at his new school for one season. He is the No. 53 college prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft according to Joe Doyle of Future Star Series.

Possible Teams ? -

LSU
USCe
Tennessee
Miami
TCU

Gators not currently listed
BUT
that, hopefully, subject to change based on our play in CWS Finals.

https://bvmsports.com/2023/06/16/billy-amick-enters-transfer-portal-5-possible-landing-spots/
Click to expand...

It is

Kendall Rogers is hinting he's next for UF and Amick liked Shelton's transfer commitment tweet. Doesn't mean it's a 100%, but you don't typically see players liking tweets or posts of other players talking about their commitment choice without there being "smoke" that they are coming as well(or already on the team).

Amick had a breakout year and will likely be a much higher MLB prospect by this same time next year.
 
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Whether it's LSU or WF that we play, due to pitching on both teams, a HR at a critical place might just end up being the deciding factor, and if that's the case, I'm betting on the HR Gators to do it. 😉
 
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It's a HUGE advantage for Florida that LSU & Wake are burning up their aces tonight against each other. 0-0 bottom of the 8th and both Skenes & Lowder have been dominant.
 
So we get to beat LSU for the national title. LSU wins 2-0 on a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 11th. Tommy White, their #3 hitter from Florida, got the big hit. He has 100 RBI on the season. Goo Gators!!!
 
Countygator1 said:
Not sure which I would rather play. But LSU it is...good news is we won't have to face Skenes.
Click to expand...

I was hoping it was going to be Wake Forest. Their ace would be unavailable and they definitely had cold bats in the cws. I read their 2-5 lineup combined for 0-32 in the last 2 games. Yeah, you can give a lot of credit to skenes, but it was more than just him.
 
KingofHedgehogs said:
I was hoping it was going to be Wake Forest. Their ace would be unavailable and they definitely had cold bats in the cws. I read their 2-5 lineup combined for 0-32 in the last 2 games. Yeah, you can give a lot of credit to skenes, but it was more than just him.
Click to expand...
Candidly I liked our chances against Wake better. They are ice cold. LSU can hit, especially 1-5. On the flip side, LSU pitching not as good. They've gotten better in Omaha, but prior to the CWS it was Skenes and a bunch of other guys.
 
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Countygator1 said:
Candidly I liked our chances against Wake better. They are ice cold. LSU can hit, especially 1-5. On the flip side, LSU pitching not as good. They've gotten better in Omaha, but prior to the CWS it was Skenes and a bunch of other guys.
Click to expand...
Country,

I love the idea of ANOTHER ALL SEC CWS FINAL !

The main thing, as many have pointed out, is the advantages it gives the Gators -
1. We are rested physically & emotionally
2, We are unlikely to face Skenes

Doesn't guarantee a win, but can't do us any harm.

We still have to take the field & beat a very good LSU TEAM.

Country -
Who do you think the starting pitchers will be ???
 
LSU makes me very nervous. They all of a sudden are finding pitching everywhere and they obviously will hit.

However you can’t ask for a much better set up than to be sitting there, rested, pitching set up, while LSU has to burn the best starter in the country and half their bullpen on Thursday.

It’s all there for the Gators. Whatever happens, it has been a hell of a season. I’m very proud of this program and hope they get to experience winning a chip for UF!
 
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How do national seeds perform in the College World Series?​


National seed were introduced 24 years ago in 1999).

Since 1999, national seeds have lost in the regional 22.3 percent of the time. In other words, approximately 1.7 national seeds fall in the opening weekend each year.

On average, another 1.8 national seeds (22.8 percent) fail to make it out of the super regionals. That leaves 4.5 national seeds (54.9 percent) making it to Omaha for the eight-team College World Series in a standard year, though we saw only two survive this year (2022).

Once they get to Omaha, those numbers naturally slim. In the history of the modern NCAA baseball tournament, 28 national seeds (15.2 percent) have made it to the CWS finals — about 1.2 per tournament. Including Mississippi State in 2021, just 11 have ever won the title (6.0 percent), or approximately one every 2.2 years.

In fact, No. 2 seeds (like the GATORS) have performed better than the No. 1 seed throughout history.

That first year of the national seed was actually the only time a No. 1 seed has ever won the tournament, when Miami (Fla.) took home the crown in 1999.
Wake - eliminated last night, in a HELL of a ballgame by LSU, continued that trend.

Ten top seeds have failed to make the CWS, compared to just seven No. 2 seeds (Tennessee in 2022), more No. 2 seeds have made the CWS semifinals than No. 1 seeds (11 to seven) , and No. 2 seeds have captured three titles.

Looking at the performance of the top eight seeds in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament (all No. 1 and No. 2 seeds) since that tournament expanded to its current state in 1985.

Though the two tournaments’ formats differ drastically (basketball is single elimination while baseball is a resetting double elimination), for argument’s sake, we compared two tournaments starting at the point at which each has only eight teams left — baseball’s College World Series and basketball’s Elite Eight:

For as crazy as March is known to be, the top eight teams in basketball tend to perform much better than their baseball counterparts.

Spots held by top eight seeds in modern NCAA tournament history
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES/ELITE EIGHTCHAMPIONSHIP GAMECHAMPION
Baseball54.9%39.1%47.8%
Basketball57.1%67.6%78.4%

https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/...s-how-do-national-seeds-perform-ncaa-baseball
 
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