Batters Up!!!

[instaGATOR]

The first home contest in the recently renovated Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium is an exhibition set for Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. against Team USA. Former Gators Michelle Moultrie, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart will return with the Red, White and Blue to take on the Gators as they prepare for their quest to win Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Florida is set to begin its' 2020 campaign at the USF-Rawlings Invitational in Tampa against Illinois State (Feb. 7) at 6:45 p.m. with the first SEC series slated against Auburn (March 6-8).

https://floridagators.com/news/2020...a-softball-player-of-the-year-watch-list.aspx

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As the Gators prepare for the start of the 2020 season – their final one at McKethan Stadium – they took a break from practice last week to visit Florida Ballpark, which will be the Gators' new home in 2021.

That's in large part to the 2020 team that head coach Kevin O'Sullivan has assembled. With Florida's season opener two weeks away (Feb. 14), here is a primer to get you thinking about baseball.

https://floridagators.com/news/2020/1/29/season-primer-gators-baseball-2020.aspx

 

[Countygator1]

The new ballpark is looking good! Love the upgrades to the softball stadium. Glad we invested in both these programs. Top notch coaches and now top notch facilities.

 

[ocalaman]

I always look forward to the baseball & softball seasons, but this year maybe a little more so. More unknowns and questions marks for both teams than in any time in the recent past.

Baseball - Will the experienced pitching staff get back to the level of excellence we're used to under O'Sullivan? How will new coach Chuck Jeroloman impact the team? Which highly touted freshmen will step up and contribute right away on the mound and in the field? Will we find a reliable closer? Who will replace the leadership & production of Maldanado, Dalton and McConnell? Where will Brady Smith end playing and will we find a quality defensive catcher who is also good at the plate? How much will the veterans improve and will the #1 recruiting class live up to the hype?

Softball - Will there be a stud pitcher step up to replace Kelly Barnhill or will it be more of a staff by committee? Of the 5 pitchers on the team, who will emerge as the primary starters among senior Chronister, junior Lugo, sophomores Hightower & Farley and highly touted freshmen Rylee Trlicek? How will the team make up for the loss of the passion, leadership and raw ability of Amanda Lorenz? How productive will the portal transfer players be - sophomore 3b Charla Echols, seniors Jade Carraway & Kendyl Lindaman, RS sophomore Kinsey Goelz? Can seniors Jordan Roberts and Jaimie Hoover & junior Jordan Matthews provide the power and consistency the team will need to compete for a title? Will true freshman catcher Julia Cottrill, the leading high school hitter in the nation last year, be immediately productive at the D1/SEC level? Can this team prove wrong the doubters who picked them to finish 5th in the SEC?

It will be fun and exciting as the answers to these questions unfold. Go Gators!!

 

[instaGATOR]

Baseball America 2020 SEC Preseason Rankings:

1. VU
4. UF
7. UGly
9. MsSt
11. Ark
13. AU
14. LSU
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5. scUM
12. FSUcks
19. Choke-la-homo
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Softball America 2020 SEC Preseason Rankings:

2. UA
11. UF
13. LSU
14. TN
16. UGly
17. Ark
20. UK
22. SCa
23. AU
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4. Choke-la-homo
7. FSUcks
NR scUM