Gator Spring Sports

[instaGATOR]

Naw, nothing is ever going on in Gator sports during the phootball off-season...


Gator Women's Golfer Sierra Brooks, a Soph, was named to the Annika Award Watch List on Thurs.
This Award is given to the Women's National Golfer of the Year.

http://floridagators.com/news/2018/2/22/womens-golf-brooks-named-to-annika-award-watch-list.aspx

=================

The #3 Florida Women's Lacrosse team (1-1) will challenge its 3rd ranked opponent in a row to begin the 2018 season, #23 Loyola, on Sunday afternoon.

Quick Facts

• Head Coach Amanda O'Leary is looking to become just the 5th coach in the history of Division I women's lacrosse to win 300 games in her career. O'Leary is currently 294-98 in 23 seasons as a head coach.
• Lindsey Ronbeck (95) is on the verge of becoming the 10th Gator to score at least 100 career goals.
• Haley Hicklen needs 47 saves to move into second place all-time at Florida.
• Home Field Advantage? Florida owns a 78-13 (.857) record all-time at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
• #PirrecaPower: Pirreca sisters Shayna and Sydney have combined to score 40% (12/30) of UF's goals in 2018.

http://floridagators.com/news/2018/...secutive-ranked-opponent-in-no-23-loyola.aspx

 

[ocalaman]

UF's #5 gymnastics team beat #11 Arkansas 197.725-196.875, but lost a key athlete when Kennedy Baker to her Achilles tendon during her floor exercise. This is a devastating blow, but it gives some of our talented freshmen a chance to step up and keep this team in contention for a SEC & NCAA title.

The Gator baseball team beat Miami in Coral Gables Friday night 7-3. Freshman Tommy Mace pitched the final 4 innings in relief of Brady Singer and gave up no runs, no hits and only 1 walk. Kevin O'Sullivan is 25-6 against the Hurricanes, including 10 of the last 12. They play again tonight at 7 & Sunday at noon. Both games can be viewed on the WatchESPN app.

The #2 softball team ran their record to 15-1, with Friday wins against Maryland, 7-2, and Illinois St., 10-1, plus Saturday wins against Maryland, 12-0, and Iowa St., 8-0. They play 2 more tomorrow, at 11 am against Iowa St., and at 1:30 against Georgia Southern.

 

[instaGATOR]

Gator Baseball clinches series @ Miami, with the sweep to go on Sunday at noon. -- UF 7-3 scUM -- UF 8-2 scum -- UF ?-? scUM

Jack Leftwich and Tommy Mace are mound-monsters already as freshmen. YeeeHaw!
Combined vs the scUM = 7 innings of work with ZERO hits.
============

Pepsi will plant a tree for each run scored by UF Softball at the Aquafina: Invitational in Tampa.
UF 7 - 2 Maryland
UF 10 - 0 ILL-St
UF 12 - 0 Maryland
UF 8 - 0 Iowa-St
(that's a small forest of (37) trees so far...)
==============

Gator Women's Tennis downs Stanford yet again with a 4-3 win on Saturday in Calif.
The Gator's beat Stanford for the NC last year. Take it to um ladies....
~ 6 of the last 8 NCAA Championships have been won by these 2 teams.
===============

Entering the SEC Track & Field Indoor Championship Finals on Sunday:
After Saturday's events concluded, it was Gator #1 Men's and #3 Women's.
GoooooooooooGATORS!
===============

Lacrosse has a live stream on utube:


It's 7 - 7 with 1:26 to go in the 1st half...

 

[MJWilliamson]

I think Sully is 29-11 against the Canes.

 

[ocalaman]

I think Sully is 29-11 against the Canes.

I think you're right. The 25-6 that I posted previously came from an Ocala Star-Banner article on Saturday, which also said the Gators had won 24 of the last 29 against the U. Fake news is everywhere!!!

 

[ocalaman]

Gator lacrosse beat Loyola 17-16 in OT.
Baseball team lost to Miami 2-0. Their batters just looked out of sorts all day, only getting 3 hits and very little solid contact.
Softball beat Iowa St. 3-0 and Georgia Southern 8-0 behind Kelly Barnhill's 2nd no-hitter in 2 days. Softball is off until Thursday when they play 5 games in 3 days in Fullerton, CA against Loyola Marymount, Cal-State Fullerton, Michigan St., Charlotte & Baylor.
The baseball team plays Tuesday night in Jax at UNF, at home Wednesday against UNF and then hosts Stony Brook next weekend for a 3-game series.
And going into today's event finals in College Station, TX, the Gator men are leading the SEC track & field championship, while the women are in 3rd place.

 

[instaGATOR]

Madisyn Kittell's (4' 7") jersey has the #1 on it,,, because that's the only number that would fit on her jersey. The smallest player on the field – seriously, like she hasn't read that line before – made perhaps the biggest impact. She scored the goal to send the game to OT. Another perfect example of the ole 'dog in the fight, vs fight in the dog' thingy....

Note: Apparently the Lacrosse game officials are just as incompetent as the B-Ball officials are (out of bounds, in bounds), at least where the Gator team's are concerned....

IMOHO, 'game officials' are the most incompetent group in all of the sporting world.
They are a really bad joke, at best, on most days.
It's a real cryin' shame that they can't be sued for mal-practice....
Because the $$-NCAA-$$ is NEVER going to hold them accountable.

http://floridagators.com/news/2018/2/25/scott-carter-kittell-stands-tall-for-gators.aspx

==================

Weekly SEC Softball Honors:

RHP Kelly Barnhill has already thrown her 2nd No-No of the season.
She's an SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week after her 'Perfect Game No Hitter.'
It was an 8-0 Run-Rule Shutout vs GaSo.
Barnhill ended the perfect outing with 11 strikeouts on just 56 pitches.
~ Last season she was named SEC Pitcher of the Week 5 times.
On her second no-hitter of the weekend…
"Scoring early and just having a defense behind me. WE have an amazing defense. They barely ever make errors. They're one of the best fielding percentages in the country. It's easier to go out and pitch when you know your fielders have your back."

LF Amanda Lorenz claimed SEC Player of the Week honors after having a stellar week at the plate. The Moorpark, Calif. native batted .455 and slugged 1.045 through 8 games. She started the week going 0-for-3, but managed to record a walk and score a run. The talented outfielder went on to record 10 hits (with 6 doubles, 2 triples and a HR), scored a total of 12 runs and drove in another 10.

I wonder where Pepsi is going to put that new forest (48) trees?

 

[MJWilliamson]

Sully looks like he has some really, really good arms. Leftwich and Mace seem to be the middle receivers of choice and will be eventual weekend starters, I think. Baker will be a good middle reliever his whole career. There seem to be any number of guys that can come in a give some quality innings.

Things are looking good for the Gator Baseball program.

 

[ocalaman]

Sully looks like he has some really, really good arms. Leftwich and Mace seem to be the middle receivers of choice and will be eventual weekend starters, I think. Baker will be a good middle reliever his whole career. There seem to be any number of guys that can come in a give some quality innings.

Things are looking good for the Gator Baseball program.

Agree. Don't forget freshman lefty Jordan Butler. He's looked great on the mound so far and against UNF last night he pitched 6 innnings and only gave up 1 hit, no walks and struck out 6. Andrew Baker came in as a highly touted freshman last year and was shaky on the mound. He's a multi talent, can play outfield and run the bases and has a lot of energy in the dugout. Hopefully his pitching will be more consistent this year. Highly touted freshman SS Brady McConnell won the starting job in the offseason, but has been benched the last couple of games. Not hitting and has made 3 errors. Nerves of high expectation, I imagine. He'll get thrown out there again soon and his talent should start to come through. One player that showed a lot of potential last year who hasn't seen the field yet is Garrett Milchin, another 2-way player. Wonder if he's hurt?

 

[MJWilliamson]

Yea, I meant to include Butler. He did great last night.

 

[MJWilliamson]

BTW, any word on when Deacon Liput is coming back?

 

[ocalaman]

BTW, any word on when Deacon Liput is coming back?

UF has been close-mouthed on Liput's suspension, probably due to privacy rules. He's dressed out and in the dugout, but not yet permitted to play. I imagine he's chomping at the bit. But his replacement, Blake Reese, is off to a great start, hitting .333, with no errors and leading the team with 11 RBI's. O'Sullivan will have to find a way to keep him in the lineup whenever Liput does return. Also, Nelson Maldanado is still recovering from off season shoulder surgery and is limited to the DH role. He's hitting .371 and when he's cleared to play outfield, look for Wil Dalton to move to CF and Maldanado to take over in RF. Nick Horvath has been playing CF and has made some great defensive plays as well as hitting .269. The key positions that have to be resolved are 3B & SS. Jonathan India can play either and will eventually stay put at one or the other. Freshman Brady Smith has been playing 3B since McConnell's benching, but Smith is only hitting .111 and has made 2 errors. Maybe when Liput comes back at 2nd base, Reese will be given a shot at 3rd. Although with McConnell's ability you have to believe he will be given another short at SS before they permanently replace him. There are definitely a lot of options with all the talent available.

 

[instaGATOR]

Just a guess, nothing more:
IF/When everyone is healthy and available.
3B India - SS Liput
Then see who can take over Liput's spot at 2B, Reese most likely?

I seem to remember Liput being a great SS in HS.

 

[ocalaman]

Liput back in the lineup Wednesday vs. UCF.

 

[MJWilliamson]

Liput back in the lineup Wednesday vs. UCF.

Yep. That is good news;

Kendall Rogers
✔
@KendallRogers
.@GatorsBB 2B Deacon Liput, who was suspended indefinitely before the season, will have that suspension lifted after Tuesday’s game. He will return on Wednesday. Very good news for the top-ranked #Gators.
6:36 PM - Mar 2, 2018

 

[instaGATOR]

Just how good is the Gator Softball Team in 2018?
#2 UF is now 18-1 on the season.

~ They have 14 Shutouts on the season and are on a 6 Shutout streak.
~ Ten (10) of their 14 Shutouts have been shortened, 5 innings games.
~ They have scored 4+ runs in an inning 18 times this season.
~ Sr. NIcole DeWitt has a .329 Career batting average with 15 HR's.
~ In the last 3 games, Jr. Amanda Lorenz is batting .778. with a .395 Career and 19 HR"s.
~ RHP Jr Kelly Barnhill (8-0) already has 608 career strikeouts. (2017 Natl. PoY)
* Kelly's Career W/L is currently at 49-5, and with a Career ERA below 1.0
The entire team is OUTSTANDING, with several freahmen that are already lighting it up.
Huge credit to HC Tim Walton and Softball's coaching version of Wonder-Woman, A-HC Jenn Rocha.

---------------------

#1 UF Baseball is now 9-1 on the season.

The Gator have 4 of the best pitchers in college baseball already on the roster.
~ Singer - Kowar - Dyson - and UF Record Byrne, with 19 saves in 2017.
But lookout for the freshmen! -- Good stuff, nasty stuff and hard stuff, too.
"They are unbelievable,'' Jr 3B Jonathan India said. "They are all throwing mid-90s, spotting up, good off-speed. I'm excited for them." (aren't we all)
Of course that's nothing new for a program that has produced 5 pitchers taken in the 1st round and 6 taken in the 1st 4 rounds in the last 2 years, with 22 in the 1st 10 rounds under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.

As the Gators enter this weekend's 3-game home series against Stony Brook, the Fr pitching has been better than advertised, -- if you can believe that. Leftwich - Mace - McMullen - Butler.
Between the Fr FNG's and the returning Soph's (2017 Fr), the Gator look good to go, for now and into the near future.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/3/1/baseball-freshmen-pitchers-make-presence-known-early.aspx

==============

The Gators have a reputation among professional scouts as a program that develops pitchers equally, if not better, than some minor league organizations. The biggest challenge: identifying talent.
~ Looking at both Softball and Baseball, I'm starting to wonder if UF has earned the title Pitcher-U....

"It's just recruiting and getting out to see as many games as you possibly can,'' O'Sullivan said. "There's no easy secret. You can't recruit behind a computer. You've got to go out there and actually see the games."
iG ~ And that's likely why the recruiting service stars are so hit & miss when it comes to rating players...

===============

#6 Gator Lacrosse (3-1) has 4 players earn bids to the 2018 Tewaaraton Award watch list.
Sr Shayna Pirreca - Jr Haley Hicken & Jr Lendsey Ronbeck 2nd time - Jr Sydney Pirreca.
The Gators have now had 14 players earn 24 Tewaaraton Award nominations.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/...earn-bids-to-tewaaraton-award-watch-list.aspx

 

[instaGATOR]

The #18 Gators opened SEC play in Men's Tennis with a sweet 4-2 upset victory over #17 UGly.

On the amazing crowd at The Ring -- Coach Shelton:
"Our crowd was huge tonight and they really got behind our guys. They were part of the whole scene and atmosphere and had something to say as far as the result of the match. I think that was a true home court advantage. It's so much fun to play in that type of atmosphere on a Friday night under the lights. To have so many people come out and support our team and our program means everything to us."
~ But wait, I thought that only phootball mattered to Gator fans....

On honoring the alumni:
"We were able to honor some of our past SEC Championships teams back from 1968-69 and 1975. Almost 100 percent attendance from those guys is amazing and to have them come back and support us is great and we are celebrating them throughout the weekend. The legacy they left behind is something that we are trying to follow and keep moving this program forward."

For the rest of the story....
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/...s-tame-bulldogs-in-friday-night-thriller.aspx

====================

#1 UF Baseball puts the hammer down on Stony Brook Firday night, UF 12 - 5 SB.
Soph Wil Dalton smashed out 3 HR's helping Jr Brady Singer get his 3rd win of the season.
STANDOUT STAT: 10 – Since moving to the lead-off spot, Wil Dalton has collected 10 hits in the past 3 games. He had 3 hits in both midweek games against UNF and he just went 4-for-5 on Friday night with 3 HR's.

In Relief - Jr Michael Byrne earned his 2nd save of the year with 1.2 scoreless innings to finish it off.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/3/2/baseball-dalton-hits-three-homers-in-win.aspx

 

[ocalaman]

Gator gymnastics team dropped a match on the road at Missouri Friday night. Losing Kennedy Baker really hurts this team, as she was almost perfection on her floor exercise. Softball team had 2 games cancelled Friday in Fullerton, CA. If the weather permits they played #8 Baylor Sat. at 1.

 

[instaGATOR]

The #5 Gator Gymnastics Team won every individual event, but lost on the overall team score, and therefore the match. I agree that losing Baker for the season really sucks, for her and because it really hurts the overall team total points.

Dag-gum on the softball weather...

 

[ocalaman]

The #5 Gator Gymnastics Team won every individual event, but lost on the overall team score, and therefore the match. I agree that losing Baker for the season really sucks, for her and because it really hurts the overall team total points.

Dag-gum on the softball weather...

Unless I misunderstand what you're saying, what you said is impossible INSTA. You can't win all 4 events and lose the match. UF did have an individual who had a higher score on each event than anybody on Missouri, but they count the 5 highest scores out of 6 attempts to get the team score for each event. The Gators won the Vault 49.250-49.200. They won the Uneven Bars 49.425-49.275. They won the Beam 49.225-49.075. But they lost the Floor Exercise 48.800 (UF)-49.375. Barely won 3 events, lost the Floor big time. Cumulative score was 196.925-196.700. Kennedy Baker is their best on the floor exercise and without her they had 2 girls who messed up and they had to count a really low score. That cost them the match.

 

[ocalaman]

The #6 Gator Lacrosse team went to Chapel Hill and upset #4 North Carolina 17-10 in dominating fashion. I watched the 2nd half after the Basketball game and was very impressed. Softball beat #8 Baylor 4-0 in their final game out West. Kelly Barnhill pitched 6 innings of no-hit ball with 13 K's. But she had 5 walks and was taken out in the 7th inning, where Alicia Ocasio came in and struck out the side. Nicole DeWitt & Kayli Kvistad both hit HR's for the 19-1 Gators. They start SEC play next weekend vs. Kentucky. 2 of those game are on the regular SEC Network.

 

[instaGATOR]

We're running on the same channel Ocala, I was busy posting my B-Ball post game. I'll throw out what I've written anyway, as it covers stuff slightly differently than you post. Excuse the repetitions...

Gator Lacrosse -- #4 UF 17 - 10 @ #3 N.C.
Florida's defensive unit was outstanding against the Tar Heels, limiting UNC to a paltry 10-39 (.256) shooting performance while forcing 12 turnovers. The Gator defense smothered the Tar Heels from the opening draw, limiting UNC to a season-low 10 goals. Junior goalkeeper Haley Hicklen set a Florida single-game record by saving 16 goals while facing 39 shot attempts. -- 11 goals from Shayna Pirreca (career-high six) and Lindsey Ronbeck (five) fueled UF's offensive attack.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/...n-over-no-3-north-carolina.aspx?path=lacrosse

================


FULLERTON, Calif. – The Gator Softball Team closed out the Judi Garman Classic in resounding fashion as the combination of Kelly Barnhill and Aleshia Ocasio in the circle No-Hit #8 Baylor, 4-0, Saturday. Barnhill has not allowed a run in 22.1 innings and Ocasio has a scoreless inning streak of 16.2 innings.
The Gators are on a 7 consecutive games Shutout streak.

#2 UF 4 - 0 #8 Baylor -- Florida finished the Judi Garman Classic 3-0 with 3 Shutouts.
Two of their games were cancelled on Friday due to weather.

================

#1 Florida Baseball pitched its 2nd Shutout of the season on Saturday night, beating Stony Brook 8-0 at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville. Jackson Kowar had a quality start, going 6.1 innings with no runs allowed on four hits. Freshman Jordan Butler took over for Kowar in the seventh with the bases loaded and escaped the jam without allowing a run. Butler worked a scoreless 8th before giving way to Hunter McMullen in the 9th inning. – Blake Reese went 4-for-5 on Saturday with 2 RBI, including the 1st HR of his career. On the year, he has multiple hits in 8 of the Gators' 12 games. Seven different UF players notched RBI on Saturday: Nelson Maldonado, Keenan Bell, Blake Reese (2), Austin Langworthy, Shane Shifflett, Nick Horvath and Kirby McMullen. --- Tyler Dyson (1.50 ERA) will pitch tomorrow to finish the 3 game series.

 

[instaGATOR]

Florida Women's Tennis Coach Roland Thornqvist got exactly what he wanted from his Gators on his birthday – the end of a 9-match road trip that finished with a 4-0 victory against MsSt at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre on Saturday. After going 5-4 (all on the road) over the last month, the #34 Gators are now7-4, 2-0 SEC.
~ The Gators finally will return to Gainesville and play host to LSU on Friday, March 9, at the Ring Tennis Complex, where first serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Note: This years Gator 6-member roster features 3 seniors and 3 true freshmen.
"I told the team that I don't know who scheduled this, but that person needs to be taken to the wood shed. It's really difficult for any team, let alone a team where half its starters being 1st-years, to handle it. I'm really proud because we came out of this road swing a much better team than we did going into it. We learned a lot and hopefully that will help us down the stretch."
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/3/3/womens-tennis-gators-cap-road-trip-with-shutout.aspx
=============

FOUR GATORS SET TO COMPETE AT NCAA DIVING ZONES

The no. 4/17 Florida Gators will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to compete at the NCAA Region B Diving Zones, running from March 5-7.

#4 Gator Men - Alex Farrow & Dalton Goss on the men’s side.
#17 Gator Women - Brooke Madden & Emma Whitner for the women.

After the Regional, the NCAA will release the list of divers selected to compete at the National Championships on March 11, once all five Zone meets have concluded. A total of 35 spots for men's divers and 41 spots for women's divers will be allotted over the course of the 5 Zone Regions.

 

[MJWilliamson]

We finished the baseball sweep today, 3-1, with sweet pinstripe unis

 

[instaGATOR]

In just his 5th career start, Tyler Dyson improved to 2-1 on the season with a career-long outing, going 7.0 innings with one run allowed on 5 hits. He struck out 7 batters with zero walks. They got their 1 run in the 1st inning, then Dyson settled down and shut them out the rest of the way before being relieved in the 8th by Byrne. 'The Closer' worked 2 more scoreless innings to earn his 3rd save of the season.

~ Freshman C/INF Brady Smith went 4-for-7 (.571) over the weekend with 2 walks and was hit by a pitch twice. He raised his batting average from .136 to .241 over the last 3 games.

http://floridagators.com/news/2018/3/4/baseball-dyson-sharp-as-gators-sweep-stony-brook.aspx

 

[ocalaman]

The Gator baseball team is off to a great start and appears to be more talented than last year's NCAA championship team. However, UF has had many super talented teams in the past and not achieved what the 2017 team did. They only hit .259, yet won 19 1-run games on their way to the national title. They just had a knack for winning close games, making timely great plays on defense and getting clutch hits on offense. But the 2018 edition is 12-1, hitting .310 with 19 home runs and have scored 99 runs in 13 games. Pitching is deeper than last year and Sully has more options off the bench and with his lineup than last year. And Deacon Liput, a CWS star, hasn't even played yet! This is a fun team to watch and if you get a chance, go to the ballpark and watch them in person.

 

[instaGATOR]

SEC PoW X-2 - RHP Kelly Barnhill Jr ranks 5th Nationally with a 0.25 ERA over 56.2 innings pitched.
~ This is Barnhill's (9-0) 7th career SEC Pitcher of the Week award, which is the most POW awards garnered by a Gator in program history. Stacey Nelson earned the award six times during her career.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/3/5/softball-barnhill-captures-sec-pitcher-of-the-week.aspx
===============

Grant Holloway was voted the:
USFCCCA South Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Holloway is the 4th Gator in the last 6 seasons to earn the award.
http://floridagators.com/news/2018/...-region-indoor-track-athlete-of-the-year.aspx
===========

Baseball Team:
Batting .310 -- Fielding .979 - With 8 Pitchers getting it done, 4 are Fr recruited in Florida.
Yes, it's possible the Gators might be more versatile and balanced this year.
As if they weren't difficult enough to beat already.

But not impossible, and the mid-week pitchers go down screaming,
UF 7 - 9 UCF
No worries mates, they are going to lose one here and there before getting back to the CWS.
==============

PG Chris 'Cheesze' Chiozza - imo, a better version of PG Scottie Wilbekin, both on and off the court!
All SEC 1st Team & SEC All Defensive Team while setting the UF Record for Career Assists (551).

The 'Cheeze' currently leads the SEC in assists per game (6.1), total assists (188) and Ast/TO ratio (+3.30) while also ranking 2nd in total steals (58) and steals per game (1.87).
~ Not too bad for a guy that the rating services claimed was just a 4 Star....
Sooo, which do you like better, Swiss Cheese or Chris Cheeze?

Also, SF Jalen Hudson was named the Co-SEC PoW, averaged 24.5 Pts vs UA and UK.

 

[MJWilliamson]

Got dominated last night by UCF and lost 9-7. Now down 4-1 in the top of the 4th.

Our freshmen pitchers are acting like freshmen pitchers.

 

[ocalaman]

Got dominated last night by UCF and lost 9-7. Now down 4-1 in the top of the 4th.

Our freshmen pitchers are acting like freshmen pitchers.

All 9 UCF runs were scored with 2 outs. And in tonight's game the bats are asleep. Baseball is streaky and UCF is pretty good. Nice to see Liput back out there.

The lacrosse team lost 17-15 at #8 Syracuse. Gators are a better team, IMO, but inexplicably went about 20 minutes of the 2nd half doing virtually nothing on offense and fell so far behind a late frantic rally fell short.

 

[The_Spirit_Of_Numbers2]

The baseball team lost to UCF two nights in a row

 

[GatorGray]

The baseball team lost to UCF two nights in a row

Beat the defending National Champs two mid-week nights in a row...National Champs! Organize the parade!

 

[instaGATOR]

I guessed correctly on Liput, he started at SS where he was a star in HS, instead of returning to 2B.
My choice for infield would be this: 3B India - SS Liput - 2B Reese - 1B-C Schwartz
But I trust coach O'Sul to set the lineup however he wants to, because he knows his players and he certainly knows what he's doing a lot better than me.

Why Liput at the SS hot-spot of the infield? Because Liput is excellent defensively, earning a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team a season ago with only 3 errors in 70 games. Only batting .227, but he was #2 behind Schwartz with 37 RBI's, and he really came on at the CWS.
Reese is better at the plate, while Liput is better on the filed, but both are excellent players imoho.

True freshman SS Brady McConnell has struggled, hitting .143 (3-for-21) with 3 errors in his 8 games. This kid is good, but he's gotten off to a bit of a slow start so far. He'll improve.

 

[ocalaman]

I guessed correctly on Liput, he started at SS where he was a star in HS, instead of returning to 2B.
My choice for infield would be this: 3B India - SS Liput - 2B Reese - 1B-C Schwartz
But I trust coach O'Sul to set the lineup however he wants to, because he knows his players and he certainly knows what he's doing a lot better than me.

Why Liput at the SS hot-spot of the infield? Because Liput is excellent defensively, earning a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team a season ago with only 3 errors in 70 games. Only batting .227, but he was #2 behind Schwartz with 37 RBI's, and he really came on at the CWS.
Reese is better at the plate, while Liput is better on the filed, but both are excellent players imoho.

True freshman SS Brady McConnell has struggled, hitting .143 (3-for-21) with 3 errors in his 8 games. This kid is good, but he's gotten off to a bit of a slow start so far. He'll improve.

You were correct, Insta. I think I heard that McConnell has some type of hand injury as well. Maybe minor, but he did get off to a slow start and Liput is a great defensive infielder. He & India both played SS in high school. 1st base will be interesting going forward. It's Keenan Bell's job to lose (except when JJ isn't catching), but he got off to a good start last year, too, and then when they got into SEC play couldn't hit good off speed stuff and just disappeared from the lineup. Hopefully, he's adjusted and learned in the off season. Some people freaked about the 2 midweek losses to UCF. But they aren't that big a deal, really. Humbles the freshmen pitchers a little after the hot starts they had and shows the everyday players you have to come to the park every game ready to play because every team will be gunning for them. Another interesting thing to watch is Horvath & Maldonado. Maldonado has only been DH'ing because he wasn't fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery. Horvath is a great centerfielder, but had a weak bat last year. He's off to a solid start at the plate, but when Maldanado can throw from the outfield and if Horvath's bat cools off, watch for Maldanado to take over in right, with Dalton moving to center. Horvath would come in as a late defensive sub to help protect leads, plus is a good situational relief pitcher.

 

[instaGATOR]

Correct on all fronts Ocals.
Mid-week losses in the early season are of course not desirable, but also they are not too big of a deal either. Those Fr pitchers needed something to look at on their paths to advancement, and now they have it. Adapt & Overcome...
==========

Gator fans did get a BLAZING bright light though, with this return to action.

Redshirt freshman PF/C Dontay Bassett 6-9 240. who suffered a concussion 5 minutes into the Feb. 27 win at Alabama, has been cleared to return to action.
YEEEE-HAWW!!!!

 

[The_Spirit_Of_Numbers2]

That Wil Dalton kid will be a pro for a team for over a decade, he will be like a pedroia type consistent guy possibly with the bat and the glove, he's just got that potential long term you can see it at his young age.

He had like 7 hits through a game and a half last week, 3 hrs in the same game, 6 RBI's and 4-5 hits just in that one game alone.

 

[ocalaman]

That Wil Dalton kid will be a pro for a team for over a decade, he will be like a pedroia type consistent guy possibly with the bat and the glove, he's just got that potential long term you can see it at his young age.

He had like 7 hits through a game and a half last week, 3 hrs in the same game, 6 RBI's and 4-5 hits just in that one game alone.

Totally agree. Great find and get for Coach O'Sullivan. He makes our offense a lot better and he really took off once he was moved to leadoff. Took the pressure off Langworthy as well.

 

[ocalaman]

Kelly Barnhill threw another no-hitter as the UF softball team beat #22 Kentucky Friday night 6-0.
The Gator gymnastics team had their 2nd highest score of the year in beating Nebraska 197.925-196.700. With our best gymnast on the Floor Exercise, senior Kennedy Baker, out for the season with an injury, Coach Rowland let Alex McMurtry compete there tonight and she responded with a 9.925, winning the All-Around meet title with a score of 39.825. McMurtry is absolutely great, but has been held out of the Floor exercise for a couple of years due to back issues. But with the SEC and NCAA Tournaments up next, she has to be out there for all 4 events if UF expects to compete for a championship. Tenacious competitor. Here's a pic:

And to top off the night so far, the baseball team just beat Rhode Island 9-0. Doubleheader tomorrow. The softball games Sat. & Sun. are on the regular SEC Network.

 

[instaGATOR]

Good stuff in most of the Gator Spring sports. Grats to the many fine Gator student/athletes.

Just 3 1/2 minutes into the 2nd half of the B-Ball game, I said to my better half, that I could see where 'the SEC's poor excuse for game officials' were taking this game, so I switched channels to go watch something else, and I was correct it seems to me. Corrupt, or merely incompetent/biased, it makes no difference in the outcomes. I refuse to watch such games and it makes no difference to me which team that they are favoring. It ruins the competitive nature of college sports imo.

 

[instaGATOR]

Friday Baseball, Singer 6.1 innings, Shutout -- UF 9-0 RI
Saturday Baseball, top of the double-header -- UF 9-2 RI
2nd game in the bottom of the 9th tied -- UF 2-2 RI

Friday Softball, Barnhill Shutout / No-No --. UF 6-0 UK
Saturday Softball, Top of the 3rd, Ocasio UF 1-1 UK

 

[instaGATOR]

Gator Baseball completes the SWEEP -- UF 3-2 RI

Gator Softball -- UF 1 - 2 UK -- Top of the 6th.

The Men pulled their's out, so come on Ladies and dig deep...