Excerpt from Franz Beard column:
UF softball: Walton adds a transfer; two more on the way?
Just days after picking up transfer catcher/1B Jocelyn Erickson from national champ Oklahoma, could it be that Tim Walton is about to supplement his 2024 pitching staff with a pair of grad transfers? Stanford All-American Alana Vawter, three times All-Pac 12, and Kelly Maxwell, a second team All-American from Oklahoma State, are spending their summer vacations pitching for Team USA where Walton just so happens to be an assistant coach. Vawter and Maxwell are both in the transfer portal and the rumors are swirling that they will be announcing any day now to play their final year with the Gators.
This would be a huge pickup for Walton, who is bringing in two of the hyped freshman pitchers in years in Keagan Rothrock (Indianapolis, IN Roncalli) and Ava Brown (Montgomery, TX Lake Creek). Adding a pair of veteran arms would allow Rothrock and Brown to adjust to the collegiate game while giving Walton the kind of depth in the circle that he hasn’t had in years.
Vawter was 21-8 with a 1.81 ERA in 2023 when she helped pitch Stanford to the final four at the Women’s College World Series. Vawter is 77-34 in her collegiate career with a 1.75 ERA. Maxwell was 16-7 with five saves and a 1.91 ERA in 2023 when Oklahoma State made its third consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series. The lefty was 58-20 with a 1.58 career ERA in four seasons.
Erickson hit .337 with 11 doubles, seven homers and 32 RBI as a freshman for the national champion Sooners.
UF softball: Walton adds a transfer; two more on the way?
Just days after picking up transfer catcher/1B Jocelyn Erickson from national champ Oklahoma, could it be that Tim Walton is about to supplement his 2024 pitching staff with a pair of grad transfers? Stanford All-American Alana Vawter, three times All-Pac 12, and Kelly Maxwell, a second team All-American from Oklahoma State, are spending their summer vacations pitching for Team USA where Walton just so happens to be an assistant coach. Vawter and Maxwell are both in the transfer portal and the rumors are swirling that they will be announcing any day now to play their final year with the Gators.
This would be a huge pickup for Walton, who is bringing in two of the hyped freshman pitchers in years in Keagan Rothrock (Indianapolis, IN Roncalli) and Ava Brown (Montgomery, TX Lake Creek). Adding a pair of veteran arms would allow Rothrock and Brown to adjust to the collegiate game while giving Walton the kind of depth in the circle that he hasn’t had in years.
Vawter was 21-8 with a 1.81 ERA in 2023 when she helped pitch Stanford to the final four at the Women’s College World Series. Vawter is 77-34 in her collegiate career with a 1.75 ERA. Maxwell was 16-7 with five saves and a 1.91 ERA in 2023 when Oklahoma State made its third consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series. The lefty was 58-20 with a 1.58 career ERA in four seasons.
Erickson hit .337 with 11 doubles, seven homers and 32 RBI as a freshman for the national champion Sooners.
