UF Softball 2025

[ocalaman]

Since fall practice is underway and the Gators are playing exhibition games, I thought it would be good to get the discussion going about the upcoming season. #1 signing class in the nation, an upgrade at pitching coach, 2 quality portal transfers and a great returning corp of players has many people thinking this team has a decent shot at not only the SEC title, but the National Championship. Here are some links to bring everybody up to date:

2025 Softball Schedule - Florida Gators

The official 2025 Softball schedule for the Florida Gators Gators

floridagators.com

2025 Softball Roster - Florida Gators

The official 2025 Softball Roster for the Florida Gators Gators

floridagators.com

Walton Announces VanBrakle Prothro as Newest Assistant Coach - Florida Gators

Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Memphis and will take over the development of Florida's pitching staff.

floridagators.com

Softball Inks Five on Signing Day - Florida Gators

The Florida softball program announced the signings of Gabi Comia, Layla Lamar, Katelynn Oxley, Taylor Shumaker and Townsen Thomas Wednesday.

floridagators.com

Hammock to Join Gators Program - Florida Gators

Right-handed pitcher Kara Hammock will join the Florida pitching staff for her senior season.

floridagators.com

Cahalan Finds New Home with Gators - Florida Gators

Kenleigh Cahalan will have two years of eligibility remaining and will be eligible to compete during the 2025 season.

floridagators.com

Holtorf Signs with Gators - Florida Gators

Rylee Holtorf will have one year of eligibility remaining and is set to compete for UF during the 2025 season.

floridagators.com

Fall Ball: Softball Goes 3-0 In Week Two - Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida softball program wrapped up the second week of its fall exhibition schedule on Sunday night, capping off a 3-0 weekend for the Orange

floridagators.com

 

[Countygator1]

Should be a fun year in softball!!

 

[ocalaman]

5 pitchers this year. Keagan Rothrock is in better shape and throwing better than ever from what I've read from people who are actually program insiders. Freshman Kaitlyn "Red" Oxley is the real deal and is battling Ava Brown for #2. Transfer Kara Hammock provides depth with Olivia Miller.
Former Washington All Pac-12 SS Rylee Holtorf seems to have won the SS job, Mia Williams is tearing the cover off the ball and is being given every chance to hold her job at 2nd base. Jocelyn Erickson, SEC POY, will catch and play 1st at times, while Ariel Kowalewski will play 3rd and give Erickson an occasional break behind the plate. Kendra Falby and Korbe Otis will play their senior years in CF & LF and true freshman Taylor Schumaker seems to be locking down RF. And in their practice games, she's been hitting 2nd or 3rd in the order, just hitting the ball hard every time up. Reagan Walsh may be the best DH in D1 softball and can play 1st or 3rd and Ava Brown is still competing for the 1st base job when not pitching. Kenleigh Cahalan, the Bama transfer, is working to earn playing time, but she's an infielder and unless someone gets hurt or goes into a major slump, she may end up being an excellent pinch hitter and reserve. Sophomore Alyssa Hovermale is said to have improved as well, but may not be able to win a position. The other 3 freshmen, Gabby Comia, Townsen Thomas and Layla Lamar are still working hard, with Thomas having blazing spped and a strong bat that could get her in the lienup in the OF if needed. Competition is still heavy and things could change between now and February, but this could be a very special season.

 

[Countygator1]

Good recap Ocala!!

 

[ocalaman]

Softball Signs Three To 2025 Class - Florida Gators

The Florida softball program announced the signings of Makenna Bellaire, Kalie Matsuno and Kylie Shaw on Wednesday.

floridagators.com

 

[TEBOW TIME]

Im gonna see them play at Ole Miss April 11-13

 

[ocalaman]

Fall Season Wrap Up. The 2025 team is going to be special. Can't wait.

Fall Ball: Softball Wraps Up Undefeated Exhibition Schedule - Florida Gators

The Florida softball team wrapped up its fall exhibition schedule with a 14-0 victory over College of Central Florida in ten innings on Thursday evening, finishing

floridagators.com

 

[ocalaman]

Florida softball HC Tim Walton inducted into NFCA Hall of Fame

Florida’s softball program has developed in a national powerhouse over the past two decades under Tim Walton, who will be inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame Friday night.

gatorswire.usatoday.com

 

[Countygator1]

Very cool

 

[ocalaman]

It appears that our 3rd baseman and back-up catcher, Ariel Kowalewski (who had a tremendous freshman year) has left the softball program, as she is no longer listed on the official roster on floridagators.com and apparently has removed her softball reference as a Florida Gator in her Instagram account. No official announcement has been made, but the transfer portal window for winter closes December 15th. She is from Texas and the thinking is she's transferring to Texas A&M. She's an engineering major and their engineering school is as good as Florida's, plus her long time boyfriend attends there. If I see anything official, I'll post the link, but she was one of my favorites Gator players last year and I truly hate to see her leave if that's what's happening.

 

[Countygator1]

It appears that our 3rd baseman and back-up catcher, Ariel Kowalewski (who had a tremendous freshman year) has left the softball program, as she is no longer listed on the official roster on floridagators.com and apparently has removed her softball reference as a Florida Gator in her Instagram account. No official announcement has been made, but the transfer portal window for winter closes December 15th. She is from Texas and the thinking is she's transferring to Texas A&M. She's an engineering major and their engineering school is as good as Florida's, plus her long time boyfriend attends there. If I see anything official, I'll post the link, but she was one of my favorites Gator players last year and I truly hate to see her leave if that's what's happening.

We are deep on the infield.

 

[ocalaman]

We are deep on the infield.

We have 3-4 players who can take over 3rd base. The problem is that as far as I know there is no one else on the roster who has ever played behind the plate. We can't expect Jocelyn Erickson to play every single inning at catcher and what if she gets sick or hurt? That is the critical area where AK will be missed, IMO.

 

[Countygator1]

We have 3-4 players who can take over 3rd base. The problem is that as far as I know there is no one else on the roster who has ever played behind the plate. We can't expect Jocelyn Erickson to play every single inning at catcher and what if she gets sick or hurt? That is the critical area where AK will be missed, IMO.

That's a good point. Hate losing anyone, but Walton has the team deep so we can take a hit.

 

[ocalaman]

She has to redshirt and sit out 2025, but apprently love was the driving force behind her move. Her boyfriend since 7th or 8th grade is an Aggie, as her her parents and brother, I think. She's going home and I wish her the best except when she's playing Florida.

 

[ocalaman]

I don't understand this decision by Kylie Shaw. To me, she's just throwing away a year of eligibility because our outfield is set and deep. She's not going to see much playing time.

Kylie Shaw To Join Softball For 2025 Season - Florida Gators

Shaw is a freshman outfielder from Estero, Fla.

floridagators.com

 

[Countygator1]

I don't understand this decision by Kylie Shaw. To me, she's just throwing away a year of eligibility because our outfield is set and deep. She's not going to see much playing time.

Kylie Shaw To Join Softball For 2025 Season - Florida Gators

Shaw is a freshman outfielder from Estero, Fla.

floridagators.com

Interesting.

 

[ocalaman]

Interesting.

Someone on another site suggested that she just wanted to get started on her academic career and may be coming in to redshirt and serve as the bullpen catcher. Sounds reasonable.

 

[Countygator1]

Someone on another site suggested that she just wanted to get started on her academic career and may be coming in to redshirt and serve as the bullpen catcher. Sounds reasonable.

That would make sense

 

[ocalaman]

C Makenna Bellaire have been added to the Gator softball roster. She was a commit for next year's class, but graduated in December and enrolled early.

https://floridagators.com/news/2025...eclassifies-joins-gators-for-2025-season.aspx

 

[ocalaman]

Impressive player. When fall practice finished, she she had a knee brace on for the orange & blue game. Hope she's OK for the regular season, which starts on February 7.

Meet the Gators: Katelynn "Red" Oxley - Florida Gators

Oxley held a .39 ERA in 537 innings pitched at Bartow High School with 1,158 career strikeouts.

floridagators.com

 

[ocalaman]

Five Gators Earn Preseason All-SEC Team Recognition - Florida Gators

Florida was selected to finish second in the league and received six first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll.

floridagators.com

 

[ocalaman]

There was a "meet the team" event a couple of nights ago with a bunch of boosters there. Kaitlyn "Red" Oxley had knee surgery a while back and her rehab is coming along well. With the pitching depth we have this year, the staff will bring her along slowly but they expect her to be pitching in games by the end of February. The pitchers LOVE the new pitching coach, Stephanie Van Brinkle-Prothro. Apparently several team came with $$$ to try to lure Rothrock, Erickson & Otis away, but they allopted to stay in Gainesville. The entire team thinks this is going to be a really special season. High optimism.

 

[Countygator1]

There was a "meet the team" event a couple of nights ago with a bunch of boosters there. Kaitlyn "Red" Oxley had knee surgery a while back and her rehab is coming along well. With the pitching depth we have this year, the staff will bring her along slowly but they expect her to be pitching in games by the end of February. The pitchers LOVE the new pitching coach, Stephanie Van Brinkle-Prothro. Apparently several team came with $$$ to try to lure Rothrock, Erickson & Otis away, but they allopted to stay in Gainesville. The entire team thinks this is going to be a really special season. High optimism.

Ocala, you think we have enough to dethrone OK?

 

[ocalaman]

Ocala, you think we have enough to dethrone OK?

Absolutely. The Sooners lost a lot of their experienced, elite players over the last 2 years. They have a great freshman class and from what I've read a Million dollar NIL payroll, but OU, Texas and Florida are pretty much even bets to win the SEC & NCAA titles this year. They keys for us will be how much Rothrock and Brown have improved from their freshman to sophomore years and how much depth against quality teams will the 3 back-up pitchers provide. Red Oxley is supposed to be on the same level and Brown & Rothrock, but she's coming off knee surgery. Olivia Miller is expected to take a leap forward and Kara Hammock is a grad student transfer who is very good. Also, Erickson, Falby, Otis and Waslh have to perform at the AA levels they did last year, our new former All-Pace 12 SS has to be really good, Mia Williams is expected to be much better, the transfer from Alabama Kenleigh Cahalan needs to play up to her potential and a couple of the freshmen have to be at the SEC level. From what everybody connected with the program is saying, Taylor Shumaker may be our best pure hitter since Amanda Lorenz. The team is boned and has been working hard, so I expect them to be right up there and maybe even the favorites to win it all, barring key injuries.

 

[Countygator1]

Absolutely. The Sooners lost a lot of their experienced, elite players over the last 2 years. They have a great freshman class and from what I've read a Million dollar NIL payroll, but OU, Texas and Florida are pretty much even bets to win the SEC & NCAA titles this year. They keys for us will be how much Rothrock and Brown have improved from their freshman to sophomore years and how much depth against quality teams will the 3 back-up pitchers provide. Red Oxley is supposed to be on the same level and Brown & Rothrock, but she's coming off knee surgery. Olivia Miller is expected to take a leap forward and Kara Hammock is a grad student transfer who is very good. Also, Erickson, Falby, Otis and Waslh have to perform at the AA levels they did last year, our new former All-Pace 12 SS has to be really good, Mia Williams is expected to be much better, the transfer from Alabama Kenleigh Cahalan needs to play up to her potential and a couple of the freshmen have to be at the SEC level. From what everybody connected with the program is saying, Taylor Shumaker may be our best pure hitter since Amanda Lorenz. The team is boned and has been working hard, so I expect them to be right up there and maybe even the favorites to win it all, barring key injuries.

Good insight Ocala. Glad to hear OK not unbeatable.

 

[ocalaman]

Friday's opening game hosting UNF is on SEC+ at 6 pm.

Loaded & Reloaded: Gators Start 2025 No. 1 - Florida Gators

Florida, which fell a walk-off homer shy of ending Oklahoma's WCWS dominance last June, will start the 2025 season ranked No. 1 in two major softball polls, even

floridagators.com

 

[ocalaman]

Actually, the opening game vs UNF is TONIGHT, Thursday, at 6 pm. They then go down to Tampa to play Illinois State Friday night, Delaware and Michigan on Saturday, then Georgia Southern and USF on Sunday.