Last season was supposed to be a rebuilding job. The headlining names that had carried the Florida Gators to multiple College World Series appearances were gone, they were coming off of a quick bouncing out of the Indiana Regional and the team was green.
Little did we know but that green bunch would rattle off SEC win after SEC win on their way to a conference championship. Each week fans were seemingly waiting for the inexperience to finally show and for the ride to end but the Gators won their way into hosting a regional. It turned out to be a strange weekend filled with rain delays and a similar finish as the season before — two and out.
“Obviously, wasn’t what we wanted,” junior outfielder Harrison Bader said. “What Sully has said, and what we have discussed as a team, is that it wasn’t really a testament to how our season went.”
In a way that’s true. The Gators’ bats struggled last season and that continued into postseason play but their pitching, which had carried them through the season, suddenly fell flat.
The abrupt exit provides motivation, naturally, but it does more than that. The strides made over the course of last season and the experience that a young team earned in 2014 will play dividends in 2015. The Gators know how to win ball games, something you couldn’t say about the team at this time last year and the new crop of talent that has infused the clubhouse is hungry to push Florida past the sticking point that has haunted them the past two seasons.
There is only one goal in Gainesville with the baseball season 16 days away — punch a ticket to Omaha for the College World Series.
“My biggest focus, and really my only focus, is making it to the World Series,” said Bader. “It’s been my third year, I’ve heard incredible things about it from the coaches and players in the league, friends, that’s just what I’m focused on, that’s my goal.”
“The coaches haven’t been there in a long time; they’re trying to get back as quickly as they can and the same goes for the players.”
It won’t be easy and the team knows that but part of putting on the orange and blue is being able to realize, handle and meet the expectations that come with it.
“Hopefully every year we’re getting together here at the end of January and we’re talking about the same thing, expectation level,” Kevin O’Sullivan said. “It is what it is but like I said I think they understand that this is what is expected year in and year out.”
The Gators haven’t been to the College World Series since 2012, which was their third consecutive trip to Omaha. The past two seasons have been frustrating, head scratching and provided a championship all at the same time. This team, however, may be the most talented team that O’Sullivan has had since those World Series runs a few years back.
“The chemistry is great and this is one of the best things since I’ve been here,” junior Richie Martin said. “Actually, the best since I’ve been here. I’m really excited.”
North Carolina closed the book on Florida’s season in 2014 but the Gators are ready to begin writing a new book in 2015. The last Chapter takes place in Omaha, Nebraska.
“It’s always the goal,” said Martin.
FINALLY!! Only a couple more weeks until first pitch and I can already smell that fresh cut grass in the outfield. This is exactly what the SEC Network was created for! The competition is arguably better than ever in the SEC this year, and there’s going to be so many great games on. So stoked about this year Nick!