Any GATOR Softball / Baseball news?

[gatorbogey]

practices should be starting 'soon'. any insider info? speculation on the lineups/depth chart? who's gonna be this year's star(s)?

[Juggernautz]

I'd like to hear some prognosis on the softball team.

[4everaGator]

Originally Posted by Juggernautz

I'd like to hear some prognosis on the softball team.

It seems awfully quiet this year around softball. Walton has things locked down pretty good. I am so looking forward to this season, more so than ever since I know one of the players personally cuz she played with my daughters in travel ball.

Our pitching is very solid, Hannah Rodgers and Lauren Haegar would be one of the best 1-2 starters on any team in the country. In fact many top teams might only have 1 pitcher as good as either of them. Alyssa Bache showed some promise last year as well. We have 2 freshmen catchers, I would guess that Sr. Kelsey Horton starts for us in place of Schutte unless Aubree Munro or Cari Broderick is able to prove themselves. We will miss Cheyenne Coyle and the Fagan sisters in the infield, but Katie Medina can play and the rookies will come along. Frosh Kirsti Merrit is listed as an outfielder in the roster, and she has the wheels to play a great OF. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't get moved to her natural position at SS occasionally. The big question mark is the hitting, with Schutte down most of last season we lacked fire power to win against the top teams in the country.

Lastly the shock of the 3 dismissals and Schutte's early departure is there. Will this young team ralley? Will the new players be able to make an impact? Lauren Haegar and Hannah Rodgers were able to be impact players in their first seasons. What about these new girls? We know they looked great on their High School and travel teams. The talent is there, can they play as a team and get clutch hitting?

[red4512]

Dont expect too much from softball this year. Losing 4 starters hurts. What 4ever said about hitting. Its 80% pitching but you still have to score. They might go as far as last yr in the playoffs.

[4everaGator]

Originally Posted by red4512

Dont expect too much from softball this year. Losing 4 starters hurts. What 4ever said about hitting. Its 80% pitching but you still have to score. They might go as far as last yr in the playoffs.

I wouldn't rule out a special season for this team. They might not set the world on fire early but they could gel and be strong for the post season. There is no reason not to expect some improvement in the starting pitching, which already was great, but what if they can actually shut down a great hitting team? We might be able to win scoring only 1, 2 or 3 runs and we have enough offense to get that done.

[keefer]

What about the girl that plays catcher from Chiefland or wherever? Taylor something? Or something Taylor? That girl is supposed to have awesome power.

[Juggernautz]

Thanks for the synopsis all!

[gatorbogey]

for those that didn't catch this report at the end of fall practice:

http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPorta...db_oem_id=6500

[4everaGator]

Originally Posted by keefer

What about the girl that plays catcher from Chiefland or wherever? Taylor something? Or something Taylor? That girl is supposed to have awesome power.

I don't know of any players from Chiefland. Are you talking about Taylor Schwarz from Palm Beach Gardens? She is listed on the roster as 1B.

[keefer]

Originally Posted by 4everaGator

I don't know of any players from Chiefland. Are you talking about Taylor Schwarz from Palm Beach Gardens? She is listed on the roster as 1B.

Nope. Go to Gatorzone and check out the roster. She's there.

[gatorbogey]

Andrades WR on the gator football team trying out for the Gator baseball team...hmmm, that's interesting! speed in the outfield? leaping ability to rob a few homers?

[4everaGator]

Originally Posted by keefer

Nope. Go to Gatorzone and check out the roster. She's there.

So she is, missed it the first time:

Taylore Fuller

Major: Social & Behavioral Sciences

High School / Travel Ball: A 2012 graduate of Chiefland High School…The No. 6 catcher in the nation in her class on ESPNHS’s 100 list and the No. 38 overall 2012 recruit…Batted .778 and registered a 1.944 slugging percentage with 14 homers, nine doubles, six triples and 33 RBI while scoring 52 runs for Chiefland her senior season in 2012…The 2012 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Player of the Year…Swiped a perfect 24-of-24 bases to conclude her final season as an Indian and drew a staggering 67 walks – 30 of those intentional – to go along with her .871 on-base percentage…Named to both the 2011 and 2012 Louisville Slugger/NFCA High School All-America First Teams as a catcher…A 2012 ESPNHS All-America First Team selection at catcher…A NFCA All-South Region First Team pick in 2012…The only small school player on the 2012 MaxPreps All-American First Team, also making her the 2012 MaxPreps Small School Player of the Year…Named to the 2011 and 2012 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State Team and a 2011 Max Preps small school All-America Team catcher…The 2010, 2011 and 2012 Gainesville Sun small school softball Player of the Year…Her junior season picked off seven base runners at the catcher position and smashed 15 homers – ranking third in the state of Florida and ninth in the nation...Was intentionally walked 35 times in 2011, owned a 1.750 slugging percentage, a .673 batting clip, 33 stolen bases and 52 runs scored...The 2010, 2011 and 2012 Gainesville Sun small school All-Area First-Team catcher…The Miracle Sports 2012 High School Player of the Year…A 2010 and 2011 Miracle Sports High School Class 2A All-Florida First-Team catcher…A 2012 Miracle Sports Class 1A All-Florida First-Team catcher…Graduated in the top 10 percent of her senior class…Also a NFCA High School All-America Scholar-Athlete…Played travel ball with the Wichita Mustangs, coached by Mark Griggs.

[Juggernautz]

Nice to see locals on this team.

[gatorr4life]

Our pitching should be great. It's the hitting that I'm concerned about. At least for post season play. Losing Shuttie, Coyle, the fagans and miss do it all moultrie, that's A LOT of fire power/base runners. That being said, I look forward to Hannah and Lauren (or Bache) sitting 'me down left and right. We have a deadly one two punch. Actually, now that I think about it, Lauren's a great hitter as well. Not often we (UF) have a pitcher that does both. (Nelson, steph)

Almost forgot about Castro! Home run threat every time. She's a BEAST. Is it February yet? Lol