Gator Country

4everaGator · 02-12-2013, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apkgator

I was actually shocked she wasn't in the lineup as a hitter full time. With so much hitting lost from the roster I assumed she would be locked into the 3/4 hole every game, but sat out some. Coach really used everyone on the roster.

Most of believed we would suffer offensively but that has truly not been the case. On the contrary, they have been lighting it up with the Oregon game being the only exception. There is power all the way through the line-up and our OB% has been crazy. Strike outs could be lower, but I am glad they are swinging the bats and trying to make things happen.

Actually I went back and looked at the stats a bit more closely and the first game against Creighton kind of skewed our SO count because they struck out 11 times in a run rule game (winning 13-3). In the rest of our games we only struck out around 5 or 6 times.

MadduxFanII · 02-12-2013, 11:47 AM

Our College World Series teams were always so much fun to watch, especially as someone whose interest in college softball is pretty much "Is it the postseason and are the Gators playing" limited.

Walton would throw out these wonderful lineups where Moultrie was stacked on top of Paculba on top of Enea on top of Bruder on top of Gardiner on top of Megan Bush and so on. Just lethal, and so much fun to watch.

It'll be great if we can replicate something like that this year and going forward. Great way to win games and put fans in the seats.

gatorr4life · 02-13-2013, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnigels

Castro is capable of going yard every time up. Her hands are fast as well as strong.

Yes, yes and more yes. BEAST.

**JAWS** · 02-13-2013, 02:16 AM

The fact that Walton can come back this year and put another potential juggernaut team on the field after last season's collapse is a testament to his coaching ability. He did what he had to and this team will be better for it. Our freshmen look phenominal.

gatorbogey · 02-13-2013, 05:55 AM

walton had us ready to go from the start. that's pretty darn good.

gatorr4life · 02-13-2013, 04:03 PM

He's one of the best coaches in the nation. We're VERY fortunate to have him.

bakaduin · 02-13-2013, 10:10 PM

Anyone mind recapping the drama that led the the transfers in a paragraph or less?

**gator1986** · 02-13-2013, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakaduin

Anyone mind recapping the drama that led the the transfers in a paragraph or less?

This

MadduxFanII · 02-13-2013, 10:49 PM

No one is talking. All we know is that Walton kicked Coyle and the Fagans off the team before our regional. There were rumors (a fight, racist tweets, homophobic comments), and Haeger seemed involved as a victim. But no one has given details. Everyone involved has stayed silent.

Stlouie · 02-14-2013, 04:27 PM

It first started out that the fight was racially motivated, but the 3 girls denied that and it would seem that was completely false

The below seems reasonable..., but this was taken from someplace else not my words...I just copied and pasted it and took out the person's own comments that had no bearing on it and quite frankly was very hateful toward Schutte.

"It all revolved around Brittany Shutte who was/is dating the director of softball operations (ex-player) and the director was later asked to step down...Fagans and Coyle were talking about her sexuality......and someone got punched in the face because of it. Her teammates came in defense of her and decided not to play unless those 3 girls were gone......and Walton stuck up for her."

From other articles it is apparent that the 3 girls had rubbed many other teamates wrong..formed their own click..There was a very distict divide in the team and Tim Walton cleaned it up this offseason. From everything I also have read it seems as Tim is a very hard coach on his players and it takes some tuff skin to play for him

NWGaGator · 02-14-2013, 04:40 PM

Here's a link to the message board thread that the above quote comes from. It has a lot of speculation about last year's situation, but I'd take it with a big grain of salt. It's just another thread on a message board.

http://robocoach.websitetoolbox.com/...dshirt-5856913

**BigOlGator** · 02-15-2013, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear1974

Given the drama and chaos she and the others caused last season I honestly could care less what she is doing right now. She is gone by her own doing and it is done - time to move on and look forword to what this group can do this year.

^^^^This^^^^

4everaGator · 02-15-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stlouie

It first started out that the fight was racially motivated, but the 3 girls denied that and it would seem that was completely false

The below seems reasonable..., but this was taken from someplace else not my words...I just copied and pasted it and took out the person's own comments that had no bearing on it and quite frankly was very hateful toward Schutte.

"It all revolved around Brittany Shutte who was/is dating the director of softball operations (ex-player) and the director was later asked to step down...Fagans and Coyle were talking about her sexuality......and someone got punched in the face because of it. Her teammates came in defense of her and decided not to play unless those 3 girls were gone......and Walton stuck up for her."

From other articles it is apparent that the 3 girls had rubbed many other teamates wrong..formed their own click..There was a very distict divide in the team and Tim Walton cleaned it up this offseason. From everything I also have read it seems as Tim is a very hard coach on his players and it takes some tuff skin to play for him

This explanation makes a lot of sense. Walton handled the situation the best way he could, Kudos! The team is stronger for it this year and have a new found unity!

Walton isn't the only coach who is hard on his players. My daughter chose not to go D1 for this reason. Her thinking was: "I want to go to school and have a life while playing the game that I love". She accepted a full ride to a JUCO, thinking it would be a bit less than 100% softball. (Not saying she could have gone to UF, but several D1 schools recruited her). Her schedule (workouts, practice and often punitive study hall time) is brutal, and the coaches are hard as nails and push like crazy. When they lose they get to do suicide sprints instead of practice.