Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Skylar Wallace and Kendra Falby were selected to the 2024 Preseason All-SEC Team, while the Florida softball program was projected to finish seventh and acquired one first-place vote in the Southeastern Conference Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll as announced by the league office Wednesday morning.
Wallace returns for her final season and looks to follow up on a historical 2023 season where she was named SEC Player of the Year and NFCA Player of the Year, while Falby, a 2023 All-SEC Second Team selection, is eager build off her impressive freshman and sophomore campaigns during her junior year.
The duo accounted for a third of the total runs scored (128-of-383) and two thirds of the program’s stolen bases (57-of-85) last season.
Points for the coaches’ poll were compiled on a descending basis. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The preseason All-SEC Team was also selected by a vote of the head coaches. Ten schools were represented on the team, with Tennessee leading the way with five selections. Georgia and LSU both had four, and Auburn, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri each had two. Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas A&M each claimed one preseason accolade. The Preseason All-SEC Softball Team consists of a minimum of 21 players and no ties are broken.
The 2024 season is officially set to begin Feb. 9, at 5:30 p.m. (ET) when Florida will take on Oregon State in Tampa, Fla. at the USF-Rawlings Invitational that is hosted by USF. The Gators first home game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium is slated for Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. against Jacksonville.
2024 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Place
School
Points
1.
Tennessee (6)
137
2.
Georgia (6)
136
3.
LSU
106
4.
Arkansas
103
5.
Auburn
100
6.
Alabama
88
7.
Florida (1)
77
8.
Texas A&M
75
9.
South Carolina
68
10.
Kentucky
53
11.
Missouri
28
12.
Ole Miss
24
13.
Mississippi State
19
2024 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team
Name, School
Class
Hometown
Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas
R-Sr.
Valdosta, Ga.
Maddie Penta, Auburn
Sr.
Chesapeake City, Md.
Nelia Peralta, Auburn
Jr.
Wellington, Fla.
Kendra Falby, Florida
Jr.
Odessa, Fla.
Skylar Wallace, Florida
R-Sr.
Woodstock, Ga.
Jayda Kearney, Georgia
Sr.
Columbus, N.J.
Sydney Kuma, Georgia
Gr.
Fresno, Calif.
Sara Mosley, Georgia
Fifth Year
Ellijay, Ga.
Shelby Walters, Georgia
Gr.
Cohutta, Ga.
Erin Coffel, Kentucky
Sr.
Bremen, Ind.
Stephanie Schnoover, Kentucky
Sr.
Dothan, Ala.
Sydney Berzon, LSU
So.
Buffalo, N.Y.
Ciara Briggs, LSU
Gr.
Yorba Linda, Calif.
Danieca Coffey, LSU
Sr.
Richwood, Texas
Taylor Pleasants, LSU
Gr.
Houston, Texas
Alex Honnold, Missouri
Sr.
West Des Moines, Iowa
Jenna Laird, Missouri
Sr.
East Meadow, N.Y.
Alana Vawter, South Carolina
Fifth Year
Kansas City, Mo.
McKenna Gibson, Tennessee
Jr.
Santa Clarita, Calif.
Payton Gottshall, Tennessee
Gr.
Massillon, Ohio
Kiki Milloy, Tennessee
Gr.
Woodinville, Wash.
Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee
So.
Weaverville, N.C.
Zaida Puni, Tennessee
Sr.
Carson, Calif.
Julia Cottrill, Texas A&M
Sr.
Wichita, Kan.
7th? That seems a bit low dosen’t it? I don’t follow the gal’s softball real close but I thought UF was traditionally at or near the top of SEC softball.