Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida softball team was announced Thursday as the 2023 Southeastern Conference preseason favorite to win the league after votes from the 13 SEC head coaches were gathered and tallied by the league office.
The Gators received five first-place votes and accumulated 134 points to lead the way, while Tennessee followed in second place after it earned three first-place votes and 126 points. Arkansas, the 2022 SEC Champions, also notched five first-place votes but only 122 points. Alabama and LSU rounded out the top five with 118 and 87 points respectively.
Points were compiled on a descending basis. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Florida returns a multitude of players from the 2022 squad that secured the program’s 11th trip to the Women’s College World Series last season. That includes 2023 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 “Watch List” selections Charla Echols, Skylar Wallace and Kendra Falby.
In the circle, 2021 NFCA All-American Elizabeth Hightower returns for her fifth year along with senior Rylee Trlicek and sophomore Lexie Delbrey.
The Gators are scheduled to open their 2023 season Friday, February 10, at 7 p.m. in Tampa, Fla. at the USF-Rawlings Invitational. The Orange & Blue’s first SEC series is slated for March 17-19, when the team welcomes Missouri to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The 2023 SEC Softball Tournament is scheduled for May 9-13 at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Ark.
2023 SEC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Place
School
Points
1.
Florida (5)
134
2.
Tennessee (3)
126
3.
Arkansas (5)
122
4.
Alabama
118
5.
LSU
87
6.
Georgia
85
7.
Kentucky
84
8.
Missouri
63
9.
Auburn
61
10.
Ole Miss
49
11.
Mississippi State
44
12.
Texas A&M
28
13.
South Carolina
13