Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators softball program and head coach Tim Walton are proud to announce the addition of six future Gators – Brittany Allen, Amanda Beane, Odalys Cordova, Elizabeth Hightower, Cheyenne Lindsey and Hannah Sipos – to National Letters of Intent, Wednesday (Nov. 8).
The Gators come off a season where the program captured its third consecutive and league-leading seventh Southeastern Conference Regular Season Championship after establishing a 20-3 record in SEC play.
UF went on to secure a spot at the Women’s College World Series for the eighth time in program history and an appearance in the championship series for the third time in the last four years.
“It’s an exciting day and I want to welcome our 2018 signing class to Gator Nation. As a staff, we have spent a lot of time developing a relationship with each individual and we feel like we are gaining six exceptional young women who are the right fit for our program,” Walton said. “Not only are they talented athletically and want to win championships, but they also value the importance of striving for academic excellence and making a difference in their communities.”
Future Gator Notables
Brittany Allen
Hometown | Corona, Calif.
High School | Santiago
B/T – L/R | Position – INF
Travel Team and Coach | Explosion coached by Bret Denio
* Currently tabbed as the No. 8 player in the country according to FloSoftball.com Top 100 rankings
* 2017 Cal-Hi Sports Second Team All-State
* 2017 Press Enterprise All-Inland First Team
* 2017 Michelle Carew Classic All-Tournament Team
* 2017 Torrance Invitational All-Tournament Team
* 2017 First Team Division I All-California Interscholastic Federation – Southern Section
* 2017 All-Big VIII League
* 2017 Boulder IDT 18U Fifth Place
* 2016 Spring Fling All-Tournament Team
* 2016 All-Big VIII League
* 2015 California Interscholastic Federation Division I Champions
Amanda Beane
Hometown | Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
High School | Fletcher
B/T – R/R | Position – UTL
Travel Team | Gold Coast Hurricanes coached by Marty Cooper
* Currently tabbed as the No. 49 player in the country according to FloSoftball.com Top 100 rankings
* 2017 All-Gateway Conference Team
* 2016 All-Gateway Conference Team
* 2015 All-Gateway Conference Team
* 2015 All-First Coast Third Team
* 2014 All-Gateway Conference Team
* Also played varsity volleyball and basketball all four years.
o Volleyball All-Gateway Conference junior and senior year.
o 2015, ’16 & ’17 8A Volleyball District Champions
Odalys Cordova
Hometown | Orlando, Fla.
High School | Timber Creek
B/T – R/R | Position – INF
Travel Team | EC Bullets coached by Greg Schnute
* Currently tabbed as the No. 46 player in the country according to FloSoftball.com Top 100 rankings
* 2017 Timber Creek Offensive Player of the Year
* 2017 Miracle Sports All-State First Team Class 9A
* 2017 All-Metro First Team
* 2017 Puerto Rico Junior Women’s National Team
* In 2016-17, posted a .423 batting average with four home runs
* 2015 Puerto Rico Junior Women’s National Team
* 2013 Miracle Sports All-State First Team Class 2A
* Also played soccer in high school
Elizabeth Hightower
Hometown | Monticello, Fla.
High School | Aucilla Christian Academy
Position – RHP
Travel Team | Santa Fe Interno coached by Jason Nowling
* Currently tabbed as the No. 51 player in the country according to FloSoftball.com Top 100 rankings
* 2017 Florida Class 2A State Pitcher of the Year
* 2017 Florida Class 2A All-State First Team
* 2017 Tallahassee All-Big Bend First Team
* 2016 Tallahassee All-Big Bend Second Team
* 2015 Florida Class 2A State Pitcher of the Year
* 2015 Florida Class 2A All-State First Team
* 2015 Tallahassee Big Bend Pitcher of the Year
* 2015 Tallahassee All-Big Bend First Team
* 2015 Aucilla Most Valuable Player
* 2015 – As a freshman, led Aucilla to its first FHSAA 2A State Championship in any sport
* 2014 Tallahassee All-Big Bend Second Team
* 2014 Aucilla Offensive Player of the Year
Cheyenne Lindsey
Hometown | Chattanooga, Tenn.
High School | Baylor
B/T – L/R | Position – UTL
Travel Team | Frost Falcons ’00 coached by Steve Frost
* Currently tabbed as the No. 26 player in the nation according to FloSoftball.com Top 100 rankings
* 2015, ’16 & ’17 TSSAA DII-AA State Champions
* 2017 Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TWSA) DII-AA All-State First Team
* 2017 Chattanooga Times Best of Preps First Team
* 2016 TWSA DII-AA All-State First Team
* 2016 Chattanooga Times Best of Preps First Team
* 2015 TWSA DII-AA All-State First Team
* 2015 Chattanooga Times Best of Preps Second Team
* All-State MVP
* Gatorade Player of the Year nominee
* USA Elite Select Team
Hannah Sipos
Hometown | Cooper City, Fla.
High School | American Heritage
B/T – R/R | Position – INF
Travel Team | Gold Coast Hurricanes coached by Marty Cooper
* Currently tabbed as the No. 116 player in the nation according to FloSoftball.com Top 100 rankings
* Helped lead American Heritage to a pair of FHSAA State Championships (2016 & 2014)
* 2017 Miami Herald 6A-2A Player of the Year
* 2017 6A-2A All-Broward County First Team
o In 2017, crushed county-high nine home runs, drove in 27 runs and scored 27 while hitting .425. Committed only one error at 3B.
* 2016 6A-2A All-Broward County First Team
* 2016 Miracle Softball 6A All-State First Team
o In 2016, averaged .487 with 34 runs, 27 RBIs and three home runs.
* 2015 Miracle Softball 5A All-State First Team