(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Agreed. Kendra is hard to slot. I wish she would hit straight away and not slap. She has surprising power for all skin and bones and she would still get a bunch of slap type hits and infield hits. She is not a typical leadoff hitter. She strikes out far more than she walks. Walks are rare. She has in past years been in the nine hole and it mostly seemed very advantageous. But, then, I consider she has something like 86 hits this year and I'm like, "just shut up and don't be stupid".

 

Red, Layla, and Gabi are on the PGF All-American East team. Game will be played against the West team sometime in July during the PGF National Championship week and is always televised.

 

Kylie Shaw is on the 2025 All-American PGF team that will play (and televised) the 2026 team.

 

No question Skylar is in a class by herself for her leadership. That said, the way that Jocey handled the young pitchers this year has me thinking that she is an extremely capable leader. I think with the others you mentioned plus Ariel, who grew up a lot this year, Gator softball is in capable hands.

 

Easy problem to fix. Make Skylar a coach.

 

Maybe one day but not today.
We have a replacement for Charla but you’ll have to wait for the official
Announcement.

 

Another ex-Gator?

 

That’s too much of a tease!

 

I agree about Ariel. She would give Keagan pep talks and keep her pumped up. Ariel is a special person.

 

While I was in Ariel's corner even before she got to Gainesville, I can't say she was a surprise this year. But she did easily fulfill my every expectation and then some.

 

Batbusters played two today. Taylor had a "bad" day....only 3-6 with 2 doubles, 2 runs and a rbi. She is hitting either first or second which will hurt her rbi totals to some extent. Sorta like when Amanda was put to leadoff. So, after 8 games, she is 14-21 with 12 runs scored, 8 rbis, 6 doubles, 2 walks and a triple. No homers yet which is rare but they will come in bunches. I'll try to keep up with stats all summer.

 

Why is she not on the All-American Teams?

 

Haven't the faintest idea. She seems to be consistently underrated or whatever. I really don't care. I know what I see. The so-called experts (and that is very debatable) missed on Ariel. There are so many quality kids all over the country now that it is a crap shoot with these rankings and such. I prefer to go with Jocey's opinion. A story I've told before. Before last year's Alliance National Championships she gave a long interview and it was brought up that the year before, her last year in travel, she won the triple crown at that year's championship which had never been done before. She was asked if anyone this year (last year) could repeat that and she immediately replied...Taylor Shumaker.

 

Duh....I know why Taylor isn't a PGF All-American. Both Mercado and the Batbusters play in the Alliance League along with many other premier teams. They aren't part of PGF. No way PGF is going to make any player from Alliance on their All-American team.

 

Skylar was offered the Grad Asst position but she declined and is buying a house with her boyfriend in St Pete. She will be entering the taxpaying workforce in 3 months when she completes her Masters.

 

Taylor was on last year's Alliance All-Star 2024 team.

 

Do you know if she will play in Athletes Unlimited this summer. She was drafted by them but is not shown in the short auxiliary season that starts tomorrow and precedes the regular season. Hannah was drafted after her last year at UF but she chose not to play.

 

Check out this article from GatorSports:

'You haven't seen it all:' How Florida softball's future remains bright after WCWS loss

Florida softball holds bright future after Women's College World Series loss

 

Kendra’s Instagram Year’s End Statement: