UF Softball 2025 - Final Thoughts

Really as simple as needing two things we need for next year to me.
A lock down number 1 pitcher.
A Skylar Wallace type bulldog who drives the attitude of the bench. She was missed more than has been talked about I believe.
I think back to the ‘95 basketball team. The ‘94 team had been to the final four and all we were losing was Craig Brown. Expectations were sky high, and we barely made the tournament as one of the last teams in, and went out in round one. Small changes to chemistry can have a huge effect.

 

I see Tennessee already has 3 portal transfers in while still in CSWS.

 

Overall a season with some really good games, until the end. A lot of run rule games in our favor, until the end. Really happy to see Reagan and Korbe hit homers in their last at bat as Gators!

 

Regardless of the two and done at OKC, you have to give a lot of credit to the coaches, staff, and players.
Those who want to rip the coaches don't get sports in general and probably never played any sport at a high level! These are all human beings, they have a life, family, most take school seriously, and on top of it have people pressuring them constantly! Including some who think there apart of the program and are just annoying

Celebrate there accomplishments and don't dwell on any negativity.... The Seniors will be missed certainly, but starting now a new group of Seniors take over. I'd definitely watch out for Jocy if I was on next year's schedule. If healthy, our pitching staff should be deep enough to make another run to OKC!

Go Gators!!

 

Ocala, great synopsis. The 2 things we need to improve is no one should have just 1 good pitcher. We need a studette to get over the top. Second, when HR's and doubles are not happening we need to learn some small ball rechniques. Note TT in a couple of their games. With Aric it will never happen but I can always hope! Unfortunately, Skylars, Amandas, Laurens, and Aubrees dont come around but every once in a while.

 

I agree with you. Even though Taylor Shumaker more than replaced Skylar Wallace’s offensive output, we weren’t able to replace that “refuse to lose” bulldog mentality that Skylar brought to every game.

 

I am definitely not an expert in things softball, Gator softball especially. But what I watched this year, and Walton is as a seasoned of a coach as there is, is kind of like a more successful version of the woman's basketball team. There are definitely pieces in place to succeed, but you can tell there are pieces that better teams have that we do not...yet. And so, we beat up on lesser teams but, unless the better teams lose the game, we don't have the overall makeup to overcome them. Not sure whether it is a NIL thing or a lack of understanding what makes an elite team tick, but overall we appear to be just outside of elite.

Now to the basketball team...

 

Sad and disappointing way for some fantastic careers of some amazing young ladies to come to an end. At least I guess it happened at the WCWS, most teams and players never make it that far. I know they wanted more and can’t fathom the hurt they feel but the positive impact they had on the program and the legacy they leave behind won’t be forgotten. Really going to miss them and wish them all the brightest of futures.

 

We lived and died this year by the Home Run, we need to get back to using the whole field and spraying the ball all over the field and being less dependent on the long ball.

 

Dynamic offense as opposed to one dimensional offense. After 2011 and hitting 120+ homers and falling short (Chris drumm helped asu a lot) I figured that lesson was learned. Anyways I agree.

 

For me, the bar for a great season is making it to the WCWS, seeing the year being applied to the outfield wall after the last game at Super Regionals, and all the families celebrating in the outfield. By that measure we had a great season. A run at the WCWS is frosting on the cake -- admittedly not much frosting this year.

I got pummeled in the forum before the beginning of the year when posting that I thought our pitching was suspect. Granted injuries made things worse, but I stand by that post. Last night, I was rooting for Texas Tech to beat Tennessee. Every inning when NiJaree Canady went to the circle, I was pretty confident that things were going to be fine, regardless of a slim lead. I haven't had that feeling with Gator softball since the days of Barnhill/Gourley/Ocassio.

For better or worse, softball is evolving to long ball and pitching. I can live with an infield error or two -- I just hope the portal brings us a shutdown pitcher.

 

I thought pitching was going to be a strength this season, obviously I was wrong. I love Ava, she’s a fierce competitor but I didn’t feel she made as much of a jump with pitching as I was expecting. I wonder if lack of continuity with pitching coaches contributed to that? Hopefully things will be better in year two with SVP and most importantly everyone stays healthy.

 

I heard at the start of the season that she was really excited to work with SVP, and I read a comment somewhere, possibly here, that the previous pitching coach made her change so much about her pitching, so could it be that SVP is helping her unlearn all the stuff she was made to do as a freshman, and they are still fine tuning to get her back to the pitcher she was coming out of high school?
I know college ball is much different to high school, but Ava was the #2 recruit for a reason.

 

Im the opposite and thought her pitching improved a ton this year. She came in to close against OU 3 times and won 2 of them. Last year Ava couldn't have done that. I think she could be a great closer if she really committed to that role. And also thought she got misused at times and I could understand her frustration.

 

Yea Ava looked much better this year. Better control and movement. I only expect improvement from her. Gotta remeber our top 2 pitchers were sophomores this year.... kinda had the sophomore slump maybe. Fouts struggle like crazy to begin her sophomore year but covid bailed her out. Many others have as well. I think we will see improvement from all our pitchers next year.

 

And that process takes time which is why I’m hoping some continuity will work wonders. From what I heard that same pitching coach completely deconstructed Olivia miller. I know these kids are so young but in softball years they’re like midlife almost lol. I’m all for fine tuning and tweaking things but completely overhauling a players mechanics at this stage seems a bit crazy to me.

 

To be fair I probably had unrealistic expectations. I was so wanting her to be the next Haeger and who knows, there’s still time and I wouldn’t bet against Ava. Anyways it’s so refreshing to have a differing point of view with someone and yet keep things civil and constructive.