I really think that has to be the strategy. We cant get all the best transfers but Tim has proven he can coach. Have to get back to development. As I've mentioned Texas just won the natty and only had 3 transfers total. White recruited and developed his own kids. That's what Tim had to do
My guess is Cahalan will move to SS, Comia to 2nd. I remember last year when Coach Walton was recruiting a SS to replace Wallace, he said he was going after Cahalan and Holtorf, hoping to get one of them and was surprised to get both. Kendall Grover - Softball - Eastern Illinois University Athletics
I'm looking at her being an open book... Yes she played 3b for the entirety of 25, but she's played all over the infield in her career. Good bat with a great OBP, seeing as how she's moving on from a smaller conference she dominated, she'll hold her own at the next level of D1 softball more than likely! She wants to take her talent to the best conference in Softball, says so much right there.... For those who said there was no one of any value or good left in the portal? Perhaps that goes down with the post about benching our freshman RF last year embarrassing.... Tim Walton is no slouch or joke.... Just sad how so many have turned on him and the program honestly.... Go Gators!!
From a 10,000 ft, first time, accessment of Kendall Grover’s time at Eastern Illinois and the OVC, she is a “Hannah Adams” type fielder at 3rd base. She appears to be a very good fielder and is productive with the bat. I hope that translates well in the SEC. Certainly a CTG type move in filling in the holes in your lineup. We all know how that worked out for Florida basketball. Welcome Kendall to the Univerary of Florida.
CTW has done this kind of recruitment before. Long time Gator SB fans will remember Stephanie Tofft was a critical piece (3B) to our first Natty 2014. She played for Northern Illinois. (FR and Soph), where she was MAC freshman of the year and was 1st team All Conference. She played INF, OF and C for NIU. That was a CTW move to fill in the roster holes after the 2012 Fagan sisters debacle with success.
On3 now showing Layla Lamar now choosing between Arizona & Duke. Up until today every time I looked, they were showing her 100% to Arizona. Probably going home to play for Mom and be near Dad.
Four players with a combined 6 years of eligibility left. We need youth. Its going to be hard to compete with teams such as AtM, which return 9 of 10 freshmen who will be joined as Sophs by AK47.
This girl doesn't strike out much. 9 times last year with 173 AB's. That stat would lead the current Gator team. She made no errors last year. Mia struck out 34 times last year and made 13 errors. I'm missing her less and less every day. Go Gators
The defense is more impressive to me because chances in the field are pretty much the same across the board. But playing in the Ohio Valley conference, she obviously didn't face the quality of pitching that Mia did in the SEC. Overall, however, the young lady's numbers and consistency over 3 years are VERY impressive and think CTW may have picked up a gem that others may have overlooked.
Duke would surprise me. In the past they clearly have chosen for the kids to get away from home and not to be coached by Mom and I can understand that. Perhaps she isn't getting the offers she suspected?
If our 2026 class sticks, and that is a big "If" at this point, we will be OK there. Money is flying and it isn't coming from us. As for 2025...let's hope our belief that Leah Stevens just might be far more than others thought. It is possible. People keep screaming we need another arm. Obviously, if we could have snagged an elite arm in the portal, we would have done it. We don't have the money and many of them aren't interested in joining this staff and quite possibly not being the ace. We have five on staff and if they stay healthy and if they perform to expectations, we don't really need another arm. Pitching does not appear to be our problem, at least in my opinion.
I agree. With a healthy Rothrock & Oxley, along with Brown, Miller and Stevens, we have quality pitching, experience and depth, plus a newby.
I'd flip that. Comia has more range at SS than Cahalan. Grover seems more natural at 3B. Cahalan to 2B
Agree. This could be one of the better staff ever! “Healthy’ is the key along with some better decisions, especially in utilizing Brown.
It's not what people on this board think - It's what Coach Walton thinks. Let's see how it works out.
But since CTW doesn't post here, I like hearing what people thing. Usually the posters here have good insight or at least an interesting reason for their opinion that I might not have thought of.
CTW will mold these players, developing them to contribute to a winning team. I am optimistic that he will.
I do believe the starting lineup will be pretty good, maybe better on defense, a chance to be really good in the circle. Need a few to take it up a notch and who knows
