(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

According to Tim, next year schedule will include an 24-game SEC Schedule.

 

So excluding us and vandy,no team there are 14 other teams and we will play only 8,again,the men play 30, what happened to female equality?

 

FYI: D1Softball just made Kaegan freshman of the week. They also listed Skylar the best shortstop in the country. Now that is a big surprise.

 

Softball America named keagan freshman pitcher of the month

 

Not a surprise to me. Skylar is the best player in softball, IMO.

 

Online: 2024 Stetson Softball vs Florida on 4/3/2024 Tickets (ticketreturn.com)

 

Just reserved three. Always an interesting trip as the Stetson field is situated backwards. Home plate is where center field is in most softball parks. However, Deland is quite charming and the folks there are great.

 

It is 455 miles from Gainesville to Tuscaloosa. Do they put these ladies on a bus or a plane? What is the maximum number of miles they make them ride on a bus. Does anyone know?

 

Having gone to school at SEU (it was SEC back when) in Lakeland in the 80’s , I made that trek a many a times. And let me tell you, it was draining. They need to be flown.

 

D1Softball write-up for week 5:


What to Watch Week 5: Conference Play Begins En Masse
TOP STORIES Justin McLeod - March 6, 2024

Three Power Five conferences will begin league play in week five. The SEC, Big 12, and PAC-12 will all open conference play across the board, with a handful of premier matchups dotting the schedule.

Georgia and Arkansas are out of conference play in the SEC, but both will face formidable foes in home tournaments. Stanford will match up against Loyola Marymount in their own non-conference home tournament, while Big Ten teams are still a couple of weeks away from playing one another.

Here’s your primer on the games, matchups, and storylines to keep an eye on in week five:

Top Five Matchups to Watch

1. California vs. Oregon — One of the PAC-12’s upstart programs meets one of the conference’s more disappointing teams as the two squads begin conference play in Eugene. Cal, coming off of a return appearance in the NCAA tournament last season, has been an unexpected bright spot for the PAC, picking up some quality wins that include a victory over Georgia in week four. Oregon has not met expectations thus-far in the year, though the Ducks have had a handful of bright spots when they showed glimpses of their full potential. It’s not particularly common to call the first series of conference play a crucial one, but both teams would certainly benefit from a series win, and in more than just the win column.

2. Oklahoma State vs. Baylor — Two teams projected to finish in the conference top-4 will meet in the opening weekend of Big 12 play. The Cowgirls have defied question marks and low expectations from the preseason and very quickly seem to have returned to form as a WCWS contender. Lexi Kilfoyl has been one of the best pitchers in the nation, and Ivy Rosenberry has been a breakout star. Baylor’s own pitching has been to their credit, helmed by a finally-healthy Aliyah Binford. This series should be appointment viewing for its effects on the eventual Big 12 race alone.

3. LSU vs. Kentucky — It seems like every time these two teams meet, something happens. Lexington, Kentucky has been LSU’s Achilles heel on more than one occasion and these two teams have a history of close battles and unexpected results. This time around, look for a battle between Stephanie Schoonover and Sydney Berzon in the circle; the series also puts two of the game’s best shortstops on display simultaneously, in UK’s Erin Coffel and LSU’s Taylor Pleasants. The pair are two of the best athletes and hitters in the game and both will patrol the same 5-6 hole in Lexington this weekend.

4. Florida vs. Alabama — Keagan Rothrock, through the first four weeks of her college career, has delivered on expectations. A no-hitter here, a shutout there… all in all, the first-year hurler is a budding star and the bloom is getting closer and closer every time she takes the circle. Rothrock and the Gators will head to Tuscaloosa for their first SEC test, where they’ll take on the Crimson Tide – a team that graduated some major puzzle pieces after last season but that has started the 2024 season on a hot streak. Kayla Beaver has done well in the circle, and she’ll almost certainly be matched up against Rothrock at least once. Don’t look past some of the others pitchers on either roster; Olivia Miller and Ava Brown, Florida’s remaining freshman arms, are no slouches, and Alea Johnson and her change-up looked masterful for Alabama in week four against Arizona.

5. Virginia Tech vs. Louisville — For the second straight week, Virginia Tech meets a formidable opponent in conference play – and the series will continue a tough homestand for Louisville that began with a game against Arizona on Tuesday. The Hokie offense is a thing of tales at this point, while Louisville has backslidden a bit after their NCAA tournament appearance a season ago. A series win for Louisville could be proof-positive of the Cardinals righting the ship; a series win for Virginia Tech would keep the Hokies atop the ACC standings after two weeks of conference play.

 

I'd be interested in that also. Mary Wise once explained it for volleyball, but I forget what she said.

In addition to fly versus bus, I'd be interested to know when they go charter versus commercial.

 

what, not enough uber drivers available?

 

Listened to a jt gasso interview about the new field and he talked about how much the crowd noise can change a game and how it's a big atmosphere..... exactly why they have an advantage in the wcws every single year. It's just a huge home game for them.

 

For everybody’s information, the softball team will be flying. How do I know that? They were practicing in KSP this morning.

 

There is an Indiana series change for me. I can only make the Saturday game. My Sunday morning game tickets are now available. Section 102, Row 5.

 

I guess the answer is just to not play Michigan, but why couldn't UF beat a Michigan team that isn't as good as Michigan teams of the past? I understand a one-pitch 3 run homer separated the Gators from top 5 OK State.

I'm just starting to follow the team now that we are headed into SEC play so help me out with why Michigan. Thanks.

At bama will be a good measure for our young team. I think they will give a good accounting for themselves. After the couple of games I did watch, my thinking has been this is UF's best team in a while, young or not.

 

We have a while before we play fsu but they’ve fallen this year in the circle. We definitely have an opportunity to beat them this year.

 

Big weekend for these ladies. Guess we find out how good this team really is. I know we all wish them well. Go Gators.

 

replying to myself, I am now not sure if they bussed or flew.
Two reasons: 1. Kinsey tells me that the last time we went to ‘Bama, they practiced in the morning and then bussed.
2. We drove up to the stadium, the team was getting their gear from under the bus. I will ask tomorrow.