2024 Official Unofficial Softball Roster

Wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't a walk on. She pitched sparingly while an undergraduate at UVA. Well, she won't be the best player on the team but with that undergraduate degree from UVA she might be the smartest. Welcome MacKenzie and have fun being a Gator.

 

She, as best I can determine, is a physical therapy grad student. And very private. I did welcome her to Gator Country on IG and submitted a request to follow her. Her LinkedIn account has no entries. From my searches on the net, she appears to be smart and mature.

 

My first thought with this roster is: If you don't hit, you don't play.
Of course, with the caveat that you don't suck at fielding and throwing.
Here are the fielding percentages since 2014.
2019-.986 WCWS 2014-.978 WCWS
2020-.985 CNX 2015-.981 WCWS
2021-.983 2016-.984
2022-.981 WCWS 2017-.985 WCWS
2023-.973 2018-.984 WCWS
It is interesting to note that with the exception of 2022, the championship years had lower fielding percentages.

FLD% Returning
*00 Ava Brown RHP/1B FR R/R
1 Brooke Barnard INF JR-TR R/R
*2 Avery Goelz 1B SR L/L .991
*7 Keagan Rothrock RHP FR R/R
*8 Jocelyn Erickson 1B/RF SO-TR L/L
*9 Alyssa Hovermale 3B FR R/R
*11 Mia Williams INF FR R/R
13 Olivia Miller LHP FR L/L
*15 Reagan Walsh INF JR R/R .965
*17 Skylar Wallace SS R-SR L/R .974
18 Emily Wilkie C SR R/R .985.
22 Cassidy McLellan OF FR L/R
*23 Kaila Pollard INF SO L/R .949
*27 Kendra Falby OF JR L/R .961
29 Katie Kistler OF SR L/L .967.
*33 Korbe Otis OF JR-TR R/R
47 Ariel Kowalski C FR L/R
*50 Baylee Goddard OF R-SR R/R NA (injury)

*My 11 Predicted 1st Line Players
We don't know, and there will probably be surprises.
That is why we have Fall Ball.

 

They are on the official 2024 Roster

 

I know. That was the first time I'd seen her - in post #17 above when the roster was linked. And as far as I know there has never been an official announcement by the softball program or FloridaGators.com about Miller or Wooten being added to the team. That's odd - at least to me.

 

Christina Wellen was never formally introduced. I tried to get answers. Silence. With that said, Herb Brooks, should formally introduce these kids. The supporters of the program need the introduction. Personally, I want to know these young women. They play on my favorite sports team at the University of Florida. I want to continue to support them.

 

19 players on the roster, only 18 if Goddard gets hurt again.

That’s less than the roster last season. Hope we have no injuries or maybe Walton tires to pick up a grad transfer or two in December.

 

So Wooten is the '24 season's Bender?

 

It appears to be that way.

 

Why don't we wait and see?

 

I’m thinking it might be important to the team to have a batting practice pitcher who is at least a little bit hittable to develop the confidence of our hitters?

 

She’s a physical therapy doctoral student. She must be extremely smart. She might add some academic leadership to these younger women. She obviously didn’t come to UF for softball. She’s on campus. The program could use her. Let’s give her a chance.

 

I agree. If you’re a doctoral student with the challenges that come with that and are still willing to help our team, with the time commitments that takes, that’s awesome.

 

D1SoftBall is listing the top softball transfer portal classes. Florida ranked 6th. 1-5 have not been listed yet. The following is what they said about our class:

6. Florida
wWAA added: 4.6
THE HEADLINERS: As incredible as Skylar Wallace was last season, she was going to need more help in the Florida lineup, especially after the graduation of Charla Echols. Tim Walton landed two big bats that will help drive in the speedster. Korbe Otis (Louisville) and Jocelyn Erickson (Oklahoma) are both coming off their best years. Otis had a 3.1 wWAA last season with the Cardinals after having a .414 average, eight doubles, seven triples, 10 homers and 23 stolen bases. Otis hardly struck out, with a six percent strikeout rate, and was above the national average in ISO, BABIP and WOBA. Her and Wallace will make for a formidable duo toward the top of the lineup. Meanwhile, Erickson at one point was the cleanup hitter for Oklahoma if that says anything. She did cool down after a hot start but Erickson hit seven home runs her freshman season. When she hit a fly ball, 20 percent of the time it went out for a home run.
CONTRIBUTORS: The Gators also added Brooke Barnard from Ole Miss. Barnard only had 34 at-bats with the Rebels but showed growth at the plate from year one to year two last season. She’ll likely compete for a spot at second or third base for the Gators.

 

So I guess Mackenzie is the pitcher from the pitcher/ catcher try outs last Thursday. I'm curious who the catcher is. I haven't seen anyone else mention besides Mackenzie.

 

I don’t understand why we haven’t gotten formal introductions to Olivia Miller and Mackenzie Wooten like we were introduced to Korbe, Jocelyn and Brooke. I’ve inquired on social media, but there has not been any responses to my questions.

 

I sent Herb Brooks an email asking the same thing.
Here is his non-answer:

Roger,

We'll be providing content about all of our newcomers throughout the fall.

Thank you for your support! Go Gators!

Herb

 

Thanks, you saved me an email. That was going to be my next step.

 

I sent an email anyway, inquiring about Olivia and Mackenzie. We’ll see if I get the same non-answer.

 

Yeah, most likely you will