(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Townsen can outrun a strong wind.

 

Kinsey is honored to have been chosen for this.
She is one of the best humans in the world!

 

19 Days to First Pitch!
Chelsea Herndon OF 2014-17

 

A Grand Slam HR in the 2014 WCWS for #19 had to be like living a dream. I'd assume she was a really good player, buried on a great team. Which made her a great teammate.

 

How many players can say they hit a walk off grand slam in the WCWS. She did it.

 

Gators are scheduled to play 56 games in the regular season. I predict they will finish 48 & 8 losing to UCLA, Tenn-2, Ark-2, SC, GA, & FSU. I also predict they will tie for first in the SEC with a record of 18 & 6. Feel free to attack my predictions. Go Gators.

 

I predict that I will attend the most games.

Having missed out by just a couple of games to Scrappy last year and Sandman in 2023 and 2024, this is going to be my year.

I predict that other schools will dangle big NIL money for Sandman and Scrappy, they will enter the transfer portal, and I'll finally win the crown with the field to myself.

Go Gators!

 

I can't do two replies on one post, so I did optimistic.
That post was funny as hell!

 

Arkansas blitzes Auburn.

No. 13 Auburn scores 196.675 in loss at No. 4 Arkansas - Auburn Tigers - Official Athletics Website

 

D1 Softball SEC Preview:
2026 SEC Preview


by: RHIANNON POTKEYJan 14, 2026
The first year in the Southeastern Conference last season was a rousing success for Texas and Oklahoma. The Longhorns won their first national championship in program history and the Sooners captured the SEC regular-season title.

Both former Big 12 powers will likely be even stronger this season, adding new dynamic players and with additional players returning from injury.

Their addition to the SEC made an already-formidable conference even deeper and the storylines even more plentiful.

Texas ended Oklahoma’s string of four straight national championships. The Sooners “only” reached the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series in what could have been considered a rebuilding year for OU by its lofty standards.

South Carolina and Ole Miss were the surprise SEC teams of 2025, with the Gamecocks launching the Ashley Chastain Woodard era in historic fashion and the Rebels ending the season with a run to the WCWS.

Texas A&M, Arkansas, and LSU were talented teams that ended their 2025 seasons in disappointing fashion. Can the trio bounce back and make a deep run this season?

Having helped Tennessee reach two WCWS in her first three seasons on Rocky Top, All-American senior pitcher Karlyn Pickens will cap off her decorated college career for Tennessee. Will Pickens throw a pitch even faster to top her all-time record of 79.4 mph set last season? Can she lower her ERA from the 1.12 or 1.17 she’s had the last two years?

Predicting anything in the SEC is always a challenge given the competitive balance throughout, and even more so in the transfer portal era. But here’s a look at what might transpire.

Preseason Accolades
Player of the Year: Ella Parker, Oklahoma

Pitcher of the Year: Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee

Freshman of the Year: Allyssa Parker, Oklahoma

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Tennessee
4. Florida
5. Arkansas
6. Texas A&M
7. LSU
8. South Carolina
9. Alabama
10. Ole Miss
11. Georgia
12. Mississippi State
13. Kentucky
14. Auburn
15. Missouri

Player Rankings

1. Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee
2. Reese Atwood, Texas
3. Teagan Kavan, Texas
4. Ella Parker, Oklahoma
5. Taylor Shumaker, Florida
6. Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma
7. Tori Edwards, LSU
8. Dakota Kennedy, Arkansas
9. Mya Perez, Texas A&M
10. Audrey Vandagriff, Alabama
11. Gabbie Garcia, Oklahoma
12. Robyn Herron, Arkansas
13. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Oklahoma
14. Katie Stewart, Texas
15. Kayden Henry, Texas
16. Arianna Rodi, South Carolina
17. Ashton Maloney, Texas
18. Jocelyn Erickson, Florida
19. KK Dement, Oklahoma
20. Sydney Berzon, Oklahoma

Teams to Beat
Texas

Coming off their first national championship in program history, the Longhorns could be even stronger this season. They return a lot of key components and have added talent, including two-way freshman Hannah Wells, the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year. Shortstop Viviana Martinez returns from injury after missing last season. The team will be powered by the All-American battery of Teagan Kavan and Reese Atwood. Kavan largely carried the Longhorns pitching staff throughout the postseason. The junior right-hander didn’t allow an earned run in 31.2 innings pitched at the WCWS. Atwood hit 21 home runs last season to become the first Texas player with back-to-back 20 home run seasons. The Longhorns will play with a target on their backs as the defending national champions, but they still have motivation of trying to win the program’s first SEC title to keep them focused.

Oklahoma

Reloading is different at Oklahoma than reloading for most programs. After losing the core of their four-time national championship squad, the Sooners still managed to finish atop the SEC and reach the semifinals of the WCWS. Adding another national championship is a realistic possibility this season as OU returns with a much deeper pitching staff and a more dynamic offense, led by Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering. The Sooners have added transfer pitchers Sydney Berzon (LSU) and Miali Guachino (Ole Miss) to give them more options in the circle. Their talented freshmen class, which includes catcher Kendall Wells and two-way standout Allyssa Parker, will make an immediate impact.

Tennessee

Any team with Karlyn Pickens in the circle will be in contention to win. The senior and two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year has been a dominant presence since she first arrived on Rocky Top, and gained some added experience this year with Team USA. Pickens spearheads a staff that is one of the deepest in recent history for the Lady Vols. Sage Mardjetko and Erin Nuwer return while transfer Maddi Rutan provides another quality arm. The question for the Lady Vols will be if younger players can make an impact in the lineup and on the field to replace lost production. Among the freshmen who will be counted on immediately is starting catcher Ella Morrison.

Teams to Watch
Florida

The Gators are a tough team to predict given some of the holes they have to fill. They need to replace some production on offense after losing four of their top five hitters and will need more consistency in the circle. But Florida has the talent to contend and try to return to the WCWS for the third straight season. The Gators bring back nearly their entire pitching staff, led by junior right-handers Keagan Rothrock and Ava Brown, and added FGCU transfer Allison Sparkman. Taylor Shumaker, Jocelyn Erickson and Kenleigh Cahalan are back in the lineup and heralded recruit Townsen Thomas will make her debut after missing her freshman season with an injury. Transfer Kendall Grover (Eastern Illinois) impressed during the fall with her offense.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks staged a stunning turnaround last year in the first season under Ashley Chastain Woodard. They started 20-0, tying a program record that dated back to 1976. They finished 44-17 and recorded the program’s first winning season in SEC play since 2018. South Carolina nearly made the WCWS, losing to UCLA in Game 3 of a home Super Regional. The Gamecocks want to build upon the momentum this season. They return their top four hitters, including Arianna Rodi who set the program’s single-season home run record with 17. South Carolina will need to integrate 14 newcomers, including 10 transfers. But after the job Chastain Woodard did last season in mixing some of her former Charlotte players with the South Carolina holdovers, it will likely be a successful transition.

Texas A&M

A historic 2025 season ended in disappointment as the overall No. 1 seed Aggies were eliminated by Liberty in NCAA regional play at Davis Diamond. How will A&M bounce back without workhorse Emily Kennedy in the circle? Head coach Trisha Ford’s aptitude with pitchers should help to develop A&M’s more balanced staff approach with Grace Sparks, Sydney Lessentine, and a healthier Sidne Peters. A&M has added transfers Tallen Edwards, Micaela Wark, Paislie Allen, Ariel Kowalewski, and Taylor Pannell (the pitching one). The Aggies will need to replace three of their top four hitters from a team that set numerous offensive program records last season. They return slugger Mya Perez, KK Dement, and Kennedy Powell. Ford has reconstructed the program into a contender since taking the job and is determined to keep A&M in the conversation.

 

18 Days to First Pitch!
Amanda Lorenz OF/!B 2018 SEC Player of the Year, 2016-19 All-SEC, 2016-19 All-American, 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year, 2016 National Freshman of the Year

 

Interesting article but there are not 17 players in the SEC better than Jocelyn and Keagan should have been in the top 20.

 

Kendall Grover will surprise some also.

 

That’s my hope after seeing her play in the Fall.

 

My favorite transfer this season is #24 Madison Walker from Mizzou. She hit 18 home runs last season which was third in the SEC. Was really impressed with her power in fall ball. And word is she loves being a Gator.

 

I try not to pick favorites, but....

 

17 Days to First Pitch!
Skylar Wallace IF/SS 2023 SEC Player of the Year, 2023 National Player of the Year, 2022-24 All SEC, 022-24 All-American

 

17 Days to First Pitch!
Lauren Haeger P/!B 2015 National Player of the Year, 2015 SEC Female Athlete of the Year, 2015 SEC Pitcher of the Year, 2015 & 2013 All-American, 2015 &2013 All-SEC