Conventional wisdom says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Don't tell that to UF coach Tim Walton.
Prior to the No. 2 UF softball team's games in the Lipton Invitational last weekend, Walton made a surprising change to his lineup. Kim Waleszonia, who has led off for the last four years, switched spots with sophomore Aja Paculba, who followed Waleszonia in the order.
Waleszonia and Paculba batted one-two for most of last season, when they were named Third- and Second-Team All-Americans, respectively.
So why change an order that was already working?
"Coach brought (the idea) to me," Paculba said. "After Jacksonville, he was just like, 'You're hitting really well. I just want to try it out for this week and see how it goes.' I don't know if he's going to keep it, but it seems to be working."
The two made the change smoothly, as Waleszonia had two triples in UF's 8-0 win against Coastal Carolina on Friday, and Paculba continued her impressive play at the plate with seven hits and 11 runs over the weekend.
The Gators will need the switch at the top of the lineup to remain effective as they travel to Palm Springs, Calif., for the Cathedral City Classic, which starts today. The three-day tournament will pit the Gators against the highest-ranked competition they have faced all season. Today, UF will take on No. 14 Fresno State at 6:30 p.m. and No. 3 Arizona State, the defending national champion, at 11:30 p.m.
Walton said he is looking forward to the opportunity to play against some of the best teams in the country and see how his team responds to the higher level of competition.
"We need to learn how we're going to play in tight games," Walton said Sunday. "We need tight games to really determine exactly what kind of championship team we're gonna be, and we'll get plenty of tight games."
Pitchers Stacey Nelson (4-1) and Stephanie Brombacher (4-0) have only allowed one earned run combined all season, so if the Gators want to come out on top of a tight game, they will have to do it at the plate.
For Waleszonia, that will be easier thanks to her new spot in the order. While Paculba feels out the pitcher at the leadoff spot, Waleszonia gets to read the pitches that much more and gets a better idea of what to expect at the plate.
As for whether or not their coach is convinced of his players' ability to thrive in their new positions, Walton left little room for any doubt.
"I love it. Love it, love it, love it. We're dangerous that way - more dangerous than we were before," Walton said after the Gators put 26 total runs on the board in their two games Saturday.
Walton added that he would discuss the level of comfort Paculba and Waleszonia felt with their new spots in the lineup, but after UF knocked in 11 runs in its win against Georgia Tech on Sunday, Walton seemed appropriately pleased with his lineup change.
"I'm not even going to have a meeting. They don't even get a vote anymore. It's gonna happen," he said.
