The month of February ushers in a new season of Florida softball, and there’s a lot about coach Tim Walton’s program that’s new.
UF welcomes high-profile transfers, talented freshmen and a new pitching coach. It also anticipates playing in a newly renovated stadium, which will be finished after the team heads to Tampa for the USF Opening Weekend Invitational.
Here are three preseason observations ahead of the Gators’ season-opening tournament:
New facilities bring new friendships
The biggest change for Florida softball is to its home.
Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium received a massive overhaul during the offseason, including shaded seating areas for fans, state-of-the-art amenities for the athletes and a new press box, among other changes.
But with new facilities come extra costs and not just the types that affect the financial bottom line.
With the stadium unavailable, the team has practiced on the intramural practice fields at Southwest Recreation Center, and its locker room was replaced with a double-wide trailer by the practice fields. These aren’t exactly ideal practicing conditions for one of the country’s top college softball programs.
However, one of the positives that has come out of it is a reinvigorated feeling of closeness between teammates.
“If anything, it’s brought us closer together,” catcher Jordan Roberts said. “Literally, we’re right next to each other in the locker room every single day, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With the offseason coming to a close, UF is looking forward to debuting its revamped home field next Tuesday against Team Japan.
“We’re starting to get a little antsy, and especially after getting some more practice time on the stadium,” outfielder Amanda Lorenz said. “We’re really thankful and really excited to get in there finally.”
How will newcomers affect the lineup?
The Gators welcomed two junior transfers this offseason in outfielder Jade Caraway from NC State and catcher Kendyl Lindaman from Minnesota. The additions should help replace two departed seniors: last year’s home-run leader Nicole Dewitt and catcher Janell Wheaton.
Lindaman should be able to replace Dewitt’s slugging ability in the lineup. The Ankeny, Iowa, native led the Big Ten last season in home runs with 20, which was the eighth-highest total in the country. She also demonstrated tremendous bat control in her last season at Minnesota by leading the conference in walks per game (.95, fifth-best in the country). That was also on display this fall when coach Walton said that she only swung and missed once since she has joined the team.
Bat control is another skill present in Caraway’s game. She led NC State with 25 walks, a valued skill for someone who might bat in the leadoff position. Once on base, Caraway is a huge threat, as she stole 13 bases and hit for eight doubles and two triples last season.
Along with the two transfers, the Gators signed eight freshmen for the 2019 season. Third baseman Hannah Sipos has impressed players and coaches alike leading up to the season. Walton named Sipos as one of the most impressive freshmen, and Lorenz spoke glowingly about her.
“(She’s) really good. She’s, like, really, really fun to watch,” Lorenz said. “I’m so, so excited, just seeing her play every day is so fun, but I can’t wait to see her in the Gator uniform, and see her play in front of Gator Nation.”
Who is going to be rotating with Kelly Barnhill?
As much as the Gators will miss Dewitt and Wheaton, replacing the pitching of Aleshia Ocasio will be the biggest task for them this year.
Kelly Barnhill is arguably one of the best pitchers in college softball, winning SEC Pitcher of the Year last year and throwing a perfect game against Georgia Southern last season. Barnhill was a stellar 29-3 last season and currently holds the lowest career ERA (.92) and opponent batting average (.124) in program history.
And when Barnhill wasn’t in the circle, the Gators would turn to Ocasio, whose 23-7 record and 1.45 ERA wasn’t far off Barnhill’s. It gave them a tremendous one-two punch in the circle, which is essential for a championship-caliber team.
That No. 2 spot is up for grabs now between sophomore Natalie Lugo, junior Katie Chronister and freshmen Danni Farley and Elizabeth Hightower. Lugo had more appearances than Chronister last season, so she is presumed to be the second starter.
“She’s worked really hard, (pitching coach Mike Bosch has) worked really hard on that… she’s going to get the ball a ton,” Walton said.
Follow Brendan Farrell on Twitter bfarrell1@alligator.org and contact him at @Bfarrell727.
Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, home of the UF softball team, will finish construction ahead of an exhibition game against Japan on Tuesday.
