CORAL GABLES — Karsten Whitson is the perfect pitcher for this young Florida team — both are works in progress.
CORAL GABLES, Fla.—Florida dug its own grave on Saturday against Miami. Early miscues led to an early two-run deficit. One mistake in the sixth inning killed any chances of a comeback.
CORAL GABLES, Fla.—The hum of the Miami-Dade Metrorail whizzed behind Mark Light Stadium. The crack of Miami's bats rocked the bleachers inside. The 3,481 fans in attendance, mostly wearing the home colors, acted accordingly for a raucous series-opening win for No. 16 Miami (3-2).
Kevin O’Sullivan went against the grain recruiting center fielder Buddy Reed and right-hander Logan Shore. The two freshmen, from Rhode Island and Minnesota, respectively, aren’t the typical Gators.
The clock read 9:13 p.m. when the second-ranked Gators basketball team finished off the Tigers on the hardwood. Cheers coming from Auburn’s implosion at the O’Connell Center drowned out the 2,740 fans that turned down the air conditioning for the brisk Gainesville night.
Florida struggled to score runs throughout the 2013 season, but in its opening series against Maryland, the bats showed that 2014 would not be a repeat.
Karsten Whitson waited nearly two years to get back on the mound, but his return did not last long.
What a difference a year makes. No. 23 Florida yearned for consistent innings in 2013. Ace Jonathon Crawford had a down year by his standards. Karsten Whitson never saw the field, and Bobby Poyner occasionally saw the mound as a midweek guy or middle reliever.
You don’t know what you have till it’s gone.
Someone call Gainesville Regional Utilities. McKethan Stadium has been suffering a power outage since June 2012.
Time heals all wounds, and the Gators are hoping several have been patched up since last season.
Sophomore outfielder Harrison Bader has been suspended indefinitely from team activities due to a scooter accident early Sunday morning in which the Gainesville Police Department is investigating whether alcohol was involved.
The sun stayed home on Thursday. A brisk sub-40 temperature combined with the occasional raindrop made for a dreary day of baseball at McKethan Stadium.
Florida pitcher Johnny Magliozzi became the fourth Gator to sign with a professional team when he signed a contract with the New York Mets on June 25.
The already depleted Gators pitching staff suffered another blow on Monday.
Redshirt freshman outfielder Cory Reid will transfer from Florida, a UF spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
Former Florida catcher Mike Zunino played high school baseball at Cape Coral Mariner High. Now he’s making an impression with the Seattle Mariners.
The final day of the MLB Draft had a few surprises, and the Boston Red Sox’s selection of Gators starting quarterback Jeff Driskel was one of them.
When former Florida catcher Mike Zunino was drafted third overall in last June’s MLB First-Year Player Draft, it was assumed he would make it to the big leagues eventually.
Karsten Whitson was the ninth overall selection in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The right-hander out of Chipley turned down a $2.1 million offer from the San Diego Padres and instead went to Florida.
Solutions by The State News
