Stacey Nelson stood in the circle one pitch away from the Women's College World Series as more than 2,000 screaming fans rose to their feet.
Tim Walton didn't need his peanut butter and jelly sandwich this time.
It would be hard to call anyone on the No. 1 ranked Gators (65-3) "weak" after everything they have accomplished this season.
For the first time all season, the road forked in front of the Gators.
After a 1-0 defeat against Central Florida - UF's first in more than two months - UF coach Tim Walton was caught off guard by the scene in the postgame locker room.
Forget football, this weekend Gainesville is a softball town.
The Tide nearly rolled right over the UF softball team.
In front of a raucous home crowd, which has become commonplace for a weekend series at Pressly Stadium, the Gators' offense got back on track.
For the first time all season, junior Stacey Nelson did not throw a single pitch in either game of a doubleheader.
It took a little bit longer than expected, but the preseason prediction made by UF coach Tim Walton has finally come true.
The finish line is starting to come into focus.
A quick once-over of senior Mary Ratliff's Facebook profile leaves no doubt as to where the outgoing right fielder grew up.
The scoreboard may have been blank, but the softball complex was far from empty. Practice starts in 30 minutes, but the off-field duties of its superstar start early, and as I sat on a leather couch in the team's lounge, I found myself largely unprepared for the continuous stream of humility that would soon resonate, not only with those asking the questions but with any overhearing the responses.
When an offense is as explosive as the Gators', a sub-.320 batting average will land you in the seventh spot of the lineup.
Rivalries are so woven into the cultural fabric of the college experience that it is easy to assume all UF students came out of the womb with a distaste for all things Garnet and Gold.
The Gators proved that no matter how unthinkable the feat, history does, indeed, repeat itself.
The Gators' high-powered offense is proving that pitching isn't the only thing that wins games.
Efficiently and dependably, UF's ace went about her business on Sunday afternoon.
A team's success is dependent on the collective contributions of each and every one of its players.
The Gators were on a mission to erase three years of futility with three days of prosperity.
Solutions by The State News
