sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Gators sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Burke makes a save against the Tennessee Volunteers during a game in 2011. Burke played the second half in Florida's 3-0 home loss on FSU on Friday night.

Sports

Sophomore excels as two-sport athlete

By GORDON STREISAND< | Apr. 11, 2013

Taylor Burke stays busy.

Freshman Richie Martin (12) bats in Florida’s 7-4 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 24 at McKethan Stadium. Martin was the only player with more than one hit in the Gators' 4-2 loss to the Volunteers on Sunday.

Sports

Freshman impressive since return from finger injury

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 10, 2013

TALLAHASSEE — After missing nearly a month, Richie Martin was excited to return in time for the game he had been eying all season.

Lauren Haeger stands in the circle between pitches during Florida's 4-1 home loss to USF on March 28, 2012. Haeger struck out five in the Gators 9-1 win against the Bulls on Wednesday.

Sports

Power-hitting Florida uses small ball to defeat South Florida

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 10, 2013

Lauren Haeger does not let what happens in the batter’s box carry into the pitching circle.

Junior Florent Diep strikes the ball during Florida’s 5-2 victory against Miami on Jan. 19 at Linder Stadium.

Sports

Junior carrying Gators in SEC play

Apr. 10, 2013

Florida has struggled throughout the season to find a player it can consistently rely on.

T.J. Vogel watches one of his drives during a tournament last spring. Vogel will begin competition at The Masters today.

Sports

Florida senior competing at The Masters

By RJ Schaffer | Apr. 10, 2013

T.J. Vogel is competing against the world's best at The Masters this weekend. Although the Florida senior is competitive, he is starstruck by some of his opponents in Augusta, Ga.

Antoinette Bannister claps during pregame warmups before Florida's 68-57 loss to Vanderbilt on Feb. 21 in the O'Connell Center. Bannister decided to leave North Carolina and transfer to UF in order to be closer to her mother, who has battled serious illness since October 2012. Bannister will be eligible to play for the Gators at the conclusion of the Fall 2013 semester.

Sports

Living a new dream: Promising guard puts family first

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Apr. 9, 2013

Long before making the difficult decision to transfer from North Carolina to Florida, Antoinette Bannister grew up watching T.J., her half brother, flourish on the basketball court.

Outfielder Harrison Bader bats during Florida’s 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31, 2013, at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Freshman’s baserunning helps Gators beat ‘Noles

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 9, 2013

TALLAHASSEE — No one deserved to catch the final out of Florida’s 4-3 victory against Florida State on Tuesday night more than Harrison Bader.

Guard Trey Burke (3) celebrates with his teammates during Michigan’s 87-85 overtime win against Kansas on March 29 in Arlington, Texas.

Sports

Learning to embrace college basketball’s slowing pace

By GREG LUCA< | Apr. 9, 2013

College basketball has issues, but Monday’s national championship game showed everything that is right with the sport.

Sophomore Lauren Haeger swings during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Haeger hit a three-run homer in Florida's 5-2 win against Georgia on Saturday.

Sports

Pitching key as Florida offense faces USF staff ace

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 9, 2013

The Gators were down by a run and sending the bottom of the lineup to the plate in the top of the sixth during Florida’s road game against USF on Feb. 27.

Florida freshman gymnast Bridgette Caquatto performs her floor routine during the NCAA Regionals on April 6 in the O’Connell Center. Caquatto has filled in for injured starters this season.

Sports

Freshmen pivotal in Florida’s NCAA Regional championship

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Apr. 9, 2013

Freshman Bridgette Caquatto was held together by tape all summer long.

Florida senior Bob van Overbeek returns a volley last season. Van Overbeek was demoted to No. 3 singles during his losing streak.

Sports

Senior recovering after rough start

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Apr. 9, 2013

Senior Bob van Overbeek is returning to form near the end of a rough 2013 season.

Senior T.J. Vogel eyes his shot during the SunTrust Gator Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Sunday. Vogel is back with the Gators after competing in The Masters.

Sports

Gators finish fourth in final regular-season tournament

By RJ Schaffer | Apr. 9, 2013

Injuries and the absence of senior T.J. Vogel did not stop Florida from having arguably the team’s best showing of the spring in the Gary Koch Invitational. The Gators finished in fourth place at the two-day tournament in Tampa.

Kelsey Horton connects with a pitch in Florida's 5-2 win against Auburn on April 15, 2012. Horton hit a home run in Florida's 10-4 win against Missouri in the SEC Tournament final on Saturday.

Sports

Florida’s offensive style limits rally opportunities in loss

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 8, 2013

Hall of Fame baseball manager Earl Weaver’s philosophy for winning was “pitching, defense and the three-run homer.” Against Mississippi State this weekend, Florida followed the same strategy.

Several members of the Gators baseball team stand on the top steps of the dugout during Florida’s 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium. Florida dropped the final game of its series against Tennessee 4-2 on Sunday.

Sports

Be patient with young, talented Florida baseball squad

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 8, 2013

Think of that kid trying to make a full revolution on a swing at the playground. They gain enough momentum to reach the apex — the point of no return where they either swing all the way around or fall back down to square one. Florida has been stuck at square one.

Kicker Caleb Sturgis (19) celebrates with former special teams and current defensive coordinator DJ Durkin during Florida’s 37-26 win against Florida State on Nov. 24 in Tallahassee.

Sports

Losing kicker a major blow to Gators’ offense

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Apr. 8, 2013

Finding a capable replacement for Caleb Sturgis is a thought that surely gives Will Muschamp headaches. Heck, it might even give him nightmares at this point, and the season is still more than four months away.