Gator Baseball Fall Baseball

[FireFoley]

I needed to take a break from this past Saturday's loss (no it was not that close), so I wanted to post the short recap of the baseball scrimmage in Jax last Friday nite between UF and UGA. Yes the Gators won but unfortunately not in the game or sport that matters. Biggest surprise to me was that 8K showed up to watch a meaningless baseball scrimmage. But please know that much interest in a meaningless scrimmage does not give validity to flushing 100M down the drain on a new baseball stadium:

The Gators used a four-run third inning on Friday night to beat Georgia 5-3 in front of a crowd of 8,640 at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Friday night.

Jud Fabian's three-run double was the deciding blow, clearing the bases and scoring Kirby McMullen, Jacob Young and Austin Langworthy. Freshmen Josh Rivera and Nathan Hickey added RBI singles in the third and fifth innings, respectively.

Freshman right-hander Brandon Sproat notched the win with 0.2 scoreless innings while sophomore Christian Scott pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Overall, the Gators used 11 pitchers on the night -- including four newcomers -- and struck out 14 Bulldog hitters and limited Georgia to just four hits over nine innings. Freshman left-hander Hunter Barco struck out the side in the seventh inning.

Florida will play its second fall exhibition this Sunday against USF at McKethan Stadium. The two teams will play a pair of six-inning contests beginning at 3 p.m

 

[diehardg8r]

Gotta get my kid down this year for a game. He's is in the grind of fall travel ball and JV....needs a little inspiration. Tells everyone he's going to UF as a pitcher..not quite there yet.

 

[Ocalaman]

The starting lineup was interesting to me, along with the batting order: Jacob Young rf, Austin Langworthy lf, Jud Fabian cf, Nathan Hickey dh, Kendrick Calilao 1b, Josh Rivera 3b, Brady Smith c, Cory Acton 2b and Nick Blasucci ss. I know it's fall and way early, but this is the starting point for molding the team. The surprise to me is Blasucci at SS. He was a transfer junior from Tallahassee CC (I think) who only had 4 at bats last year and 7 mound appearances, 2 of them as a starter. Wouldn't be surprised if incoming freshman Isaac Nunez eventually wins the job, but it's obvious we are counting on major contributions from new freshmen Hickey and Rivera, plus freshmen pitchers Barco, Sproat & Nesbitt.

 

[FireFoley]

The starting lineup was interesting to me, along with the batting order: Jacob Young rf, Austin Langworthy lf, Jud Fabian cf, Nathan Hickey dh, Kendrick Calilao 1b, Josh Rivera 3b, Brady Smith c, Cory Acton 2b and Nick Blasucci ss. I know it's fall and way early, but this is the starting point for molding the team. The surprise to me is Blasucci at SS. He was a transfer junior from Tallahassee CC (I think) who only had 4 at bats last year and 7 mound appearances, 2 of them as a starter. Wouldn't be surprised if incoming freshman Isaac Nunez eventually wins the job, but it's obvious we are counting on major contributions from new freshmen Hickey and Rivera, plus freshmen pitchers Barco, Sproat & Nesbitt.

Thanx for posting the lineup Ocala. I did not see anything on the Gator site until today and the game was Friday. Must be using the Tooley/Andreu work ethic. I am not sure who will be at SS but my guess is their bat won't equal McConnell's but I have to think that the glove will be superior. McConnell came in with a rep as a good defensive SS but I was totally underwhelmed by his inability to make routine plays. Glad to see Young not at 2B. He has a terrible arm and an outfielder's motion so hope he remains there. And do you really think Matt Damon is going to catch again this year? How can we not find a better catcher? I know Greenfield is decent defensively but can't hit at all. Also based on the fall roster is there anyone you think might leave at the end of the semester? always seem to lose a guy or 2 after fall ball. I actually think Greenfield is a candidate if he is still on the roster.

 

[Ocalaman]

Thanx for posting the lineup Ocala. I did not see anything on the Gator site until today and the game was Friday. Must be using the Tooley/Andreu work ethic. I am not sure who will be at SS but my guess is their bat won't equal McConnell's but I have to think that the glove will be superior. McConnell came in with a rep as a good defensive SS but I was totally underwhelmed by his inability to make routine plays. Glad to see Young not at 2B. He has a terrible arm and an outfielder's motion so hope he remains there. And do you really think Matt Damon is going to catch again this year? How can we not find a better catcher? I know Greenfield is decent defensively but can't hit at all. Also based on the fall roster is there anyone you think might leave at the end of the semester? always seem to lose a guy or 2 after fall ball. I actually think Greenfield is a candidate if he is still on the roster.

Apparently Smith played in a summer league, did very well and improved his technique behind the plate. Freshman Matt Powell has, apparently, looked good defensively behind the plate, but it appears to be Smith's job. Nathan Hickey is an all around athlete who can play anywhere and did catch quite a bit in high school. He can hit and is starting as DH, but could work his way into the lineup somewhere if one of the guys struggle (like Reese did last year). Kirby McMullen will also see time as DH. He's a senior, a team leader and will do whatever is asked of him to help the team. Also, Brock Edge (son of former UF punter Shayne Edge) is a junior transfer from Santa Fe CC, is an outfielder who can hit and will get a serious look at some playing time. We did lose highly recruited infielder Roberto Pena, catcher Santo Miozzo and pitcher Justin Alintoff to the transfer portal in June. Could be that a couple others leave if they see their playing time being diminished, but haven't read anything about that yet. They have another exhibition game Sunday vs. USF and after that it will be scrimmages within the team that determines how they approach the regular season once practive starts up again in January.

 

[FireFoley]

I knew Pena left and I know he was highly recruited but lost out at 3B to Acton and never really produced when he got a chance. He will show up somewhere and play a lot tho. I also thought Miozzi should have played more last year, especially early when Damon was struggling both offensive and defensively. Tho it is good to hear that Damon had a summer as a Catcher and improved his skills.. Alintoff and Scott always looked the same to me except when they reached the mound. Alintoff topped out at about 87mph but always looked like he threw harder. Scott was 92-93 and looked like he could be really really good. Also any news on Armstrong and can he pitch this year? I was told he can throw with either arm and has in the past in the same inning. Also was told he had shoulder injury to his more dominant arm which is why he was relegated to hitting and some position play only last year. His father Jack was a World Series winner and once started for the NL in the All Star game. And his brother was pitcher for Vandy a few years ago.

 

[Ocalaman]

I knew Pena left and I know he was highly recruited but lost out at 3B to Acton and never really produced when he got a chance. He will show up somewhere and play a lot tho. I also thought Miozzi should have played more last year, especially early when Damon was struggling both offensive and defensively. Tho it is good to hear that Damon had a summer as a Catcher and improved his skills.. Alintoff and Scott always looked the same to me except when they reached the mound. Alintoff topped out at about 87mph but always looked like he threw harder. Scott was 92-93 and looked like he could be really really good. Also any news on Armstrong and can he pitch this year? I was told he can throw with either arm and has in the past in the same inning. Also was told he had shoulder injury to his more dominant arm which is why he was relegated to hitting and some position play only last year. His father Jack was a World Series winner and once started for the NL in the All Star game. And his brother was pitcher for Vandy a few years ago.

Nothing on Armstrong. Gators used 11 pitchers and 13 field players in the game against Georgia and Armstrong wasn't among them. I was hoping Garrett Milchin would be a contributor this year as well because he was good as a freshman and then sat out last year with an injury. But he didn;t see the field against Georgia either.

 

[Ocalaman]

Tha Gators played a doubleheader of sorts against USF Sunday in Gainesville. In Game 1, UF won 10-2. Kirby McMullen has 2 HR's and 5 RBI's as DH, Jud Fabian hit leadoff and had a HR and freshman Nathan Hicky played catcher, hit clean-up and had 2 htis and an RBI. brady Smith played 3b and freshman Josh Rivera played SS. Justin Alintoff, apparanetly came out of the transfer portal and is still on the team, as he was 1 of 7 pitchers used in the game, as the pitching staff threw a 3 hitter, with freshman Tyler Nesbitt giving up the only runs on a 2-run HR in the 2nd.

In the 2nd game, they only played 6 innings and it ended in an 8-8 tie, as sophomore pitcher Christian Scott gave up 4 runs in the top of the 6th to allow USF to come from behind. UF gave up 2 unearned runs on errors by Calilao at 1b and freshman Isaac Nunez at 2nd. Catching duties were divided among Smith, Hickey and freshman Matt Powell. Fabian was leadoff hitter both games, with Langworthy hitting 2nd, Calilao 3rd, Hickey 4th and Rivera 5th, with Rivera starting at SS both games, then moving to 3rd midway through the end game when Nick Blasucci came in at short and had 2 RBI's.

There will only be in-team scrimmages from now until opening night, February 14th, when we start a weekend series vs. Marshall. I'm excoited about this team and how the pitching will work itself out. We have a great group of new kids with a solid group of veterans. Should be another fun year on the diamond.

 

[Jbossgator8]

Gators Score 18 Runs in Sunday Exhibition - Florida Gators