Women’s Softball-what ails the Lady Gators this year?

Ocalaman

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I love watching college softball and with the Gators's success over the last 12 years, it's right up there with my favorites. They play 60+ games every year and I watch probably 45-50. With a Roku box and SEC+ and ESPN 3, most games are viewable. Fun sport.
 

g8tr72

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At the college level (in any sport) a coach must have the ability to develop and expand a player's capabilities.

As we all know, just because a player is elite in HS doesn't mean that they will have the same measure of success in college.

Based on the last few seasons, IMO, someone somewhere on this staff, is failing in this area.

The buck stops on the HC's desk.
 

Ocalaman

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At the college level (in any sport) a coach must have the ability to develop and expand a player's capabilities.

As we all know, just because a player is elite in HS doesn't mean that they will have the same measure of success in college.

Based on the last few seasons, IMO, someone somewhere on this staff, is failing in this area.

The buck stops on the HC's desk.
I understand what you're saying and somewhat agree. But in spite of the flaws, we've been to the WCWS the last 3 years and 10 of the last 12 and won the SEC regular season title 4 of the last five years. Expectations are certainly high. But the offense has been in a steady decline, no doubt.
 

g8tr72

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I understand what you're saying and somewhat agree. But in spite of the flaws, we've been to the WCWS the last 3 years and 10 of the last 12 and won the SEC regular season title 4 of the last five years. Expectations are certainly high. But the offense has been in a steady decline, no doubt.

And the TWO players almost exclusively responsible for getting us there are literally the two best players in the history of the program (statistically) and we couldn't win a game in OKC this year, and have lost 6 of the last 7 games there.

Yes, the Gator standard is high.

Anyone could see by watching the games in OKC (not just the UF games) this year or digesting the stats, that other teams are exponentially better than UF in several categories.

I like Tim and I'm not calling for him to get fired, just simply stating that I don't think he is evolving as necessary.

He needs to add a proven hitting coach and someone who is great at interacting with this new generation of athletes.
 
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Ocalaman

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And the TWO players almost exclusively responsible for getting us there are literally the two best players in the history of the program (statistically) and we couldn't win a game in OKC this year, and have 6 of the last 7 games there.

Yes, the Gator standard is high.

Anyone could see by watching the games in OKC (not just the UF games) this year or digesting the stats, that other teams are exponentially better than UF in several categories.

I like Tim and I'm not calling for his to get fired, just simply stating that I don't think he is evolving as necessary.

He needs to add a proven hitting coach and someone who is great at interacting with this new generation of athletes.
Can't disagree with any of this.
 

Scott512

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Yeah Jordan Matthews came out of high school in California highly touted and had a really good freshman year. But she just couldn't hit this year and lost her starting position. She got a couple of key pinch hits during the season, but needs to get with it in the offseason, as she had a ton of proven ability. Same with Danielle Romanello. Jamie Hoover and Jordan Roberts started most of the year, but also, underperformed. There is talent on this team - They just need to develop what they came with and play up to their capabilities.
Jordan looks like a million bucks as a softball player but something was missing this year I hope she finds it for next year cuz they will need her with Amanda gone. It should be an interesting season that's for sure. Even though this is one of the worst Gator softball teams in the last eleven years anytime you make the Women's College World Series it's a successful season.
 

Scott512

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And the TWO players almost exclusively responsible for getting us there are literally the two best players in the history of the program (statistically) and we couldn't win a game in OKC this year, and have lost 6 of the last 7 games there.

Yes, the Gator standard is high.

Anyone could see by watching the games in OKC (not just the UF games) this year or digesting the stats, that other teams are exponentially better than UF in several categories.

I like Tim and I'm not calling for him to get fired, just simply stating that I don't think he is evolving as necessary.

He needs to add a proven hitting coach and someone who is great at interacting with this new generation of athletes.
Agreed. Interesting point about Walton not evolving and that the top teams in the World Series were much better than Florida in various categories. That is undeniable. But if Walton does not change his coaching philosophy it might be hard for them to win again. He gets a top recruiting class every season when obviously that is hit and miss.

On a side note I consider Amanda a gator great but not Barnhill who had too many bad games in the clutch over there for years. And she gave up a lot of home runs too. Very good Gator for sure but I always got the feeling something was missing with Kelly.
 

Ocalaman

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Agreed. Interesting point about Walton not evolving and that the top teams in the World Series were much better than Florida in various categories. That is undeniable. But if Walton does not change his coaching philosophy it might be hard for them to win again. He gets a top recruiting class every season when obviously that is hit and miss.

On a side note I consider Amanda a gator great but not Barnhill who had too many bad games in the clutch over there for years. And she gave up a lot of home runs too. Very good Gator for sure but I always got the feeling something was missing with Kelly.
If they start a Wall of Fame for softball like they've done for football, my 1st 2 would be Stacey Nelson and Lauren Haeger. #3 for me would be Lorenz. Hannah Rogers may be #4 in my eyes, but Barnhill was a all time Gator great, no doubt. Wish her nothing but the best.
 

GatorInGeorgia

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If they start a Wall of Fame for softball like they've done for football, my 1st 2 would be Stacey Nelson and Lauren Haeger. #3 for me would be Lorenz. Hannah Rogers may be #4 in my eyes, but Barnhill was a all time Gator great, no doubt. Wish her nothing but the best.

Some good choices there.
 

Gator87

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If they start a Wall of Fame for softball like they've done for football, my 1st 2 would be Stacey Nelson and Lauren Haeger. #3 for me would be Lorenz. Hannah Rogers may be #4 in my eyes, but Barnhill was a all time Gator great, no doubt. Wish her nothing but the best.
Can’t argue with any of that.
 

Scott512

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If they start a Wall of Fame for softball like they've done for football, my 1st 2 would be Stacey Nelson and Lauren Haeger. #3 for me would be Lorenz. Hannah Rogers may be #4 in my eyes, but Barnhill was a all time Gator great, no doubt. Wish her nothing but the best.
Good choices. I only wish Amanda had better hitters around her her 4 years.

The difference between Nelson and Barnhill is that Stacey rarely got hit hard but Kelly gave up alot of bombs. Both super Gators no question. Haeger may be the Gator softball GOAT.
 

Ocalaman

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Good choices. I only wish Amanda had better hitters around her her 4 years.

The difference between Nelson and Barnhill is that Stacey rarely got hit hard but Kelly gave up alot of bombs. Both super Gators no question. Haeger may be the Gator softball GOAT.
Haeger was Florida's Babe Ruth of softball. Could pitch and hit with the best of them, got better each year, was a major part of both national titles, national player of the year and WCWS MVP her senior year and was just clutch in every way.
 

GatorInGeorgia

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I’m not an expert on softball recruiting nor the process (when is signing day, do the women ever enroll early or at least start in the summer sessions, how many players per class is a good number if recruits to land, etc.) so chime in with important details if you choose. Here is the link for the 2019 class. Looked decent but not lights out at the time this list was published. Maybe we moved up on signing day, I don’t know. Any idea when 2020 recruiting gets into full swing?

https://www.flosoftball.com/articles/6267681-top-25-recruiting-classes-in-the-class-of-2019
 

Ocalaman

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I’m not an expert on softball recruiting nor the process (when is signing day, do the women ever enroll early or at least start in the summer sessions, how many players per class is a good number if recruits to land, etc.) so chime in with important details if you choose. Here is the link for the 2019 class. Looked decent but not lights out at the time this list was published. Maybe we moved up on signing day, I don’t know. Any idea when 2020 recruiting gets into full swing?

https://www.flosoftball.com/articles/6267681-top-25-recruiting-classes-in-the-class-of-2019
I can't find the link, but UF's 2019 class finished ranked 3rd. Cottrill is the #2 player in the nation and Trilick is #3.
2019 Top 100 High School Softball Recruits
 

ChiefGator

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If they start a Wall of Fame for softball like they've done for football, my 1st 2 would be Stacey Nelson and Lauren Haeger. #3 for me would be Lorenz. Hannah Rogers may be #4 in my eyes, but Barnhill was a all time Gator great, no doubt. Wish her nothing but the best.

Great idea perhaps you should send it to the AD.
 

GatorInGeorgia

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So what’s next for players like Kelly and Amanda? I know there are pro leagues here and in Japan but I don’t believe they pay much. I don’t think either player made the national squad either. So do they try & make the National/Olympic squad next year (seems like a long shot if they didn’t make it this year), try their luck in the pros or coaching college ball...or do they join the real world and get a non-softball related job and move on?
 

Ocalaman

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So what’s next for players like Kelly and Amanda? I know there are pro leagues here and in Japan but I don’t believe they pay much. I don’t think either player made the national squad either. So do they try & make the National/Olympic squad next year (seems like a long shot if they didn’t make it this year), try their luck in the pros or coaching college ball...or do they join the real world and get a non-softball related job and move on?
Batnhill was drafted #1 and Lorenz #2 in the recent Pro Softball draft. They'll make decent money being drafted that gigh. They will both try out for the national team and that will be the one that constitutes the Olympic team. Lorenz will more than likely make it. Barnhill did not make it this year because Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott, two all time greats, came out of retirement. They are better and more experienced. Barnhill played in Japan on the national team 2 years ago and loved it. They pay American's better over there than our softball leagues here.
 

GatorInGeorgia

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Batnhill was drafted #1 and Lorenz #2 in the recent Pro Softball draft. They'll make decent money being drafted that gigh. They will both try out for the national team and that will be the one that constitutes the Olympic team. Lorenz will more than likely make it. Barnhill did not make it this year because Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott, two all time greats, came out of retirement. They are better and more experienced. Barnhill played in Japan on the national team 2 years ago and loved it. They pay American's better over there than our softball leagues here.

Thanks Ocalaman. You’re a wealth of knowledge on women’s softball. You must follow it closely.
 

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