The Florida Gators softball team finished their 2016 College Softball season with a 56-7 overall record. The Gators opened the 2016 season with the best start in program history with a 33-1 record. The team fell short of the WCWS when they were defeated in the Super Regional round by the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators are expected to enter the 2017 season hungry and are projected to make a WCWS Championship run. Below are obvious reasons for why Florida could win it all this upcoming 2017 College season.
SEC Pre-Season Favorite
In January the Gators were voted the favorite in the SEC preseason poll for the fourth consecutive season. The trio of senior Delanie Gourley, junior Kayli Kvistad and sophomore Amanda Lorenz were all named to the 2017 Preseason All-SEC Team by the league office. All three were named to NFCA All-American Teams following the conclusion of the 2016 season.
Experience
Florida returns all four of its NFCA All-Americans from last season’s team in Aleshia Ocasio, Delanie Gourley, Kayli Kvistad and Amanda Lorenz. After graduating five seniors (Aubree Munroe, Kelsey Stewart, Taylore Fuler, Kirsti Merritt, and Taylor Schwarz) who held starting roles in 2016, the spots will be filled with talented newcomers or returners.
Pitching
The Gators return all three of their dominant pitchers from the 2016 season. Aleshia Ocasio, Delanie Gourley, and Kelly Barnhill combined for an impressive combined .93 team ERA last season. Ocasio recorded a 22-2 record in 2016 with a team and conference best .77 ERA. Gourley was close behind with a .80 ERA and recorded a team high of 224 strikeouts.
Coaching
Gator Head Coach Tim Walton returns for his 11th season in blue and orange this spring. Walton has compiled a 331-80 record in his head coaching role for the Gators. Since his 2008 season, seven of his eight Gator teams have advanced to the Women’s College World Series. The Gators took the title in both 2014 and 2015.
The team will take the field for the first time of the 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 10 in Tampa at the USF – Wilson DeMarini Classic against Illinois State. SEC play is scheduled to open up on March 11 at home inside Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium against Missouri with the SEC tournament set for May 10-13 at the Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
