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The Florida Gators appear to be ready to add yet another game to a future football schedule. Florida has recently added South Florida, Colorado, and Texas to future schedules reaching as far out as 2031.
According to Stadium’s Brett McMurphy, the Gators are about to announce a 2023 date with the Charlotte 49ers of Conference USA.
The two programs have never met on the gridiron, but Charlotte’s atheltic department is headed by Mike Hill, who worked with Jeremy Foley at UF for twenty six years.
FBSschedules.com already has the date of the game listed as November 18, 2023.
The Florida baseball program had much to celebrate Monday night. In addition to shortstop Brady McConnell being selected in the annual MLB Draft, the top two arms in the Gators 2019 class went unselected despite being projected day one picks.
McConnell, a sophomore who is eligible for the draft since he is over twenty-one, was selected with the 44th pick by the Kansas City Royals. The pick has a compensation value of $1,689,500.
*Note: The Royals selected a pair of Gators with their top two picks in the 2018 draft, Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar.
McConnell led the Gators with 15 home runs and hit a robust .332 with 48 RBI this season while leading off for much of the year.
The Gators also received surprising news as two of their top signees of the 2019 class have fallen past day one despite projections that assumed otherwise.
RHP Matthew Allan (Sanford, FL) was a projected mid-first round choice.
The Chicago Cubs were indeed extremely close to taking HS right-hander Matthew Allan, but signability concerns pushed them to Fresno State right-hander Ryan Jensen, sources tell ESPN.
If Jeff Passan’s report is correct and signability is the issue, that could be great news for the UF coaching staff. Although it does remain an option that Allan could choose to go Juco for a year before re-entering the draft.
LHP Hunter Barco (Jacksonville, FL), was the no. 32 ranked prospect according to Baseball America associate editor Kegan Lowe. Barco also went unselected through the first day of the draft.
If both of these players are informing professional teams that they intend to play college ball, and opt to play at UF, that would be a monumental accomplishment for Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators coaching staff.
Gators Country’s Nick de la Torre summed it up best:
The first day of the MLB Draft is over. The #Gators expected both RHP Matthew Allan and LHP Hunter Barco to be selected, they were not.
Getting one of them to school would have been great for Sully. Both? Incredible.
— Nick de la Torre (@NickdelaTorreGC) June 4, 2019
Also: Florida outfield commit, Riley Greene was taken with the no. 5 overall pick by the Detroit Tigers. Greene is a power bat from Oviedo, FL.
For three innings freshman Nick Pogue looked like the ace Florida baseball has lacked all season.
Pogue retired nine straight after a first inning single and appeared to be in cruise control.
The offense even offered Pogue an early lead to pitch from.
But then the fourth inning struck. The Gators entered the inning with a 2-0 lead thanks to an Austin Langworthy first inning RBI groundout as well as a Langworthy solo homer two innings later.
Pogue gave up two homers and six runs before being relieved by Nolan Crisp. Crisp then gave up a 3-run homer before Ben Specht could finally put out the flames.
Specht pitched heroically and kept the Gators in the game. However, too often, the Gators left runners stranded in scoring position and failed to convert in such situations.
The Gators did chip away at the 9-2 deficit, scoring four runs in the fifth and adding a run in the seventh and ninth innings.
The Gators had a chance in the ninth as they had runners on second and third with one out, but a pair of ground balls ended the game (Florida did score on the one of those groundouts).
Fast stats:
Ben Specht pitched an excellent 4.1 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out four. Specht kept the Gators in position to make a comeback.
Tyler Dyson hadn’t pitched in a long time, but he looked as confident as ever. Dyson breezed through the top of the ninth, retiring the side in order and striking out two in the process. Dyson may always be our what if in how it relates to this team.
Austin Langworthy: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Wil Dalton: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB
What’s next:
The script is over for the 2019 Gators. And while it was a season to forget in many regards, there is a lot of optimism looking towards the future.
The Gators are an incredibly young team that will return much of the starting corps. The hope is that they young pitchers that got rocked in their first year of SEC play will develop during summer ball and come back stronger than ever.
At times this season the Gators started four or five freshmen in the batting order. Despite that, Florida’s offense was actually a strength.
Brady McConnell, Tyler Dyson, Wil Dalton, and Austin Langworthy are likely to leave depending on their draft slot (MLB Draft begins on Monday), while Nelson Maldonado and Blake Reese are seniors that have used up their eligibility.
Stay posted with ChompTalk on Twitter and Facebook for updates on the MLB Draft as well as summer ball updates.
For most of the year the Florida softball team looked like a team that had little shot of making a trip to Oklahoma City and the Women’s College World Series.
The team then went on an incredible run and claimed the SEC Tournament title with four straight victories over Top-20 competition. The Gators were named the nation’s number five seed on Selection Sunday as a result, but even then there was an uncomfortable feeling about this team.
Kelly Barnhill led the Gators on their post-season tear, something that was necessary due to an inconsistent, at best, offense.
On Saturday, the Gators offense couldn’t make up for an off night for their ace pitcher. Instead, the Gators off-season will start with many questions about how to replace two players whose impact was far more than their program record statistics.
Barnhill missed her spots for much of her brief outing and before three outs had been recorded the Crimson Tide had a 6-0 lead thanks to a pair of three run homers. Barnhill was pulled with two down in the inning, giving way to freshman Elizabeth Hightower.
The Tide put the game out of reach in the third and fourth inning when they added four and then five runs to increase the lead to 12-0.
Kelly Barnhill re-entered in the fourth to toss one pitch (a strike) and receive the ovation she deserved in her final appearance in the Orange and Blue.
In her final at-bat, Amanda Lorenz lined out to centerfield. Lorenz was seen wiping tears away during the at-bat.
Florida did add three runs in the top of the fifth. Kendyl Lindaman hit her fifteenth homer of the season while Sophia Reynoso added her second- a two run shot.
Fast stats:
Sophia Reynoso: 2-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Kendyl Lindaman: 2-3, HR, RBI
Cheyenne Lindsey: 1-1
What’s next:
The Gators season has come to an end. Florida will look to fill a major void in the lineup and the pitching rotation as two generational talents have graduated.
It’s likely Florida will look to the transfer market for immediate impact players, regardless, the Gators will once again expect to compete for a trip to Oklahoma City.
For at least one day, the Gators were able to stave off elimination. Behind a masterful effort from RHP Jack Leftwich, the Gators topped Army 13-5 to extend the season.
Leftwich retired the first sixteen batters he faced before giving up a solo homer to Army’s Josh White in the sixth inning.
Florida pounced early and often on the Black Knights pitching. Freshman Kendrick Calilao opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run homer down the left field line.
By the end of the fifth frame the Gator commanded an 11-0 advantage. Austin Langworthy hit a two-run blast to right while Wil Dalton and Cory Acton recorded RBI doubles.
After Army got on the scoreboard, the Gators bench saw extended opportunities. Back up catcher Jonah Girand and freshman Roberto Pena each took advantage with solo homers in consecutive innings (7th and 8th).
Leftwich was the story though. For a team that has struggled with consistency from it’s starting pitching, this was a major boost.
Leftwich tossed seven inning of one-hit ball and only walked a single batter.
Fast stats:
Jack Leftwich: 7 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB
Kendrick Calilao: 3-3, HR, 5 RBI
Nelson Maldonado: 2-2, 2 BB, 3 R
Florida: 7-22 with runners on base but only 2-10 with RISP
What’s next:
Florida will face Dallas Baptist at 3:00 PM (ET) on Sunday after the Patriots fell to Texas Tech 3-2 in ten innings.
The winner will face Texas Tech in a potential regional final afterwards.
Just four days after a jubilant Gators softball team raced across the diamond celebrating yet another College World Series berth, Florida finds themselves, once again, on the brink of elimination.
The margin of error for this team has been microscopic all season, and Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma State in the WCWS opener was just the latest example.
The Cowgirls managed just two hits against Florida’s senior ace Kelly Barnhill. Both were solo homers to OSU starting pitcher Samantha Show.
Show put OK State up 1-0 with a solo shot to right-center in the first. But the Gators fought back. Catcher Jordan Roberts hit a solo homer to the exact same spot in the second to tie the contest.
Show came up to hit in the top of the sixth and head coach Tim Walton once again elected to pitch to the senior hurler (she had grounded out to first in her second at-bat, after all).
Show turned on a 1-0 pitch and sent it to the top row of the bleachers in straight-away center.
The Gators mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Sophia Reynoso and Jordan Roberts reached base with no one out. Jade Caraway grounded out to short, with the easy force coming at third. Another fielder’s choice by Jordan Matthews put runners on the corners for senior Alex Voss. Voss’ grounder to second signaled the end of the rally, and the end of the ball game.
Barnhill pitched well enough to earn a victory, but OK State’s Samantha Show stole the show in the circle for the opposition.
While I don’t make it habit to second guess Tim Walton, the decision to let slapper Jade Caraway hit away in the seventh is baffling. It was the perfect situation to bunt the runners over to second and third. Had it worked, Jordan Matthews’ groundout would have produced the tying run.
While Walton doesn’t need my approval, it certainly was head scratching.
What’s next:
Florida chances to advance to the WCWS Championship Series took a big hit with the loss to Oklahoma State. Florida will take on the loser of the Alabama-Oklahoma game that is currently playing out.
The game is slated for a 1:30 PM start (eastern timezone).
Just a few weeks ago few thought the Gators softball team would be in this situation. Florida had just slumped their way to a .500 record in conference play and were forced to play on day one of the SEC Tournament.
The ride that ensued was exciting, if not unexpected. A come from behind victory over South Carolina to open the SEC Tournament seems to have turned the entire season around.
Even the players on the team talked about how much more special this trip to Oklahoma City is thanks to the struggles of the lineup, and even the pitching staff at certain points.
The Gators have essentially thrown only one pitcher since game two of the SEC Tournament. Kelly Barnhill has been the workhorse, but also claims that she prefers it that way.
And while the team has had issues with situational hitting all year, it’s almost fitting that Florida advanced on a walk-off single by Jaimie Hoover.
Here we are, again. The Gators are amongst the final eight teams at the College World Series for the tenth time in the last twelve seasons.
Teams:
1. Oklahoma: 54-3
2. UCLA: 51-6
3. Washington: 50-7
5. Florida: 49-16
6. Arizona: 46-12
7. Minnesota: 46-12
8. Alabama: 57-8
13. Oklahoma State: 43-15
First up: Oklahoma State
These two programs actually met in the 2017 Gainesville Regional. In three games that weekend, Florida topped the Cowgirls twice to advance to Supers. The Gators won the first matchup in the winner’s bracket 2-0, but dropped the first matchup of the regional final 1-0. The Gators secured the Super Regional berth with a 5-0 victory in the finale.
TEAM
Oklahoma State
Florida
Batting Average
.292 (55)
.264 (179)
Home Runs
80 (9)
52 (47)
ERA
2.75 (62)
1.75 (12)
Fielding %
.970 (36)
.987 (1)
Oklahoma State will likely rely on a relatively familiar face in the circle and at the dish. Samantha Show, a senior transfer from Texas A&M, leads the Cowgirls in home runs and RBIs and also owns the lowest ERA on the OSU pitching staff. Show has a 2.37 ERA and started 30 games this season.
Rylee Bayless will likely lead off the order for Oklahoma State. She sported a .316 average and showed some pop to the tune of eight homers. Michaela Richbourg and Chyenne Factor protect Show in the lineup and have combined to smack twenty three homers on the year.
The catalyst to the OSU lineup, however, is three-hole hitter Madi Sue Montgomery. The senior second baseman has hit at a team high .353 clip and reaches base at a .442 mark.
OSU lineup last time out:
OF Rylee Bayless
P Samantha Show
2B Madi Sue Montgomery
1B Michaela Richbourg
OF Chyenne Factor
SS Kiley Naomi
3B Sidney Pennington
DP Taylor Lynch
OF Chelsea Alexander
C Raquel Dominguez
While Oklahoma State may be the lowest seed remaining, they shouldn’t be taken lightly, just ask the defending National Champions in Tallahassee (who were eliminated by the Cowgirls in Super Regional play).
The Bracket:
First pitch from Oklahoma City is set to take place at 7:00 PM eastern time. The game will air live on ESPN2.
Prediction:
Florida should get by Oklahoma State despite the obvious home field advantage the Cowgirls will enjoy. Florida has a team full of WCWS experience, something OSU doesn’t (first WCWS appearance since 2011).
The Gators will likely have to face Oklahoma in the second round. That’s a matchup nightmare for Florida. The Sooners won 41 straight before being defeated in regional play.
From there, the Gators will likely face the winner of Arizona and Minnesota (in the loser’s bracket). While the Golden Gophers are a fresh face to the field, it’s unlikely they could advance past the Wildcats. A matchup with Minnesota would be fun as Kendyl Lindaman transferred to Florida from Minnesota this season. Kelly Barnhill would have to be at her best to be able to keep a slugging Wildcats teams’ bats asleep.
If the Gators can get past Arizona, they will likely play another PAC-12 program and the winner of UCLA and Washington. This is likely the end of the road for Florida. Both teams are extremely talented and deep and are legitimate threats to the National Title.
Note: Florida very well could compete for the Natty. Led by Amanda Lorenz and Kelly Barnhill this team won’t back down.
Final prediction: Oklahoma over Washington. The Sooners are the best team in the country. Oklahoma has three pitchers with a 1.11 ERA or better and lead the nation in home runs and batting average.
Washington may be the hottest team in the country and are one of three (Arizona, Minnesota) teams in OKC that haven’t lost in post-season play.
Photo gallery from the 2019 Gainesville Super Regional. The Gators and Tennessee Volunteers managed to play three games with two going to extra innings. Florida earned a berth to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City with a walk-off single by Jaimie Hoover.
In order to make it to the College World Series, you have to first be invited to dance.
On Monday, the Florida Gators learned of their NCAA fate. Despite a season of youthful struggles, the Gators are in. A No. 27 ranking in the RPI and a strong schedule certainly factored into the Gators making the field of 64.
Florida will be headed to Lubbock, Texas where No. 8 national seed Texas Tech will play host.
The Gators will open play against Dallas Baptist (41-18).
Florida struggled to a 33-24 record but a 13-17 conference record. The Gators exited the SEC Tournament after an 8-7 defeat to Texas A&M.
Check back later this week for a preview of the Lubbock Regional on ChompTalk.com.
Summer is just around the corner and that means long hot days lounging on the beach, grilling out with friends, and doing whatever we can to pass the time between now and the start of the next college football season. Since we have nothing better to do than to wage war with mosquitoes the size of Boeing 747’s and work on that perfect farmer’s tan, let’s take a closer look at what to expect next season.
Florida is returning one of the most veteran sets of receivers in the country this year. More than that, this is a group that is as talented as they are experienced. In fact, as I trace back through recent memory, this is a combination of skill and experience that the Gators likely haven’t seen since the 2006 group that boasted talents like Andre Caldwell, Dallas Baker, and Jemalle Cornelius… oh and a young kid named Percy.
Dan Mullen’s acquisition of Van Jefferson and Trevon Grimes through the transfer portal, is really looking to pay dividends in the coming season. Both added immediate experience and production last season and both look to build on that in 2019.
Jefferson returns for his redshirt senior season and has twenty-eight career starts under his belt. He is the most veteran wideout on the roster and is a favorite target of Feleipe Franks. Last season, Jefferson accounted for 503 yards receiving and hauled in six touchdowns. He is confident in this system and understands perfectly how to use his big body.
Grimes returns as a junior and although he only has one career start, he played in all thirteen games last year. Like Jefferson, Grimes has an excellent sense of awareness and control. His large frame and soft hands provide another outside weapon for the Gators and he managed to reel in twenty-six catches for 364 yards in 2018. Grimes finished the season with a pair of touchdowns and an average of fourteen yards per catch.
Also adding to the wealth of experience is, Tyrie Cleveland. Next season will be the last in a Gators’ career that has seen twenty-four starts, a 98 yard touchdown in Baton Rouge, and a game winner on the final play versus Tennessee. Throughout Cleveland’s time in Gainesville, he has certainly made his mark, although one has to wonder just what he could have accomplished with more consistent quarterback play and no injuries.
It certainly seems like Cleveland and the rest of the receiving corps now have a very capable quarterback to distribute the ball to them, in the new and improved Feleipe Franks. This is part of the reason I am hopeful that we will see a slight improvement on last year’s receiving numbers.
Joshua Hammond will also bring twenty-four starts into his senior season. Hammond came up big in a few games during Mullen’s inaugural campaign, adding 369 yards and three touchdowns. Hammond provides an excellent target that opposing defenses often make the mistake of overlooking. As a result, he had the teams second highest receiving yards in 2018.
Senior Freddie Swain has had a handful of remarkable moments in his time at Florida, including a beautiful run after catch on Rocky Top that resulted in a sixty-five yard touchdown in last year’s blowout win over the Vols. He played in eleven games last year and accounted for five Gators touchdowns on 265 yards.
One of Gator Nation’s more intriguing players to watch in 2019, is Kadarius Toney. The junior athlete was recruited as a quarterback and has the ability to break ankles as he zigs and zags through the defense. Despite his undeniable athleticism, Toney has struggled to get the ball, averaging just under four touches per game throughout his career. Part of the reason for this is his tendency to go away from the play design. He has worked hard to improve his game and his knowledge of the playbook throughout the spring and is expected to have a larger role next season.
Finally, we have Rick Wells, a junior who hasn’t quite found his place just yet, and Jacob Copeland, a highly touted recruit who is entering his sophomore season. Copeland battled injury through much of his freshman campaign and looks to contribute as much as possible within such a veteran group, next season. Both receivers will really have to push themselves in order to see the field.
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