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  • FB: 2020 4-star CB Avery Helm commits to Gators

    FB: 2020 4-star CB Avery Helm commits to Gators

    Photo by Brian Perroni / 247Sports

    Dan Mullen and staff received some positive news on Sunday as his Florida Gators received the commitment of a highly rated Class of 2020 prospect.

    Avery Helm, of Missouri City, TX, announced his commitment to Florida via Twitter Sunday afternoon.

    Helm, who is listed as 6’2, 170 lbs according to 247Sports, is rated as a 4-star cornerback per the recruiting service. He is ranked as the #23 cornerback in the nation and is the #296 prospect overall in the 2020 cycle.

    The Gators landed the pledge despite numerous offers from top programs including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and more.

    As a junior, Helm recorded 22 tackles and 3 interceptions while breaking up 22 passes.

  • BSB: Gators pitching crushed in weekend sweep at Mississippi

    Oxford, MS –-Florida faced the eighteenth ranked Ole Miss Rebels over the weekend, being swept in the three game set.

    Game One:

    After jumping out to an early two run lead, the Gators allowed a pair of homeruns in the bottom half of the inning. From then on, it was an offensive explosion for the Rebels, who went on to win game one, 12-4.

    Brady McConnell hit his, team high, sixth homerun of the season in the fifth inning. McConnell was responsible for three of Florida’s four run total. Brady Smith’s solo shot capped of the scoring for the Gators.

    Tommy Mace fell to 5-3 on the season in the series opening loss.

    Game Two:

    Tyler Dyson lasted just 3.2 innings on the front end of a Saturday doubleheader. Dyson allowed five earned runs through limited time on the mound.

    It didn’t matter who Coach Kevin O’Sullivan called from the bullpen, as Ole Miss rumbled through the bases. The Rebels scored sixteen runs on twenty hits. Meanwhile, despite recording fourteen hits of their own, the Gators managed just one run through the first seven innings.

    In the end, it was the Rebels who came out on top, winning game two by a score of 16-4.

    Game Three

    Game three started strong for the Gators, as they raced to an 8-0 lead. Yet, despite a strong offensive showing from guys like Kendrick Calilao and Austin Langworthy, the Rebels rallied.

    Ole Miss used an eight run fifth inning to take a 10-8 lead.

    Florida tied the game at ten a piece in the top of the sixth, but Ole Miss scored the go ahead run in the bottom half of the inning. The Rebels added one final run in the seventh, securing the series sweep and winning, 12-10.

    Kevin O’Sullivan had this to say about the series, “It was a little bit of everything, to be honest with you. We didn’t pitch very well all weekend, particularly to the middle of the order. We fell behind an awful lot and they were in a lot of hitter’s counts. We gave ourselves a chance in the second game today, had an eight run lead, but obviously weren’t able to hold on to it. Made a couple errors, balked three times in that game. It’s just one of those games, if we do a couple more things and shut it down in the middle innings there.”

    What’s next:

    Up next for the Gators, a single game stand against Florida State on Tuesday, in Tallahassee.

  • WGYM Liveblog: Corvallis Regional Final, feat. No. 4 Florida

    WGYM Liveblog: Corvallis Regional Final, feat. No. 4 Florida

    Ready for another installment of late-night gymnastics? I am, and so are your favorite Gator gymnasts! Tonight’s competition in Corvallis will send the top two qualifiers to the national semifinal in Fort Worth, Texas in just two weeks. Florida will have some major competition, especially if last night’s scoring was any indication. Vault was very tightly scored, something the Gators really can’t afford since they can’t seem to find their landings. Beam and floor more than made up for the low vault total, however, earning the Gators a 197.500 last night, without Alyssa Baumann even competing the team’s final floor routine.

    The Gators will have to face the Oregon State Beavers, who led halfway through last night’s competition, as well as the qualifiers from Session One: the Boise State Broncos and the Denver Pioneers. The top two from this meet will move on to Nationals, but the rest of the field has already been set, as the rest of the regional meets around the country have already finished. If it can qualify, Florida will face Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Utah, UCLA and Michigan, in addition to the other qualifier from this meet. There have already been some surprises tonight, particularly concerning who hasn’t qualified. The elephant in the room? Alabama failed to qualify, breaking its 36-year qualifying streak.

    Introductions are underway in Corvallis, so without further ado, let’s get started! The Gators will start on beam tonight, one of their strongest events. As head coach Jenny Rowland would say, “Just be normal.” If Florida can do that, tonight should be a breeze.

    10:02pm: Davis, VT: FTY, slide back.

    Bouza, UB: Missed most of it, bounce back on DLO dismount.

    Hundley, BB: Front aerial sissone, great. Bhs loso, maybe looks a little tentative but not a bobble in sight. Jump series good. Full turn, super happy with that. Roundoff 1.5, shuffle back.

    Sundstrom, FX: Missed basically all of it, last dance element looked maybe shy of split.

    10:04pm: Means, UB: All we really saw was the dismount, stuck double tuck.

    Yanish, VT: FTY, big bounce back. Gorgeous height and distance though.

    Skaggs, BB: Double wolf, good. Minimal wobbling. Switch to split, gorgeous 180 positions, perfect toe point. Bhs loso, breaks at the hips and falls. No! Not Megan. Gets back up, stuck her dismount.

    Stokes, UB: Handstands look great, DLO small step.

    Kern, FX: Combo pass looked nice. Double tuck to close, good. She’s so happy, aww.

    10:07pm: Jacobsen, VT: Tsuk full, a little piking and slide back.

    Boren, BB: Bhs loso and she falls too! Oh my god. What is happening??? Cat leap to gainer loso, fine. She’s angry now. Cartwheel gainer full stick.

    10:09pm: Looks like Lacy Dagen had an amazing vault, OSU is going bonkers.

    Muhlenhaupt, UB: extra swing in there for some reason? DLO dismount, stuck.

    10:10pm: Gowey, BB: Okay, time for a reset. Switch to split, lovely. Bhs loso loso, started to lean but locked it down, refused to wobble. Front aerial to sissone, fought through that to connect it. Gainer full stuck. Much better, thank you Gowey.

    Schou, FX: Missed what her second pass was but she hit it. Rudi to finish, Denver super happy with their rotation so far.

    Nilson, UB: Tkachev is nice, a little wild after. Bail doesn’t lock into handstand. DLO dismount, hop forward

    10:13pm: Thomas, BB: Switch half to beat, nice. One arm bhs to loso, so steady. Front aerial, small check, leans forward. Stays in control. Roundoff double full, bounce back.

    Karr, FX: Double pike to open, so much energy in the choreography here. 1.5 to front full, good control out of it. Not sure I love the choreo but she’s selling it for sure. Rudi to finish, very nice.

    10:16pm: Baumann, BB: Missed the first part but commentators say only one small bobble so far. Side aerial is great. Roundoff 1.5, step back. A good recovery, but damn. Not the way they wanted to start.

    Brown, FX: Bringing the drama here. DLO, lots of power, front foot comes up, she tries to cover but at least I saw it. 1.5 to front lay to split jump, that one was better. Playing to the crowd and camera here, she’s got the extra performance quality some of her teammates lack. Double pike to close, nice. They’ll be happy with that.

    AFTER ONE: Denver 49.3, Oregon State 49.1, Boise State 49.0, Florida 48.475

    Soooo lots of catching up to do. The Gators are out of qualifying position by 0.625, which is a pretty significant gap. They might need some help from some other teams in order to make this happen.

    Here are all your rotation one scores:

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114715389680922624

    Yes, yes it would.

    VAC Jeremy Miranda pumping up the crowd right now.

    10:26pm: Yamaoka, UB: Thought we were getting floor but apparently not. Releases alright, double tuck, bounce in place.

    Hundley, FX: Missed her first pass because of bars. Double pike second pass, little shuffle on the landing. 1.5 to front lay, dances right out. Definitely what they’re looking for.

    Schou, VT: FTY, looked stuck? Maybe?

    10:28pm: Jacobsen, UB: Tkachev, good. Double front, hop forward.

    Amado, BB: Bhs bhs 2ft layout, little bounce but wow, difficulty. Switch to switch side, very quick. Front aerial, good. 1.5 small step.

    Skaggs, FX: Hits first pass, based on the cheers I hear? Rudi was good… and they switched again. The rest was hit based on commentators.

    Lowery, UB: Maloney to pak, better leg form than last night but not perfect. Good last handstand. DLO stuck. That’s a good one.

    10:32pm: Karr, VT: Y1.5, hop forward.

    McGregor, BB: I can hear her thinking to herself about staying calm. Side aerial back full stuck!

    Reed, FX: Missed her DLO, thanks Flo… and they switch just to see bars dismount. Ugh. Front lay to Rudi, so quick twisting that around. Double pike to close, a little short but covers well

    Colussi-Pelaez, UB: Stuck DLO dismount, that’s all we got.

    10:34pm: Briscoe, UB: Jaeger, kinda close to the bar there. Bail is good, nice handstand position. DLO, hop forward.

    Esmerian, BB: Wolf to split 3/4, veeeery short of 180 there. Roundoff 1.5… tried to stick but hopped forward after saluting

    10:36pm: Boren, FX: DLO, just gorgeous, lays it back. Combo pass is good, a little much energy moving forward but covers okay. Double tuck to finish, she goes sooo high. Great finish for her.

    Gill, UB: Stuck her dismount, that’s all we saw.

    Means, BB: front toss to beat is great. Bhs gainer full, stick! Good for her.

    10:39pm: Thomas, FX: DLO to open, so in control, so straight in the air. Front full front lay, second element higher. Trin showing y’all how it’s done. Double pike, textbook. Here come the 10 chants.

    That will be Trin’s FIFTH 9.975 this season. What a queen.

    10:41pm: Baumann, FX: Double tuck, skyrockets into the air, great control on the landing too. 1.5 to front full, just floats her dance out of it. Double pike, comes in short, didn’t put a knee or hand down, but that’ll be the score they end up dropping. Dang.

    AFTER TWO: Denver 98.5, Oregon State 98.425, Boise State 98.050, Florida 97.9

    Some significant ground made up, but still along way to go. Gators are still 0.525 off of qualifying pace, which means they made up a full tenth against OSU, but that’s still a huge gap. Florida will really have to put vault together tonight to have any chance of getting this back.

    10:51pm: Skaggs, VT: apparently stuck her FTY… not that we saw it.

    Singley, BB: front toss, lands on the struggle bussss. Gainer full, stuck.

    Nilson, FX: Last pass Rudi, big bounce back but stayed in bounds.

    Alexander, VT: FTY, stuck hers as well!! There we go!

    10:53pm: Lowery, BB: Series, patient with it, lets it fall into place. Dance series good. Cat leap to side aerial, secure. Punch front full, sticks but kinda falls out of it.

    Ruiz, UB: Just saw her stick her DLO, that’s it.

    Amado, FX: Double tuck a little low, pulls it out. Nice leaps. 1.5 to front lay, a little low in the layout but doesn’t pike. Double pike to finish, chest really low.

    Thomas, VT: Y1.5, small hop forward.

    10:56pm: L Dagen, BB: Series was good. Gainer pike, slight foot adjustment. Crowd going bonkers.

    Missed Schoenherr on vault but it was a good one, scored 9.9!

    Boren, VT: Y1.5, small stutter step back. Gorgeous in the air though.

    10:57pm: M Dagen, BB: Bhs loso fine. A little shy of 180 and flexed feet in her switch half. Side aerial to back full stuck.

    Glynn, UB: Really short on her dismount and big lunge forward. All we got to see.

    McGregor, FX: Rudi to finish, team is subdued… maybe a hiccup somewhere we didn’t see? Score will tell.

    11:00pm: Lazaro, BB: Bhs loso, really floaty. Short in her 180 position and balks before her second dance element. Makes it up connecting a split jump to her split 3/4. Side aerial back full, slide back.

    Means, FX: Lovely twisting form in combo pass. Rudi to finish, very nice.

    Karr, UB: Gienger to overshoot, very nice. DLO dismount, stuck cold! Wow.

    11:03pm: Gill, BB: Front aerial to bhs, fine. Switch half to beat, good. Gainer full, stuckish? Bounce in place doesn’t count for me but usually does for judges.

    Bruden, FX: Double pike, nice and open. 1.5 to front lay, good controlled step out of it. Fun choreography break in here, though not as sharp as maybe I’d like.

    11:07pm: Esmerian, FX: Front double full, a little overrotated. Leap positions are nice. Combo pass is good, nice twisting form. Good finish.

    AFTER THREE: Denver 147.95, Oregon State 147.725, Florida 147.275, Boise State 146.95

    Florida is still 0.45 off of Oregon State’s pace. Florida would need to improve on last night’s bars by 0.175, or Oregon State would need to be 0.175 worse than last night’s floor performance in order for the Gators to overtake the Beavers.

    11:16pm: Boren, UB: Tkachev, good, staying calm. Bail, great handstand. Good final HS, DLO kinda close to the bar but she sticks! That’s the way.

    Davis, FX: Double tuck, gets lots of air there. Dance elements fine. Front lay front full, a little short, has to slide back. Guess I missed the first pass?

    Gowey, UB: Missed her Ray, but the pak is gorgeous as always. Short on last handstand. DLO, hop forward. Dang it. Every little half tenth is going to matter here.

    Bruden, VT: FTY stuck! Good for her!

    11:19pm: Ruiz, BB: Commentators still can’t say her name right. Series is great. Side aerial to split, nice. Gainer pike stuck.

    Hundley, UB: Maloney looked fine, and they cut away. No idea how the rest of that went.

    Jacobsen, FX: Double pike, big stumble back. Stayed in bounds somehow. Really tight on combo pass, didn’t travel hardly at all. Rudi, and again a little short, chest came in low.

    Schoenherr, UB: Jaeger, sooo high. Good handstand after… and they cut away again. What the heck.

    Sundstrom, BB: Doing okay so far, was trying to pay attention to Sav. Gainer pike stuck.

    11:22pm: Means, VT: Y1.5, swims and gets the stick! What a night for her.

    Force, FX: Double pike to open, front foot comes up a little. Front lay front full, comes in a little squatty but covers okay. Double tuck to close, chest low.

    Skaggs super pumped in the background here but didn’t see a lick of her routine. 9.875, so clearly a hit.

    Vasquez sticks her beam dismount for Denver.

    Thomas, UB: Maloney to uprise, gorgeous position. Pak lovely. Van Leeuwen, glued together. DLO, haaaangs onto the stick with her toes. This is gonna be tight, y’all.

    Karr, BB: Side aerial bhs, that’s fun. Missed the rest crunching numbers but a big hit.

    Singley has apparently hit her first two passes, didn’t show them, Rudi looks good.

    Schou, BB: Series great, beat to sheep is excellent. SO confident here. Bhs gainer full stuck!

    11:29pm: Lowery, FX: Front double full, takes it all the way to the line but keeps it in. 1.5 to front lay, great control there. Rudi to finish, nice. That’ll be a good one… this is going to come down to the very end, y’all.

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1114731575093149696

    11:32pm: Yanish, FX: DLO and combo pass are good. I’m shaking. Double back, two foot stick… That might be it. Yup.

    FINAL: Denver 197.375, Oregon State 196.9, Florida 196.7, Boise State 196.075

    Wow. Honestly don’t have any words for what happened. I guess I get to just watch nationals instead of liveblogging it.

    Well, thanks for sticking around til the end, everyone. We’ll see you next season.

  • FB: Local QB Anthony Richardson rejoins Gators 2020 recruiting class

    FB: Local QB Anthony Richardson rejoins Gators 2020 recruiting class

    Photo via 247Sports

    Gainesville (Eastside) quarterback Anthony Richardson has committed to Florida football once again.

    The three-star talent had been committed to Dan Mullen’s program since July 2018, but backed off the pledge in February. Richardson’s decommittment coincided with Florida’s flirtations with Jacksonville QB Carson Beck, who later committed to Georgia.

    Richardson holds offers from some of the heavyweights of college football, including Michigan, Penn State, and Georgia.

    The 247 Composite Rankings has Richardson tabbed as the #12 ranked dual-threat QB in the 2020 recruiting cycle.

    Florida moves to the #5 recruiting class in the country after Richardson’s commitment. The Gators now have eight pledges in the 2020 class.

    Florida will hold their annual spring game next Saturday, April 13, where many of the top prospects will be in attendance.

  • WGYM Liveblog: Corvallis Regional Session 2, feat. No. 4 Florida

    WGYM Liveblog: Corvallis Regional Session 2, feat. No. 4 Florida

     

     

     

    If you want to watch along, here’s your link: https://pac-12.com/live/oregon-state-university-2

    It’s a late night for us East Coast Gator fans, as the Gator Gymnastics team has traveled to Corvallis, Oregon for its assigned NCAA regional competition. As part of the new qualifying process, the Gators will have to place in the top two tonight to advance to the super-regional tomorrow, and then again in the top two tomorrow night to advance to the national championship. Are you ready? It’s going to be a fun one!

    Tonight, the Gators will face the Oregon State Beavers, the Stanford Cardinal and the Iowa Hawkeyes to fight for the two slots in tomorrow night’s super-regional.

    Florida will start on vault as the favorite, but the number two spot could really be up for grabs based on who can really hit 24 for 24 tonight. OSU will start on beam, Stanford floor, and Iowa bars. In session one, Denver and Boise State qualified with 196.975 and 196.225, respectively. Florida will hope to shatter those numbers, as it will hope to compete with the numbers that the other top qualifiers across the country have put up. Oklahoma just finished at the Athens Regional with a 198.3, and LSU moves forward in its own regional with a 197.2, leading so comfortably that it was able to let floor anchor Finnegan rest.

    10:02pm: Finally getting started here!

    Skaggs, VT: FTY, bounce back. A good start.

    Singley, BB: Secure on series, lovely artistry through this. Front toss, good. Gorgeous flexibility. Cartwheel to gainer full, stick! Strong state for OSU.

    Cole, FX: Hitting all her marks in the music nicely. Rudi to close, very low and ragged, not a great start there.

    10:04pm: Alexander, VT: Didn’t see her vault, but I know she went. Will post the score when it comes up. 9.875, commentators say she stuck. Excellent!

    Lowery, BB: Gorgeous series, wow. Cat leap to side aerial, lovely. Punch front full, stick! OSU starting off really well here.

    10:06pm: Reed, VT: Y1.5, big bounds forward. Just overcooking it again, womp.

    H Hoffman, FX: Nice front combo pass. Missed her second pass, I’m having to futz around with WP a little. Rudi to stag, pretty out of control in the air there, yikes. Stanford not inspiring confidence in its upset possibility.

    Gonzalez just went on BB for OSU, missed her whole routine though.

    10:09pm: Schoenherr, VT: Y1.5, stuck! One of her best all season.

    Looks like we missed Thomas in the middle, she scored a 9.65, oh no.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114349031734616065

    Boren, VT: Y1.5, huge air but stutter steps forward as usual. Just can’t get that under control.

    10:10pm: M Dagen, BB: Only saw choreo and the dismount, but sounds like they had a fall from Gonzales, but Dagen hit so they’re back on track.

    Flam, FX: Double pike to close, a little out of control but keeps it in bounds. Good finish, better than all the other Stanford we’ve seen so far.

    Kampschroeder, UB: DLO dismount, slide back. I’m only getting bits and pieces, guys, so sorry.

    Lazaro, BB: Gorgeous floaty bhs loso. Elegant extension in her dance, showcasing her flexibility. Stuck dismount! A huge score based on what her teammates have scored previously.

    Gill, BB: Front to back series secure. Such nice positions in the air on her dance elements, that ring stag is to die for. Gainer full dismount stuck! Beavers came to play tonight.

    Hoang, FX: huge DLO to open, lots of power there. She’s so pumped, her energy is through the roof on that. Combo pass good. Double pike to close, wow! Good for her.

    10:19pm: Bryant, FX: Full in to open, love that power. Punch front through to double pike, solid. Winking at the camera, what a star. Huge double tuck in a beautiful open position to finish, she has matured so much in just a year at Stanford. Stepped up in a major way.

    After one, this is bizarre: Oregon State leads with a HUGE 49.5. Stanford is in SECOND at 49.225, with Florida third at 49.075. Granted, vault is being very tightly scored and is the Gators’ weakest event. In fourth, Iowa had a rough bars go at 48.025.

    This isn’t disastrous – Florida has huge numbers to put up on the other three rotations, which aren’t all being scored as tightly. Let’s all take a deep breath and remember not to panic.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114352803743502336

    10:23pm: Chan, FX: An individual qualifer from SJSU, she is killing it. Crazy power in her tumbling, firecracker choreography, and a confidence not usually seen by an individual without their team.

    10:28pm: Touch underway for rotation two. Here’s your Gator lineup on bars:

    Looks like they’re sticking with the SEC Champs lineup, and I’m honestly not mad.

    10:32pm: Boren, UB: Tkachev, nice. Bail okay. Last handstand not as great as I’ve seen it… and they cut to beam before the dismount.

    Carlson, BB: Split to loso, nice. Little foot adjustment on dismount. Nice extension though.

    Davis, FX: Oh, she’s fun. Front lay to front full to close.

    10:34pm: Gowey, UB: Didn’t get to see anything except the dismount, DLO stuck! Gorgeous.

    Gilchrist, BB: A little short of 180 on one of those splits. Gainer pike off the end, a little off kilter but holds the stick.

    Jacobsen, FX: double pike to open, this is a fun little Irish kinda sounding routine. Missed the middle, had to get up and make tea. Definitely a hit though. Rudi to close – very cute!

    Schoenherr, UB: Lovely Jaeger, caught a little close though. Bail straight on, good. Double front half out, the big dismount, little adjustment it looked like.

    10:39pm: Force, FX: Double pike to open, great height. Front combo pass, good control out of it. Double tuck to finish, already celebrating. Oregon State is not messing around tonight, dang.

    Skaggs just apparently stuck her dismount too, though we didn’t get to see it.

    10:41pm: Thomas, UB: Maloney to uprise, overshot the handstand a little but not a huge deal. Pak and Van Leeuwen are great. DLO, stuck! What a stud. Definitely deserving of the SEC Freshman of the Year honor she won.

    Singley, FX: Double tuck to open, nice and high. Double pike second pass, also high, some flexed feet but I’m picky. Rudi to finish, chest low and a little underrotated? Definitely tried to cover it.

    10:44pm: Sullivan, BB: Front aerial to bhs, a little off to the side but covers. Switch half to beat, nice. Side somi, really squatty but doesn’t wobble. Does on the full turn though, whoops. Roundoff double full, a little short and hops forward.

    Lowery, FX: Opened with front double full, though we didn’t see it. Combo pass is lovely, very nice control. Rudi to close, nice and high unlike most of her teammates. Such a fun routine – and a backwards worm, love!

    10:48pm: Nice individual routine from Madi Ward-Sessions, aww but she fell on her series, rats.

    Yanish, FX: DLO, nice! Front full to front lay is solid. Showing her great flexibility, especially in her shoulders, here in her choreo, hitting all her musical cues. Double tuck to close, so much height. Half a death drop at the end (from a knee), what a fun routine! I see why she scores so highly, haven’t really gotten to watch much OSU this season.

    10:51pm: DeHarde, FX: Competing as an individual, she’s coming at this with such grace and poise. Double pike to open, I love this choreography, so expressive. Combo pass was great. Rudi to shushunova to finish, how a shush should be done (you know who you are…)

    AFTER TWO: Oregon State 98.750, Florida 98.500, Stanford 98.125, Iowa 97.025

    Things not quite as close as I had expected here, Stanford and Iowa falling behind significantly as OSU and Florida pull away. Florida will need a good beam night and a normal floor night to make sure it comes away with the win, but honestly, it doesn’t have to – the Gators can save their 100% for tomorrow night when it really counts, to make sure they make it to nationals over the other three teams.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114359272681410560

    10:57pm: Warmups happening before third rotation. Gators will be on beam.

    Looks like Thomas has moved up in the lineup, trading with Gowey to take the five slot. Let’s see how the SEC beam co-champs work it out tonight.

    11:01pm: Hundley, BB: Front aerial to sissone, nice. Really working on staying in that bubble. Bhs loso, a little kneesy but locks it in. Cat leap to switch side, good. Full turn, comes around without a bobble and gets a big smile on her face. Roundoff 1.5 sticks, and she’s so pumped!

    M Dagen, VT: FTY, really low landing, looks like she may have put a hand down? Yikes.

    Singley, VT: FTY, stuck! Not a lot of distance and flexed feet, but could not move even if she tried.

    11:04pm: Stanford… didn’t ID her, UB: Some leg sep in Maloney to pak.

    Skaggs, BB: Switch to split, gorg. Bhs loso, super secure. Cat leap to side aerial to back full, holds that stick for everyone to see. Yes girl!

    Greene, VT: Handspring pike half, step to the side. A little ragged in the legs but kept them piked for sure.

    Yu, UB: Only saw her dismount, double tuck bounce back.

    11:06pm: Boren, BB: Gainer front toss, so solid. Bhs loso, steady. Switch to straddle, nice. She’s got her game face on. Cat leap to gainer loso, flicks those arms around to keep herself centered. Cartwheel to gainer full stuck! Screaming her lungs out in celebration.

    Iowa, FX: Don’t know who this is but she just had a big 2.5 to punch front and then I think went OOB to finish her routine? They’re all so excited to be here, bless them.

    L Dagen, VT: FTY, big hop back.

    11:09: Gowey, BB: Switch to split, beautiful extension. Triple series is textbook! Front aerial to sissone, solid. Gainer full, slide back.

    Bryant, UB: Pak was lovely, missed her release. DLO stuck!

    11:11pm: Rogers, UB: Tkachev a little flat but nice toe point. Pak, biiig leg sep. Short last handstand. Couldn’t get her pirouette around and had to hop down.

    Thomas, BB: Nails her series, she’s got the sass face on, that’s how you know she’s feeling herself. Front aerial, nice. Roundoff double full, slide back.

    Don’t know who this is for Iowa, since commentators say it’s Kaji and it’s definitely not, but she went HARD on that routine and I loved it.

    11:13pm: Baumann, BB: My queen. Bhs loso, locks it down. Switch to switch half, perfect 180s, really pointed those back feet. Full turn, overrotates but covers well. Front aerial, gorg. She’s such a pro. Roundoff 1.5, stuck! There’s that enthuasiastic celebration again, and a Gator chomp – love.

    Thiiis is Kaji on floor, killing the choreography game. Illusions everywhere. Missed all of her tumbling though.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114365878836105216

    Same, Sam. Same.

    11:17pm: Castle, Iowa: Double pike to open. Ooh Tequila is her music, using the same mix as Marino at UGA last year. Rudi is good. Combo pass to close, solid. Having some trouble looking at the screen for very long because the feed has gotten really choppy, my eyes are killing me.

    11:21pm: Ward-Sessions, an individual from USU on FX: Open full in! Gorgeous! Iowa cheering so loud for her. Front combo pass, absolutely floats through that layout. Wow. Using “Confident” by Demi Lovato as her music, love this. Double pike to close, that’s HUGE! Iowa and her coaches are all screaming 10 for her, I’m dying. A huge routine for an individual though, wow.

    AFTER THREE: Florida 148.000, Oregon State 147.825, Stanford 147.075, Iowas 146.175

    Iowa and Stanford are basically out at this point, barring disaster, and Florida and Oregon State are in – it’s just a question of in what order. Here’s your Florida floor lineup:

    11:31pm: Hundley, FX: whip double tuck, nails it this week. You can see it on her face, she’s so stoked. Double pike, a little leg sep? Not sure if anyone cares but it was there. Last tumbling pass, 1.5 to front lay, yes! The right way to lead off.

    Kaji, VT: FTY, a little off to the side but sticks!

    Jacobsen, UB: Stuck dismount! Didn’t show any of the rest.

    11:34pm: Skaggs, FX: Not gonna see the first pass because bars. Or the second because beam. Why. And I missed all of it, looks like a hit though. Thank you for nothing, Flo.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114371139717955590

    Lowery, UB: Lovely opening handstand work. Maloney to pak is good, small leg sep. DLO kinda stuck? Off balance a little.

    Lawson, BB: Bhs loso series, small bobble but keeps it under control. Gainer pike, stuck.

    11:36pm: Colussi-Pelaez, UB: Jaeger, caught a little close. Bail, not as defined as position as I’d like but within acceptable bounds I think. DLO stuck! That’s how you stick.

    They cut to beam, but she falls. Don’t even know who it was.

    Reed, FX: Huge DLO, yes! Hitting all her marks in the music, get it. Front lay to Rudi, and no commentators, that’s not her last pass, the girl has half a routine left! Definitely bringing the confidence tonight, she looks way more at ease than at SECs. Double pike to close, nicely done.

    Gill, UB: Maloney to pak is gorgeous, legs nice and together. DLO, shows off the stick. Oregon State celebrating like crazy.

    11:40pm: Boren, FX: DLO, so good. Combo pass well controlled as usual. Commentators just called her Ashley…. no. Really putting it all out there in the dance. Double tuck, maybe a little short but tried to cover. Might’ve stung her ankles a little bit if I’m not mistaken? Looks okay though.

    Thomas, FX: DLO, so floaty I can’t. Combo pass is good, just the full I think. I hope they bring back the double full for nationals. Double back to close, and thus start the 10 screams. Even other teams are going crazy for her.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1114373395385286658

    11:45pm: Bryant, BB: Carrying the team on her back basically. Bhs loso, lovely. Beat to… was that a double switch?? That’s cool. Double back dismount, really hard. Step on the landing.

    Aaaaaaaand the live stream cut out. Right before Baumann’s routine. Welp.

    Oh, okay. Looks like they scratched her anyway, trying to save her ankles for tomorrow. Probably a good idea.

    FINAL SCORE: Florida 197.500, Oregon State 197.125, Stanford 196.075, Iowa 194.775

    Florida and Oregon State will move forward to tomorrow night’s super-regional (or regional final, depending on who you ask) against Denver and Boise State. Let’s meet back here tomorrow night – see you then!

  • SB: Gators fall to rival Seminoles in midweek play

    SB: Gators fall to rival Seminoles in midweek play

    Photo by Kristen Oliff / ChompTalk.com

    Gainesville, FL- Kelly Barnhill pitched well enough to earn a victory on Wednesday. Against a Florida State lineup that was hitting at a .368 clip entering the contest, Barnhill held the Seminoles to just four hits.

    Unfortunately, the Gators offense spent most of the night waving at pitches out of the zone and Florida fell to their rival from Tallahassee by a 2-0 final.

    Florida State opened the scoring in the first inning when Cali Harrod walked on four pitches. Harrod then stole second, though the throw beat her as it slipped past shortstop Sophia Reynoso. After a Barnhill strikeout and a single by Sydney Sherrill, RF Elizabeth Mason hit a sac fly to left that plated Harrod.

    The Gators had one of their rare opportunities in the first as Amanda Lorenz and Kendyl Lindaman hit back to back singles to put runners on the corners. However FSU LHP Meghan King struck out Jordan Roberts to end the threat.

    The Seminoles added to their lead with a solo homer from Makinzy Herzog in the fourth frame. For Herzog, it was just her second long ball of the year.

    Lindaman hit a one out double in the sixth inning, but the runner failed to advance due to a strike out and a flyout that ended the inning.

    With one last chance in the seventh, the Gators got a one out runner after a Reynoso single. Danielle Romanello, pinch hitting for Hannah Sipos, was ahead 3-0 in the count, but watched as two strikes went by and swung at a riseball from King. Jade Caraway struck out to end the game in the next at-bat.

    Florida falls to 29-9 after the loss, but must rebound quickly as they welcome #14 Arkansas into Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this weekend.

    Barnhill, who dropped her fifth decision of the year, simply stated, “losing is always hard. It sucks.”

    Head coach Tim Walton said that Barnhill’s riseball was “non-existent” but that she made the necessary adjustments after a rocky first two innings.

    Walton also showed his frustration as he kicked a bucket in the dugout after a poor at-bat.

  • BSB: Gators cruise past FAMU for fifth straight victory

    BSB: Gators cruise past FAMU for fifth straight victory

    Final: Florida 12, FAMU 1

    The Florida Gators are on a roll and the SEC is on notice. The Gators won their fifth straight contest on Tuesday with a 12-1 rout of Florida A&M.

    The Gators scored two runs in the third after a pair of Rattlers errors. Jacob Young and Nelson Maldonado each scored on the miscues.

    Florida added six runs in the fourth inning highlighted by back-to-back homers from Maldonado and Kendrick Calilao. The Gators also got three runs in the framw off wild pitches from FAMU reliever

    Florida stretched the lead even more with a four run seventh inning as C Jonah Girand hit a 2-RBI single and Calilao added a sac fly.

    As solid as Florida’s bats were, the pitching was even better. Nolan Crisp started the game and threw three innings (44 pitches) before turning things over to the bullpen.

    David Luethje (3 innings), Nick Blasucci (1 inning), Nick Pogue (1 inning), and Hunter McMullen completed the game on the mound for the Gators. The entire staff only allowed two hits including a solo homer by FAMU 1B Tucker Rayburn in the seventh.

    Fast stats:

    • Nelson Maldonado went 3-3 with a walk and a run scored in addition to his solo homer.
    • Austin Langworthy finished 3-5 with a double and a run scored.
    • Nolan Crisp (2-0) gets the win, his final line: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
    • 14 Gators had a plate appearance and five pitchers threw, yet somehow the game was completed in just 2:42.

    What’s next:

    Florida will travel to Oxford, Mississippi to face the Rebels in a conference series beginning Friday.

  • LAX: Three Gators Bring Home Conference Honors After 2-0 Week

    LAX: Three Gators Bring Home Conference Honors After 2-0 Week

    Photo by Benjamin Fox / ChompTalk.com

    After picking up two wins last week, three Gators picked up conference honors for their performances. The AAC announced on Tuesday that Florida’s Grace Haus, Shannon Kavanaugh and Sabrina Cristodero earned player of the week awards.

    Haus brings home the AAC’s award for Attacker of the Week after she notched seven points across the two matches.

    While visiting Temple, Haus totaled a career high of five points. She also tied her career high for goals, having found the back of the net four times.

    While at home against Brown in midweek play, Haus shot twice with each finding its way to the back of the net giving her two more goals on the week.

    Haus comes in at third in the conference in shooting percentage (0.523) and fifth in goals with 23 on the season.

    As for Kavanaugh, who was named AAC’s Midfielder of the Week for the fifth time this season, she put nine points on the sheet over the past week.

    In the week’s earlier matchup against Brown, Kavanaugh tied her career best of five goals in a single game. The match against the Bears marks her fourth time tying the milestone this season. Kavanaugh also became the 16th Gator to join the 100-point club during the 22-11 trouncing of Brown.

    While in Philadelphia, Kavanaugh scored three goals against the Owls making for her eighth hat trick of the season. Kavanaugh is second in the conference in goals with 38.

    Cristodero’s name was added to the AAC Honor Roll for the first time this year.

    Cristodero’s defense was second to none this past week. She especially had a good defensive day against the Owls as she marked Temple’s Bridget Whitaker and held her to just 1-of-7 in shooting.

    The sophomore Gator also tallied eight draw controls through the week increasing her career number to 180 which has her sitting at third in the Florida lacrosse record book.

    Cristodero is also third in the conference in draw controls with an average of 4.42 per game.

    The Gators will look to add more victories to their record as they take on Vanderbilt in Gainesville this Saturday at noon.

  • #GatorAlways: Pete Alonso blasts first MLB homer 444 feet

    #GatorAlways: Pete Alonso blasts first MLB homer 444 feet

    Photo by Scott Taetsch / Getty Images

    Former Florida Gators first baseman Pete Alonso has been an absolute hit in New York in the opening week of the 2019 MLB season.

    Alonso, who made the opening day roster as the Mets’ starting first baseman, went 6-12 (.500) with three doubles and three RBI in his first three games against the Washington Nationals.

    On Monday, Alonso hit his first MLB home run, and did so in his home state against the division rival, Miami Marlins. The Tampa native took the first pitch of his fifth at-bat to straight-away center.

    The homer came after the Mets took a 4-3 lead and provided three runs of insurance. The exit velocity on the three-run shot was 112.8 as it traveled 444 feet.

    Alonso played for Florida from 2014-16 before being selected by the Mets in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

    In 2019 Alonso recorded 36 homers and 119 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A ball while hitting .285.

  • BSB: Gators RHP Christian Scott named SEC Freshman of the Week

    BSB: Gators RHP Christian Scott named SEC Freshman of the Week

    Photo by Tim Casey / UAA

    Florida RHP Christian Scott was named the SEC Freshman of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

    Scott made two appearances out of the Gators’ bullpen this week, throwing eight solid innings while only yielding a single, unearned, run.

    In Florida’s 4-2 victory over rival FSU on Tuesday, Scott earned the win out of the bullpen by pitching 3.1 scorless innings during the Gators’ comeback.

    On Saturday, Scott tossed 4.2 innings, giving up only one hit and an unearned run to Alabama.

    Overall, Scott has appeared in 9 contests and holds a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings of work. Scott has limited basrunners, having only allowed five free passes this season.

    The Gators will face Florida A&M in midweek action before traveling to Mississippi for an SEC series against the Rebels that opens Friday.