Florida State Seminoles
Overall Rank: #25
Conference Rank: #2 ACC
Head Coach Lonni Alameda starts her fifth season after leading the Florida State Seminoles to a 2012 full of accomplishments. The Seminoles finished second in ACC last year, where they won six of the seven series. They started the season winning their first 16 games and had a 19 game home win streak. Alameda’s club posted wins over UCLA, North Carolina and LSU, helping the Seminoles reach 40 wins or more for the 29th time. The team’s 47 wins were the most since 2004 and the squad went 15-13 against teams that reached the 2012 NCAA post season. Alameda’s pitching staff ranked 10th in ERA at 1.53 and the team reached the NCAA Tournament for the 25th time in school history. For 2013, Florida State brings back 15 athletes, nearly every starting position and pitcher that helped the Seminoles finish first in 12 statistical categories in the ACC.
2012: 47-16, 16-5
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Lonni Alameda, 5th Season
Field Players:
Florida State returns its entire infield from 2012. Senior Tiffani Brown was one of the Seminoles four All-Conference selectees. The second baseman ranked eighth nationally with 43 stolen bases, hit .301 and led the team in hits (66), at-bats (219) and runs (44). Senior third baseman Briana Hamilton was also an All-ACC pick. She led the squad with 12 homeruns, was second with 39 RBI and third with 28 walks. Catchers Erika Leonard and Celeste Gomez, first baseman Kelly Hensley and short stop Maddie O’Brien round out the experienced infield. O’Brien led the team with 43 RBI, hit eight bombs and walked 31 times. Two-thirds of the outfield is back in Junior Courtney Senas and Senior Kirstin Austin. Senas hit .296 and stole 19 bases.
Pitchers:
Both senior Monica Perry and sophomore Lacey Waldrop earned All-ACC honors. Between them, they accounted for 41 of the Seminoles 47 victories. Perry was 22-6 with a 1.54 ERA, led the pitching staff in wins, appearances (35), starts (32), complete games (14), innings pitched (191) and strikeouts (199). Waldrop finished 19-5 with a team-best 1.33 ERA. She led one of the nation's top pitching staffs with six shutouts and held the opposition to a .179 batting average.
Who to Watch:
Freshman Alex Kossoff is a speedy outfielder who was 92 on 2012 ESPN Top 100 recruit list. She was an All-California Interscholastic Federation Athlete of the Season and Female Athlete of the Year. Outfielder Stephanie Hartness is a freshman from Niceville, Florida where she was an NFCA 1st Team HS All-American. She hit over .500 as a junior and senior and helped her team win a Florida State Championship. Hartness is ranked at 31 in the College Sports Madness recruit rankings.
Final Projection:
Florida State returns an outstanding pitching staff and a tremendous amount of experience all over the field. Expect the Seminoles to start the year much like 2012. With 35 home games, loads of depth and veteran leadership, Alameda’s bunch is poised to have a special season. The stingy pitching staff should be even better and if the offense can provide the necessary support, the Seminoles will again challenge for the ACC Title, reach 40 wins for the 30th time and surely make their 26th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Softball Tournament
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Tiffani Brown, IF, 219
Hits: Tiffani Brown, IF, 66
Home Runs: Briana Hamilton, IF, 12
RBIs: Maddie O’Brien, IF, 43
Runs: Tiffani Brown, IF, 40
Stolen Bases: Tiffani Brown, IF, 43
Wins: Monica Perry, P, 22
Innings Pitched: Monica Perry, P, 191
Strikeouts: Monica Perry, P, 199
Saves: Lacey Waldrop, P, 2
Madness 2013 NFP Draft Rankings:
#18 Monica Perry
Madness 2013 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#31 Stephanie Hartness
#52 Alex Powers
#110 Alex Kossoff
See All Softball Top 44 Team Previews
