2013 Softball World Series Gainesville Regional Breakdown
#2 Florida, South Florida, Georgia Southern, Hampton
In what once was viewed as a possible rebuilding year, the Florida Gators (52-7, 18-6 SEC) find themselves hosting yet another regional. Fine work by Coach Tim Walton has the Gators at 52-7 (18-6 SEC), ESPN #3, and SEC Champs both regular season and tournament. Super Soph Kelsey Stewart leads the offense with a .398 batting average, 9 triples and is 32 of 35 swiping bases. Lauren Haeger takes a lot of walks (41) when she isn’t launching a home run (team high 17). Ace Hannah Rogers has turned in another fine campaign, sporting a miserly 1.58 ERA while striking out nearly one batter per inning (216K/221IP). Haeger provides reliable support in the circle, going 15-2 with a .221 opponent batting average. As a team the Gators hit 79 home runs; the long ball is something Walton’s squad always relies on. Florida will be looking to avenge last year’s disappointment as regional host when they failed to advance. This year the Gainesville nine averages nearly seven runs a game and has collected 293 walks. Power, speed and patience will be very difficult to overcome for the other three teams vying to move on.
In what is likely to be the most intriguing story line of this regional, South Florida (43-14, 18-3) returns to Gainesville, where the Bulls emerged victorious on their way to the World Series. Four 2012 regional hosts did not advance, with the Gators losing 1-0 to USF. Sarah Nevins is on fire, breezing through the Big East tournament without giving up a run. Coach Ken Erikson always looks fit, a result of his many trips to the mound to change pitchers. Lindsey Richardson (national top ten in K’s per seven innings) will no doubt make an appearance, as the Bulls starters complete less than a third of their starts. The Bulls have only one .300 hitter in Koutney Salvarola (.346), but Kenshyra Jackson has ten home runs and 36 RBIs. The Tampa team is 34-4 since March 1st, and survived a seven game losing streak in February. Look for pitching (team ERA 1.23) to win the close ones, as the Bulls are 7-2 in extra-inning games. Their 2-5 record vs. Top 20 teams is a concern….Georgia Southern (31-28, 14-9) represents the Southern Conference, and may not enjoy Gainesville all that much. Hitting .227 as a team with 35 home runs, the Eagles attempted only 22 stolen bases all year. Their 2.53 team ERA will need every bit of help they can get from the SoCon’s best defense (.970 fielding percentage). Rounding out the field is Hampton out the MEAC, and the Lady Pirates from Virginia have their work cut out. At 34-24 (16-2 MEAC) they are a team built on speed, stealing 99 bases this season. With only 21 home runs, Hampton will have to manufacture runs to be competetive. Taylor McCoy hit .404 and pitcher Jailynn Jackson struck out 248 in 221 innings pitched.
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