One of the hardest things to do in sports is being able to repeat as champions.
The Florida softball team aims to do just that.
Coming off its first national championship in school history, the Gators will look to become the first school since Arizona in 2007 and just the third school since 1982 (also UCLA) to defend its crown.
The reason for such optimism in the program is the return of key members from last season’s team. Yes, 2014 Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player Hannah Rogers is gone from the team along with Stephanie Tofft, but virtually everyone else is returning.
Sophomore pitcher Delanie Gourley will be looked upon to carry the load for the pitching staff. Even though Rogers received most of the recognition on last year’s team, Gourley was no slouch in her freshman season.
The Lakeside, California, native compiled a 15-1 record with 127 strikeouts in her first year. Gourley also earned the win that clinched the national title for the Gators, pitching two shutout innings against Alabama.
Senior pitcher and first baseman Lauren Haeger is returning as well. Haeger was a force in the pitcher’s circle as well as in the batter’s box last season. She assembled a 10-3 record with a 1.79 ERA while leading the team with 20 home runs and 67 RBI’s. Haeger also led the Southeastern Conference with a .190 opponent’s batting average.
Second baseman and reigning NFCA first-team All-American Kelsey Stewart is back as well after setting the UF single-season record for hits (102) while also leading the team in batting average (.438), runs scored (68), triples (six), total bases (149), and stolen bases (36).
The Wichita, Kansas, native also reached base in the team’s first 41 games of the season — a program record. The junior enters her third season with the highest career batting average in program history (.408).
The Gators won’t have an easy road back to the WCWS. The second game of the season is a matchup against Michigan, who made it to the Super Regionals of the NCAA tournament last season. Florida has two games against in-state rival Florida State, who made it to the WCWS last year, with the first one being in Tallahassee on April 8. The two teams will meet in Gainesville on April 22.
UF will be traveling to Tuscaloosa for a three game series against Alabama starting on March 21.
As defending national champions, the Gators will have a target on their back throughout the upcoming season. The road for a second national title starts off against Hampton University on Feb. 6, which is part of the USF Softball Classic.
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Florida pitcher Hannah Rogers, left, celebrates with teammates Aubree Munro (1) and Kelsey Stewart, right, after Tuesday night’s win.
