When the Florida softball team was celebrating its second national title in as many seasons in Gainesville last Thursday, three players addressed the fans and answered questions.
But it was the fourth player who unexpectedly talked to the fans that stole the show.
After Aubree Munro finished answering questions, coach Tim Walton grabbed the microphone and brought up Kathlyn Medina.
It was a fitting and emotional moment for Walton to call up Medina, who was by far the most underrated player on the team.
Walton went out of his way to recognize what Medina did for the program, and as Medina wiped away tears and shared a moment with her coach, everyone in attendance realized just how much she meant to the team.
"It made me very emotional when Katie got recognized," fellow senior Lauren Haeger said "Just because she doesn't get recognized.
"She's so talented and I feel like she doesn't get enough credit."
Adding to what Haeger said, I’m willing to say that Medina was the third-most important player on the team behind Haeger and Kelsey Stewart.
In fact, she might have been the most important defensive player on the roster.
Walton said that Medina is the definition of selfless because she never complained once about not being in the lineup and only being used in the field.
She simply went out there and did her job.
And she was the best at it in the country.
Walton doesn’t deny it and it’s hard to argue against him.
Medina never could hit as well as Haeger or Stewart as she hit only .200 this year in 50 at-bats.
But Haeger and Stewart’s defensive abilities couldn’t compare to what Medina brought to the diamond.
She was indispensable at short, and Walton probably learned that lesson the hard way during her junior season.
During a 15 game span from March 9, 2014 - April 2, 2014, Walton benched Medina because he felt she wasn’t being the leader at short that she needed to be.
The Gators went 8-7 in those 15 games after starting the season 23-1.
That’s how critical Medina was when she was on the field and it’s safe to say that Florida wouldn’t have won back-to-back national titles if she wasn’t on the team.
Heading into next year, Walton has players on the team right now that can fill the production that Haeger had in the circle and at the plate this season.
But he doesn’t have anyone on the roster or the incoming class that will replace what Medina did for the team the last four years.
"She’s meant so much to our program," Walton said. "I don’t know how we’re going to replace her to be honest. We’ve got good players, but none of the caliber and the leadership of her just because she was kind of groomed to be that kind of player.
"Right now that’s going to be a huge void for us moving forward even though we got great players, nobody is going to be Katie Medina."
Follow Luis Torres on Twitter @LFTorresIII.
