In 2016’s final regular-season game, then-freshman Kelly Barnhill threw her first no-hitter at the college level.
Barnhill’s no-hitter was the fourth the Gators pitched last season.
It’s that kind of talent that coach Tim Walton is confident in as the UF enters the 2017 season. Because even though Florida saw five seniors graduate, the team didn’t lose any of its pitchers.
“I think what makes us most special,” Walton said, “is just how dynamic our pitching staff is. We just do things so different in four different arms, from the left side to the right side, and I’m just excited about the overall quality of that depth.”
In last year’s campaign, the trio of then-sophomore Aleshia Ocasio, then-junior Delanie Gourley and Barnhill allowed just a combined 18 home runs on the season. The staff also boasted an ERA of 0.93, the best in the nation. And on Feb. 1, all three were named to the USA Softball Top 50 Watch List.
Barnhill was just one of six sophomores nationwide to be included.
At the end of the 2016 season, Ocasio was named as one of three USA Softball Player of the Year finalists, ending the season with an ERA of 0.77 and going 13-for-30 in the batter’s box.
“I’ve just been taking everything I’ve accomplished and building off it and looking at the good and the bad,” Ocasio said. “And trying to capitalize everything that I’ve worked on these past two years as well as the fall.”
The beginning of a new season brings a chance for both the coaches and players to evaluate strengths and weaknesses as the team is finally given a chance to play competitors rather than scrimmaging itself.
For the Gators, that starts today as the season opens at the USF-Wilson Demarini Tournament. Florida, currently tied for a ranking of No. 4 in the country, will face No. 6 Michigan, No. 25 USF and Illinois State.
And just as the Gators competed in this tournament last season, so did Illinois State, Michigan and USF. Florida won by a total of 30-1 against the three.
“I’m just so excited to see what this new team is going to bring,” Barnhill said.
With a pitching staff that has a wealth of talent and experience and a roster that boasts four newcomers, the Gators will have plenty to showcase and test out as the season kicks off.
“I’m really excited about what they’ve done and just how they’ve continued to grow and get better and add pitches to their repertoire,” Walton said.
The first game will be played against Illinois State at 4:15 p.m.
Contact Cassie Amundson at camundson@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @camundson_.
Kelly Barnhill pitches during the second game of UF's doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Feb. 27, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
