Archive for the ‘Baseball’ Category

Gators eliminate Wolfpack to return to Omaha

Posted by RobertPJudin on June 11th, 2012   No Comment

Barely a week after the Gators saw many of their dynamic diamond studs taken in the 2012 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, they were taking on North Carolina State down in Gainesville.

The Gators took game one of the Super Regional round on Saturday afternoon by a score of 7-1 with a quality outing from Hudson Randall. The third-year pitcher went seven strong innings, surrendering only six hits with no runs.

Mike Zunino supplied a two-run home run in the seventh inning to cap off a 10 hit effort by a very dangerous Gator offense.

The University of Florida and N.C. State were back at it for game two on Sunday. After allowing a go ahead solo homer to N.C. State’s Chris Diaz, the Gators managed to force extra innings ending the ninth inning tied at seven. With a clutch blast in the tenth inning from the senior outfielder, Daniel Pigott, followed by a single from freshman Josh Tobias, scoring Casey Turgeon, the Gators advanced to the College World Series for the second straight year.

Jonathon Crawford couldn’t quite duplicate the magic of his recent no-hitter and gave up three earned runs in three and two-thirds innings. Luckily for the Gators, they were able to string together some clutch hits at key moments in the ball game.

After suffering a heart breaking sweep at the hands of the South Carolina Gamecocks in last year’s College World Series championship, the Gators are set to redeem that showing as they are ranked as a number one seed in this year’s tournament.

Head Coach, Kevin O’Sullivan, will look to ride the Gators’ swamp magic into Omaha, Neb. Florida will be looking to obtain that glorious first College World Series title. With a team filled with plenty of major league talent, O’Sullivan definitely has the tools to lead the Gators to victory.

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No. 1 Florida Gators defeat No.16 Cal State Fullerton. Twice

Posted by admin on February 18th, 2012   No Comment

The Florida Gators opened up the season on Friday, February 17 in a best of three series against No. 16 Cal State Fullerton Titans. In their first matchup, the Gators broke open a close game in the seventh inning by scoring four runs and breaking a 3-3 tie. Preston Tucker belted a home run to tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The seventh inning wasn’t very exciting even though we scored four. Freshman Josh Tobias got his first hit of his college career and both Nolan Fontana and Casey Turgeon were consecutively walked to put the Titans in a precarious position. The go ahead run was scored when Cal State Freshman pitcher Koby Gauna hit senior Daniel Pigott which let Tobias score from third. Next Preston Tucker hit a sacrifice fly into right field allowing Turegeon to score. This put the Gators up 5-3.  Fontana was driven in by catcher Mike Zunio’s RBI single up the middle and Brian Johnson brought in Daniel Pigott on a base hit into right field to give the Gators a 7-3 lead.  The Titans never covered.

The very next day, No.1 Florida Gators (1-0) took a two games to none series lead over the Cal State Fullerton Titans (2-0) with another four run inning, this time it just happened a little sooner. The Titans took a 2-0 lead in the second, however the Gators fired back with four runs in the fourth. Thats three innings earlier than the previous gas when they had another four run inning. This time they were led by a two run triple from FreshmanTaylor Gushue, a base hit from Zunio and a sacrifice fly from freshman Justin Shafer. All I can say is that freshman class is already starting to show why they were a top ten class.

The Gators will look to sweep the series tomorrow when they face the Titans at 1:00pm.

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Florida Gators Ranked Preseason No. 1 in Collegiate Baseball

Posted by admin on January 16th, 2012   No Comment

The Nations oldest college baseball poll, which started in 1958, ranked the Gators preseason No. 1 for the first time in the school’s history. Last year Florida made it to the 2011 NCAA College World Series finals where they lost to the defending national champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks. But this year will hopefully end differently. The Gators ended the season 53 – 19 and set a school record in wins.

The Florida Gators Head Coach, Kevin O’Sullivan returns 11 players that look to make a very big impact on the 2012 season. Right-hander Karsten Whitson  (So.) who was a 2011 Perfect Game Freshman Pitcher of the year, will be returning as well as  Left-hander/first baseman Brian Johnson (Jr.),  right-hander Hudson Randall (Jr.) and left-hander Steven Rodriguez (Jr.). The 2011 SEC Player of the year, catcher Mike Zunio (Jr.) and the 2011 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, outfielder Daniel Pigott (Sr.)  will be returning as well. Rounding out the remaining players are outfielder Preston Tucker (Sr.), catcher/right-hander/infielder Austin Maddox (Jr.), the 2011 College World Series All-Tournament Team Third Baseman Cody Dent (Jr.) and Zack Powers (So.), a 2011 SECC All-Freshman Team third basemen rounds out the group.

As for the new members of the Florida Gators Baseball team, they will be the fourth straight incoming freshman class that are ranked in the top 10 nationally as a recruiting class as a whole.

Keep an eye out on the Gators pitching squad as they look to improve on there already gaudy statistics from last year.  Florida led the nation in walks allowed per nine innings with an average of 1.82. As a team, they collectively had an ERA (Earned Run Average) of 2.95 and had 547 strikeouts and 130 walks. The Gators offense ranked No. 1 last year in hits, with 755. They ranked 5th  in doubles and homers.

In 2011, the Florida Gators finished with a 22 – 8 record in the Southeastern Conference, which was tied for a conference best with Vanderbilt and South Carolina. The Gators defeated Vanderbilt 5 – 0 in the SEC Championship game to win their sixth league title and first in 20 years.

The Gators open up their season on February 17, 2012 against Cal State Fullerton, which will be the first of a three game series. Cal State is ranked 21 in Collegiate Baseball’s Preseason Poll. It should be a great start to the 2012 season.

uf baseball

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Q&A with former Gator Matt Laporta

Posted by Staff Writers on January 13th, 2011   No Comment

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with former Gator baseball player Matt Laporta and talk to him about his upcoming season with the Indians and the state of the Florida baseball program.

Q: What’s your relationship with the baseball program at Florida since you have graduated like?

(Matt) A: I have a great relationship with Coach O’Sullivan and the entire athletic department. I don’t get back as much as I would like because of my baseball schedule, but I’m always either watching or checking the scores to see how the team is doing.

Q:Talk to us about Coach O’Sullivan?

A:First off he has to do a great job with coming in and putting Florida back in the top 5 or so programs in the country. He does an amazing job recruiting and then once those players are on campus he builds them into good ball players

Q: What made you choose Florida?

A:It’s not only a great athletic school but it’s also a place where you can get a great education. My mom graduated from there so that played a big part of it as well as just the tradition of the program

Q: Florida is known as a football school how does the baseball team get treated by the fans and student body?

A: First Florida has a wonderful football program and understandably football is big in the south so it does create more attention, but the baseball program is well respected and the fans and students give us full support. Actually any sport at Florida is supported whether it be volleyball, basketball, lacrosse or whatever sport it will be supported the students just all around love Florida athletics.

Q: Describe to me the feeling of being apart of Gator Nation?

A: Its one of the best feelings just being apart of the family atmosphere is great. No Matter where you go people always recognize you as a gator. Its true once a Gator always a Gator

Q: What was the feeling like going to Omaha for the college world series and what makes it so special?

A: Its an amazing feeling just being apart of the history of the college world series. The fan atmosphere is what sets it apart as there is 25,000 screaming fans watching college baseball. The city of Omaha also puts in tons of effort to make the game so special and to make the players feel welcome. There is nothing like Omaha for the college world series

Q: Whats your goal and the teams goals for this year with the Indians?

A: Well we are a young team and we expect to keep building on last year. As a team we have to cut down on the mental and physical errors and that will help us to improve upon last year. Me as a player I feel like I just have to just keep working to get better every year.

Lastly Matt has offered to answer any questions Gator fans have for him and has welcomed us to keep in touch with him throughout the season for updates on him and the Cleveland Indians.

By: Andrew Spivey

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Three Gator baseball players earn preseason All-American honors

Posted by admin on December 16th, 2010   No Comment

Florida had three players listed on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Pro-Line Athletic Preseason All-America teams.

Sophomore Austin Maddox earned second team after being awarded as the SEC freshman of the year last season. Maddox started a total of 63 games last season in four different positions for the Gators. Maddox batted .333, had 72 RBI which was a team high and had 17 home runs.

First baseman Preston Tucker and pitcher Alex Panteliodis were selected for third team. Tucker started 50 games at third base, hit .331 with 49 RBI, 17 doubles, 11 home runs and eight stolen based. Pateliodis ended the season 11-3 with a 3.51 ERA.

(Info gathered by Rachel George from the Orlando Sentinel)

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George Steinbrenner passes at age 80

Posted by admin on July 13th, 2010   1 Comment

New York Yankees owner and Florida Gator booster George Steinbrenner, was a generous man with a generous hand. That hand touched many people along the way. Steinbrenner passed away at age 80 on Tuesday after suffering from a massive heart attack.

There is so much to describe about Steinbrenner in just so many ways. He loved to win. That was on the top of his list. Steinbrenner turned the Yankee organization around. From buying a team that was worth $10 million back in 1973, George did a lot of work over the years made helped the Yankees become a value that is worth over $1.2 billion. He will always be remembered for seven World Series wins and leading the Yankees to 11 AL pendants. [Gathered by Adam Silverstein of OGGOA]

Steinbrenner was real good friends with my dads friend who is a high school legend basketball coach here in Ocala and every year Kentucky travels to Gainesville to play the Gators in basketball, Steinbrenner gives my dad and his friend two tickets where he owns seats right behind the bench. Steinbrenner also owns a hotel in Ocala and every year the Kingdom of the Sun is hosted at Vanguard High School, all of the basketball players stay at his hotel.

We will always have George and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

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Kevin Chapman signs contract with Kansas City Royals

Posted by admin on July 12th, 2010   No Comment

Florida’s junior left-hand pitcher Kevin Chapman has recently decided to not return to the University of Florida for his last season due to signing a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals. Chapman has already been assigned to the class A Carolina League with the Wilmington (Del.) Blue Rocks. (According to GatorZone)

Chapman, who was selected as the 119th pick in the fourth round by the Royals, was also chosen as a third-team All-American by NCBWA which is short for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Not to mention he earned the second-team All-South Region accolades as well.

This past season, Chapman led the team in appearances with 31 and had a 3-0 record with a 1.64 ERA. He recorded 44 total strikeouts in more than 43 innings, only gave up seven walks and kept his opponents batting average down to a low .190 which is pretty impressive.

Back in late May he was named the SEC pitcher of the week for the first time.

Chapman was the second Gator drafted from a total of six that were taken in the 2010 draft and to sign a contract. We wish Kevin the best as he looks to move forward.

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Dog Days of Summer

Posted by Gene Elliott on June 22nd, 2010   No Comment

The giant whiff of air you felt last night might have been the summer storm passing through, or it might have been the Gator bats in Omaha coming up short in the second loss in three days.  In all fairness, the Gator baseball team (47-17) was brought down to earth by sloppy pitching that allowed 19 runs and 32 hits; and that was in just two CWS appearances.  What made this loss worse is that Florida lost to their in-state nemesis for the fourth time in five games this season.  Kevin O’Sullivan brings him team back to Gainesville today winners of the SEC East, another CWS appearance, but watching the CWS from TV and not in a dugout.  The Gators look toward 2011 with a young team with a great recruiting class coming for the upcoming season.  Looking forward to next baseball season,  the Gators will be returning 13 players and keeping the young pitching talent in Gainesville.

So now we look to August….57 days and counting.

To what you ask?  The football team shows up and we begin to count the days to the first game, the first tailgate party.  Are we going to see kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso on campus this fall?  Will John Brantley break out of Tim Tebow’s shadow and lead this team to an SEC East title…. All questions that will be answered after the dog days of summer.

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