Softball Ranked No. 13 in Preseason Poll
Thursday, January 24, 2008 | Softball
The University of Florida Softball team will open the 2008 season as the No. 13 team in the country as voted in the USA TODAY/NFCA Coaches Poll.
This marks the highest preseason ranking for the Gators, who finished the 2007 season at No. 14. It is only the third time in school history the Gators have been ranked in the preseason poll, beginning 1999 at No. 20 and 2006 at No. 19.
Florida is one of seven schools Southeastern Conference schools ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll. Alabama leads the way at No. 4. Tennessee (No. 6) and LSU (No. 9) also ranked in the top 10. South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi State are all receiving votes.
The Gators finished the 2007 season with a 50-22 overall record and a 17-11 record in SEC play. The Gators reached the championship game of the SEC tournament and advanced to NCAA Super Regional play for the first time in school history, finishing the season just one game away from the Women's College World Series.
The Gators return two All-Americans to the field in 2008 with junior pitcher Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and junior utility player Kim Waleszonia (Fontana, Calif.). Nelson led the Gator pitching staff in every category last season, while Waleszonia led the Gator offense in six different categories. In addition, the Gators return starters senior Mary Ratliff (Mt. Sterling, Ky.), juniors Ali Gardiner (Waccabuc, N.Y.), Kristina Hilberth (Dunedin, Fla.) and Brooke Johnson (Lakeland, Fla.) and sophomores Corrie Brooks (Christmas, Fla.) and Francesca Enea (Woodland Hills, Calif.) Florida lost four senior starters after the 2007 season, but will more than make up for that with nine new freshman and two junior college transfers, many who will see significant time on the field immediately.
Florida opens the 2008 season on Friday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman in the USF Wilson Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The team's home opener at the newly named Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium will be Wednesday, Feb. 13 against Mercer in a double header beginning at 4 p.m.
