UF Baseball Completes Fall Practice This Week
Monday, October 31, 2011 | Baseball
The University of Florida baseball team will conclude its fall practice this week with a nine-inning scrimmage on Friday that will begin at 4:30 p.m. at McKethan Stadium. The Gators will have batting practice starting at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon.
“This will be a great opportunity for our fans to watch the returnees, along with the new players we have added to this year's team,” said fifth-year head coach Kevin O'Sullivan. “This will be a good chance for the fans to get an early look at the 2012 Gators as we conclude the fall practices. We hope to have a great turnout and end our fall practice on a positive note.”
Last season, the Gators were 53-19, finished as the runner-up at the NCAA College World Series and established a school record for victories. Florida made the trip to Omaha in consecutive seasons for the first time and made the CWS for the seventh time in school history (1988, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2011).
With a 22-8 performance in the SEC that matched South Carolina and Vanderbilt for the top spot, the Gators blanked the Commodores, 5-0, to capture the 2011 SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. It was the first time in 20 years that Florida won the league's tourney and was its sixth title (1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1991, 2011). The triumph also represented the first time since 1988 that the Orange and Blue had won the SEC and SEC Tourney in the same season. O'Sullivan's club reached the 40-win plateau for the 20th time in school history and the school-record 53 wins marked the third time that the program exceeded 50 wins (also in 1991 & 1996).
The Gators return a solid nucleus that includes 2011 SEC Player of the Year catcher Mike Zunino (Cape Coral, Fla.), 2011 Perfect Game Freshman Pitcher of the Year right-hander Karsten Whitson (Chipley, Fla.), as well as All-SEC selections shortstop Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.), left-hander/first baseman Brian Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.), right-hander Hudson Randall (Atlanta, Ga.) and outfielder Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.), 2011 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player outfielder Daniel Pigott (Ormond Beach, Fla.), 2011 College World Series All-Tournament Team selection third baseman Cody Dent (Boynton Beach, Fla.), catcher/infielder/right-hander Austin Maddox (Jacksonville, Fla.), left-hander Steven Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) and 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team third baseman Zack Powers (Seffner, Fla.). O'Sullivan welcomes his fourth-straight top-10 incoming class, a group that boasts 11 freshmen.
Season tickets for the 2012 Gator Baseball season went on sale Tuesday, Oct. 4 and Florida will open its season with the opener of a three-game series against Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Feb. 17. Season tickets can be purchased online at www.GatorZone.com/tickets or by calling the Gator Ticket Office at 1-800-34-GATOR from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline to renew season tickets is Friday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m.
