Rogers a Key Piece of Puzzle for Gators as They Open 2012 Season
Friday, February 10, 2012 | Softball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In an attempt to put pitcher Hannah Rogers' freshman season in perspective, Gators softball coach Tim Walton started out on the conservative side when discussing her place in school history Thursday.
“Arguably one of the best freshman seasons we've seen here,'' Walton said.
Almost before he finished that thought, Walton turned his appraisal up a notch on the eve of UF's 2012 season opener.
“I don't even really think there is an argument for it,'' he added. “It's not even close.”
If you want evidence to back up Walton's claim, here are some numbers:
265.2 – Innings pitched by Rogers.
221 – Number of strikeouts for Rogers.
55 – Games Rogers appeared in.
36 – Starts made and number of wins for Rogers.
28 – Complete games pitched by Rogers.
10 – Number of shutouts Rogers pitched.
Oh, and for the record, all the above numbers are school records for a freshman. It's safe to say Walton's point is secure.
Rogers just didn't have a great season for a freshman, but she matched up with the best the country had to offer. Only California's Jolene Henderson (40) and Arizona State's Dallas Escobedo (37) had more wins than her 36.
The thought of where the Gators would have been without Rogers last season is a scary one for anyone in orange and blue to contemplate.
Not only did she exceed expectations, but she finished the season as the de facto No. 1 starter with senior ace Stephanie Brombacher hampered by a lingering arm injury that slowed her down and projected starter Ensley Gammel having trouble establishing herself in the circle.
Rogers began to take charge in a memorable outing in the Field of Dreams Tournament last February in Palm Springs, Calif., that Walton called her “coming-out party.” Making a start against No. 2-ranked UCLA, Rogers struck out 10 Bruins in a complete-game five-hitter. The Gators won 4-1 as Rogers proved she could match up with any lineup despite being only a few months removed from Lake Wales High.
Rogers finished her freshman season with a 36-8 record and 1.92 ERA, helping the Gators make it all the way to the championship series of the WCWS against Arizona State. Rogers had one of her better performances in Florida's win over Oregon in the region final, clinching Florida's fourth consecutive berth in the WCWS by pitching a four-hit shutout.
The 5-foot-10 right-hander with the long blonde hair and bright smile never aims low.
“I didn't really know what to expect,'' Rogers said. “I was just trying to help the team out as much as I could. I always expect a lot out of myself. I'm never satisfied.”
With Brombacher gone, Rogers is by far the Gators' most proven pitcher entering her sophomore season. While highly touted freshman Lauren Haeger is expected to see plenty of time in the circle, the Gators will need another stellar season from Rogers to make it back to Oklahoma City for a fifth consecutive year.
Walton isn't concerned with a sophomore slump.
Rogers is one of the Gators' most disciplined players and whether pitching a no-hitter or getting roughed up, her demeanor often remains the same.
“She is not really the type of person that you have to worry about getting complacent,'' Walton said. “She goes about her work and does everything that is asked of her. She has a routine that she goes on. She is really blue-collar.”
Rogers said her preparation and outlook had as much to do with her success last season as her right arm that whistles bullets to the plate.
A four-time all-state selection at Lake Wales, Rogers arrived at UF full of promise. She was also a proven winner, helping the Highlanders win the 2007 Class 4A state title her freshman season.
By the time she was a sophomore at Lake Wales, Rogers was also a standout pitcher for the Gold Coast Hurricanes travel squad. The roster was loaded with Division I prospects and that's when Rogers began to seriously contemplate a college career at a major program.
Four years later, Rogers is about to open her sophomore season at UF as one of the nation's top pitchers. She has worked on developing different pitches in the offseason to offset some of the familiarity teams picked up from her a year ago.
“When Stephanie got hurt, I knew I had to step up,'' she said. “I knew this team really needed me. I've worked hard for it. Our freshmen coming in, they are just as good as me and they are working hard for it, too.”
She isn't backing away from the expectations as the Gators prepare to face Long Island on Friday night in the USF-Fairfield Invitational in Tampa.
“I get confident in tough situations,'' she said. “I just get this feeling like, 'I can do this.' That's just how I am.”
Walton is counting on Rogers to remain that way. If she comes close to matching those numbers from a year ago, another trip to the WCWS doesn't seem that far off despite the loss of Brombacher and four other seniors from last year's team.
“When you look at the whole scheme of what happened last year and how the season went – the ride of the season – she was phenomenal,'' Walton said. “She was so instrumental in our success. We hit a speed bump in the middle of the season and she just continued to improve.”
