Trio of Gators Earn Spot on USA Softball Top 50 Watch List
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY – Senior Delanie Gourley, junior Aleshia Ocasio and sophomore Kelly Barnhill each earned a spot on the USA Softball Top 50 "Watch List" as announced by USA Softball Wednesday, Feb. 1.
At the end of the 2016 season Ocasio finished inside the top three for the prestegious USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Award while Gourley placed inside the top 10. Barnhill makes her first appearance on the watch list this season along with five other sophomores from across the nation.
Lauren Haeger is the only Gator to have won the prestigious award. She earned the title in 2015 after leading Florida to the program's second national championship.
The pre-season "Watch List" includes 26 seniors, 18 juniors and 6 sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration. (Freshman can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level).
Athletes named to the "Watch List" represent 37 NCAA Division I universities and 13 athletic conferences. Arizona, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Oklahoma lead the way among universities with three athlete representatives each, while LSU, Michigan and Oregon have two athletes apiece on the "Watch List".
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is well-represented among the Top 50 "Watch List" with 12 member-schools while nine universities from the Pac-12 Conference also highlight the list.
Full USA Softball Top 50 "Watch List"
Meet the Gators
Delanie Gourley | LHP | Senior | Lakeside, Calif.
Career Honors
• 2016 First Team All-American
• 2016 USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist
• 2016 First Team All-Southeast Region
• 2016 First Team All-SEC
• SEC Pitcher of the Week twice (4/25/16, 3/1/15)
• USA Softball National Player of the Week once (4/19/16)
• NFCA Pitcher of the Week once (3/1/15)
Aleshia Ocasio | UT | Junior | St. Cloud, Fla.
Career Honors
• 2016 First Team All-American
• 2016 USA Softball Player of the Year Top Three Finalist
• 2016 First Team All-Southeast Region
• 2016 First Team All-SEC
• 2015 NFCA Third Team All-American
• 2015 NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team
• 2015 All-SEC Freshman Team
• SEC Pitcher of the Week once (3/28/16)
Kelly Barnhill | RHP | Sophomore | Marietta, Ga.
Career Honors
• 2016 NFCA Freshman of the Year Top Three Finalist
• 2016 Third Team All-Southeast Region
• 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team
• 2016 SEC Freshman of the Week twice (3/21, 5/9)
• 2016 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll
2017 Season
The team will take the field for the first time of the 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 10 in Tampa at the USF – Wilson DeMarini Classic against Illinois State. SEC play is scheduled to open up on March 11 at home inside Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium against Missouri with the SEC tournament set for May 10-13 at the Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tickets
Season tickets went on sale for the first time in program history and fans can purchase those through the Gator Ticket Office. Single game tickets went on sale Jan. 31. Information on ticket prices can be found HERE.
Over the phone: 1-800-34-GATOR or (352)-375-4683
In person: At the Gator Ticket Office, located on the West side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The full 2017 schedule can be found HERE.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Twitter
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Facebook
At the end of the 2016 season Ocasio finished inside the top three for the prestegious USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Award while Gourley placed inside the top 10. Barnhill makes her first appearance on the watch list this season along with five other sophomores from across the nation.
Lauren Haeger is the only Gator to have won the prestigious award. She earned the title in 2015 after leading Florida to the program's second national championship.
The pre-season "Watch List" includes 26 seniors, 18 juniors and 6 sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration. (Freshman can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level).
Athletes named to the "Watch List" represent 37 NCAA Division I universities and 13 athletic conferences. Arizona, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Oklahoma lead the way among universities with three athlete representatives each, while LSU, Michigan and Oregon have two athletes apiece on the "Watch List".
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is well-represented among the Top 50 "Watch List" with 12 member-schools while nine universities from the Pac-12 Conference also highlight the list.
Full USA Softball Top 50 "Watch List"
Meet the Gators
Delanie Gourley | LHP | Senior | Lakeside, Calif.
Career Honors
• 2016 First Team All-American
• 2016 USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist
• 2016 First Team All-Southeast Region
• 2016 First Team All-SEC
• SEC Pitcher of the Week twice (4/25/16, 3/1/15)
• USA Softball National Player of the Week once (4/19/16)
• NFCA Pitcher of the Week once (3/1/15)
Aleshia Ocasio | UT | Junior | St. Cloud, Fla.
Career Honors
• 2016 First Team All-American
• 2016 USA Softball Player of the Year Top Three Finalist
• 2016 First Team All-Southeast Region
• 2016 First Team All-SEC
• 2015 NFCA Third Team All-American
• 2015 NFCA All-Southeast Region First Team
• 2015 All-SEC Freshman Team
• SEC Pitcher of the Week once (3/28/16)
Kelly Barnhill | RHP | Sophomore | Marietta, Ga.
Career Honors
• 2016 NFCA Freshman of the Year Top Three Finalist
• 2016 Third Team All-Southeast Region
• 2016 SEC All-Freshman Team
• 2016 SEC Freshman of the Week twice (3/21, 5/9)
• 2016 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll
2017 Season
The team will take the field for the first time of the 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 10 in Tampa at the USF – Wilson DeMarini Classic against Illinois State. SEC play is scheduled to open up on March 11 at home inside Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium against Missouri with the SEC tournament set for May 10-13 at the Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tickets
Season tickets went on sale for the first time in program history and fans can purchase those through the Gator Ticket Office. Single game tickets went on sale Jan. 31. Information on ticket prices can be found HERE.
Over the phone: 1-800-34-GATOR or (352)-375-4683
In person: At the Gator Ticket Office, located on the West side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The full 2017 schedule can be found HERE.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Players Mentioned
Road to Gameday: Florida Softball
Friday, March 27
Road to Gameday: Florida Softball (Season 2)
Friday, March 27
Keagan Rothrock | Carwash Convos
Tuesday, February 24
Florida Softball Highlights | North Florida | February 18, 2026
Thursday, February 19
