When Kelly Barnhill is in the circle, it usually means good things for the Gators and bad things for opposing batters. (Photo: Allison Curry/UAA Communications)
Barnhill's Commitment a Big Win for Gators
Friday, March 31, 2017 | Softball
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The sophomore pitcher is 26-1 in her two seasons and has been dominant in 2017 for the second-ranked Gators.
By: Bianca Cacho, UAA Communications
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A commitment on Oct. 20, 2014, is sending ripples across college softball nearly three years later.
Kelly Barnhill, the No. 1-rated pitcher in her senior class, faced a decision between Stanford and Florida. Waiting until her senior year to decide where she would attend college, Barnhill chose to become a Gator.
It was Florida's lucky day.
"I ended up choosing Florida because the amazing coaching staff we have here, the overall environment, and the way the girls and coaches interact,'' Barnhill said. "I was super happy with my decision, never looked back, I have loved every moment of it."
So have Gator fans. Barnhill, who turned 20 on Friday, has been a dominant force in the circle the past two seasons, losing only once in her 28 career decisions.
Still, what she has accomplished was no easy task for the highly sought-after Georgia native. Barnhill needed time to adjust from prep phenom to talented college prospect.
"I know when someone comes in their freshman year it is really overwhelming, and so we saw that a little bit last year but that's natural and it happens,'' said Delaney Gourley, Barnhill's teammate and fellow pitcher. "This year we have been able to see her grow."
Gourley isn't talking about the 5-foot-7 Barnhill's height. The sophomore right-hander from Pope High in Marietta, Ga., is having a banner season as the Gators visit Arkansas this weekend for a three-game series.
Barnhill was at it again on Friday night at Arkansas. She improved to 12-0 for the No. 2-ranked Gators (31-2) by striking out six and giving up four hits in a 6-1 win. Numbers easily tell Barnhill's dominance. Not only is she unbeaten, Barnhill has a microscopic 0.28 ERA (3 ER in 75 2/3 IP), and has pitched five shutouts.
Barnhill has also improved her control. She has walked only 17 batters (1.57 per seven innings) compared to 55 in 108 1/3 innings (3.55 per seven innings) as a freshman.
Kelly Barnhill is 11-0 with a 0.20 ERA entering Florida's road series at Arkansas. (Photo: Jim Burgess/For UAA Communications)
Barnhill's background pitching on big stages has helped her cope with the pressures of being a star pitcher for one of the best teams in the nation.
During the summer or 2016 when most students were on vacation, Barnhill traveled the world as a member of the USA National Team.
Barnhill described her experience with Team USA as "a whole different ballgame."
Rightfully so, competing in front of 31,000 fans in the Tokyo Dome in comparison to Kelly Seashole Pressly Stadium with a capacity of 1,200 might take the edge off when she puts on her orange and blue.
"It was just an amazing experience and getting to play in front of those kinds of crowds, I feel like that was very helpful when I'm playing." Barnhill said.
Back in her Gator gear, Barnhill received SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after her performance during the Aquafina Invitational earlier in the season. She entered Friday's start at Arkansas coming off one of her most impressive performances, a 7-0 home win over Auburn on Sunday.
Barnhill retired 21 of the 25 batters she faced and struck out a season-high 16 in the two-hit shutout.
Gators head coach Tim Walton was impressed more than usual.
"When she's pounding the zone like she was, it's pretty fun to go out there,'' Walton said. "That's one of the best performances I've seen."
On the hunt for the program's third national title – and her first -- Barnhill and the rest of the pitching staff know it is important to learn from one another.
"I think we've proved both national championships that you can't win with one pitcher, so when you are able to feed off of each other, that is when the staff becomes really important and that's what we've done the whole time here and that's what Kelly has been a part of," Gourley said.
With a bond that cannot be broken, each pitcher on staff brings a component that can only mean bad news for opposing pitchers. Barnhill is grateful she joined a program with so much depth.
"Our pitching staff is amazing,'' Barnhill said. "Delaney's change-up blows my mind and Aleshia [Ocasio] is so dynamic with everything she throws and Katie [Chronister] is a new arm out there, so it's going to be so much fun to see what she can do throughout the season."
What about Barnhill? Gourley proclaims that she pitches "complete gas," making it exciting for the staff.
"I can only throw as hard as I can and she just comes in throwing heat and that's really fun." Gourley said.
Not only a force on the field, Barnhill makes an emphasis on her education. She maintains a 3.93 GPA in her quest to be as close to perfect as she can on and off the field.
"Kelly is one of a kind, she's smart in the classroom, she's smart on the field." Gourley said.
A light to the team, Barnhill brings more than a powerful pitching repertoire. She is known for a goofy, optimistic vibe that is unmatched.
Coach Walton loves the confidence she has shown in her sophomore season.
"We got Kelly out there and she really does a good job of commanding her pitches resulting in a lot of strikeouts,'' he said.
And much more. Barnhill ended her freshman season with a no-hitter in the regular-season finale and has three career one-hitters of five or more innings. Less than halfway into her college career, she continues to get better. That's a scary thought for opposing batters.
