Former Gators pitchers Kevin Chapman (right) and Hudson Randall talk during Saturday's scrimmage. (Photo: Kelsi Bevinton)
Alumni Scrimmage All About Gator “Family”
Sunday, February 11, 2018 | Baseball
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By: Ethan Hughes, FloridaGators.com Correspondent
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It seemed inevitable. The Florida Gators baseball program had too much talent and was too well coached to not eventually win a national championship.
"On a personal note, it was a relief," former Gators left-handed pitcher Paco Rodriguez (2010-2012) said. "The years that I was [here], how close we got, I felt like it was just a matter of time when they could put it together and get that first one."
On Saturday, the Gators hosted their inaugural Alumni Scrimmage, pitting the preseason No.1-ranked and defending national champion Gators against legends of the past. The scrimmage presented one final opportunity for the current squad to celebrate with the alumni before the Gators begin their season Friday night against Siena (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+).
The Gators had been to the College World Series 10 times previously, including five trips to Omaha in the previous seven seasons. The Gators appeared in the CWS Championship Series in 2005 and 2011. The Gators have been a national seed in eight of the last nine years, the only program in the country that can claim so.
Still, college baseball's ultimate prize proved to be elusive.
When the Gators recorded the final out against LSU to win the College World Series last June, it produced a special moment for both the 2017 team and for the alumni who worked hard to make that moment possible.
"It was a long time coming," former Gators right-handed ace Hudson Randall (2010-2012) said. "A little bittersweet because I wish it was our team, but I couldn't be prouder of these guys."
Former Gators right-handed pitcher Aaron Rhodes (2013-2015) says the long wait made the championship even more special.
"Each year you don't win it you want it more and more, especially when you get a little taste of being out in Omaha and being so close," Rhodes said.
"During my years, we were so close," Rodriguez said. "We were a matter of games [away]. Throughout the playoffs, we started counting down those eleven wins, and that's what it felt like. Every time that we won a game, it was like we're just that much closer. It was a great experience, and I was able to be a part of it. Surreal moment for sure."
Even Alex Faedo, the recently departed ace who was the College World Series' Most Outstanding Player and first round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers, can fully appreciate the difficulty of the accomplishment as a two-time loser in Omaha himself.
"It feels great just because we've had so many great teams and great players here, and they came so close," Faedo said. "We lost twice in Omaha when I was [here], and I feel their pain."
The champion Gators insist it wouldn't have been possible without the alumni laying the program's foundation.
"They set the table, and it's the reason why [opponents] play their best versus us," senior outfielder/left-handed pitcher Nick Horvath said. "Not because of us, because of them."
"Great players, great teammates," Faedo said. "They kept the coaching staff here. They won a lot of games. They built the brand of the program. Without them, maybe some of the guys wouldn't come here because they've made this program one of the top [programs] in the country."
The Gators viewed the Alumni Scrimmage as a way of saying thank you and giving back to those who made that magical night in Omaha possible.
"They paved the way for us," junior ace Brady Singer said. "I think it's good for us to interact with them."
Faedo, who attended the event but did not participate as he prepares for spring training, says he thinks the Alumni Scrimmage was a nice way to honor the unsung heroes of the Gators' national championship.
"I think it's fun for some of the guys that aren't playing baseball any more to go back and play the game that they love," he said. "I think it's awesome to come back and reconnect with the coaches, connect with the players that are here now that didn't have a relationship with them. You always feel bad like you can never come back here, but you get that chance now with the alumni game."
Over 20 alumni participated in Saturday's Alumni Scrimmage. (Photo: Courtney Mims)
Both the alumni and the current players seemed to enjoy their experience.
"It was a blast seeing all the guys that I played with and even meeting guys that played here before me," Rhodes said. "It was a lot of fun. It was probably one of the best times I've had out here."
Singer had the unique experience of pitching for the alumni team, with Gator Greats such as Matt den Dekker (2007-2010) and Josh Adams (2008-2011) playing behind him.
"I think it was more fun than anything, having them play behind me," Singer said. "It probably brought back a bunch of old memories for them, so I was excited they got here and played in their old stadium."
The overriding theme of the evening wasn't baseball, the championship or even the reunion. It was family.
"It's a family here at Florida, so the fact that we won means that [the alumni] won," Faedo said. "We didn't win it. We're all one family, so we all won it."
"This group of guys is like a second family," Randall said.
Rodriguez says the family aspect of the program made the championship more special.
"It's a part of us," Rodriguez said. "At the end of the day, we're all in this together. This is a community and a university that we all came to and we're proud to be a part of for the rest of our lives."
They won a national championship as a family, and on Saturday night, they united and celebrated as a family.
