Gators softball coach Tim Walton, shown here on Media Day at last year's WCWS, got a rare opportunity to watch as a fan on Sunday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
Photo By: Hannah White
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators softball coach
Tim Walton had a doubleheader scheduled Sunday at UAB.
The twist: only one of the games included his No. 8-ranked UF team.
Following Florida's 4-1 win over the Blazers at Mary Bowers Field, Walton said goodbye to the Gators and hello to his family. Walton's wife Sam, their kids and both sets of grandparents hung around for a special afternoon as the UF softball team returned home.
Brooks Walton, a right-handed pitcher for UAB, was set to start for the Blazers in their afternoon game against Notre Dame at Young Memorial Field, which is next door to where Walton won the 900th game as Florida's head coach on Friday night. Brooks ensured the family gathering is one they will cherish.
Brooks earned his first victory of the season by pitching 8 1/3 innings of four-hit ball. He recorded a season-high seven strikeouts as UAB beat the Fighting Irish 5-2.
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His father, who replaced his Gators cap with a Blazers lid as he watched the game, posted photos of the special moment on social media after the game. Brooks Walton played at Buchholz High in Gainesville and then at Santa Fe College before continuing his career at UAB.
Tim Walton pitched in college at Oklahoma and helped the Sooners with the 1994 national championship.
The Walton family wasn't the only ones paying close attention. Brooks was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
