KYLE CURTIS: Despite A Disappointing Season, Gator Baseball Is Reloading
“I am disappointed right now,” said O’Sullivan, “but I am really proud of this team.”
By KYLE CURTIS
GatorBaitMedia.com
To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it’s over now that it’s over.
The Gator baseball season ended Sunday night on a bit of a downer after an unfortunate weather delay and Florida allowing four runs in the top of the eighth to the Oklahoma Sooners, who won the regional final, 5-4.
It was an upsetting day for the Gators and their fans after playing so well prior the 5 ½-hour lightning delay. The Sooners were able to take the lead in the top of the eighth, after a string of hits off Ryan Slater. After a failed comeback effort, the Gators were left with a disappointing taste in their mouth for the season finale.
Despite the bitterness of how the season ended, Kevin O’Sullivan’s Gators have a bright future.
“I am disappointed right now,” said O’Sullivan, “but I am really proud of this team.” In particular how it fought back after injuries, rallied to fight back to the finals of the SEC and
Jac Caglianone’s mid-season surge showed what he is capable of doing in just a half season as a hitter and came out of the regional loser’s bracket to almost knock off Oklahoma.
And once his surgery is healed, he will be able to pitch next year. Along with the return of the young talent off this year’s roster, the pitching staff looks promising.
It was a sad way to go out for some of the players who may have suited up in the Gator uniform for the last time. Jud Fabian, a Florida legend, left it all on the field Sunday with two highlight-reel plays to save runs, including a wall-banging catch to save a run or so.
Sterlin Thompson, projected as one of the highest draft picks from this squad, and went out in style with a stellar season, leading the Gators in batting average.
Hunter Barco, expected to also enter the MLB draft, was seen after the game with Brandon Sproat on the mound taking in Florida Ballpark one last time.
Colby Halter along with Josh Rivera and a few other key infield plug-ins will also be returning next year and provide experience and wisdom. This will also be a team with a more bullpen answers next year. Phillip Abner and Brandon Neely will be providing a strong weekend combo come SEC play. Along with lefthander Carsten Finvvold, whose “complete game in relief” performance stunned almost everybody, including his coach.
B.T. Riopelle will be exiting, giving an opportunity to highly rated five-star catcher out of high school in Rene Lastres. Lastres is a strong hitter and was the top-rated high school catcher in the nation. He was not needed this year with the addition of Riopelle transferring from Coastal Carolina, although he is destined for a bigger role come 2023.
O’Sullivan also has his fair share of highly regarded recruits coming in the upcoming class. He also made a coaching staff change by parting ways with assistant coach Craig Bell after 15 years.
The 2023 season will likely be filled with excitement about a potential high pre-season ranking. While the Gators are losing some key contributors, they are reloading in O’Sullivan fashion rather than rebuilding.
“I will stand firm on what I believe,” Sully told the media. “This team was a great group to coach – it really was. Some years it is not the same, but this group was really fun to coach.”
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