Spring Training Report 1/29
Today’s training was a rough one for the Gators. This team looked like it had never actually played baseball outside of batting. Even though it was a team that looked relatively solid on all other days, they just seemed to fall apart. Error after error after error, baserunning miscue after baserunning miscue. The misery refused to end for the Gators, and the team still has some ways to improve before the start of the regular season. There are visible issues with the team that need to be ironed out and resolved before the first pitch is thrown on February 14th against Air Force.
At the top of the first inning with the Orange team batting, freshman pitcher Aidan King got out of a bases-loaded one-out jam by virtue of a fielder’s choice at home and getting sophomore outfielder Hayden Yost to strike out swinging. At the bottom of the first, the issues really began for the Gators: redshirt sophomore pitcher Jake Clemente gave up a 3-run blast to right field to Designated Hitter Brody Donay. Donay has played at first base earlier in these scrimmages for the Gators, but also has experience as a catcher. It’ll be interesting to see what position he plays at in the regular season.
After three quick outs to end the top of the 2nd, the bottom of the second saw a terrible inning for the Orange (designated the visitors). After freshman shortstop Colt Meyers and senior left fielder Billy Barlow were both walked by Clemente, they successfully ran a double steal. On the next batter, an error on the part of Orange’s 2nd baseman (junior Justin Nadeau) allowed both runners to advance. The next batter up lightly hit one to third baseman, transfer senior Bobby Boser. Boser bobbled the ball, allowing the run to get to first.
Photo of the scrimmage
At this point the Gators coaching staff called time on the inning. After all players and staff met on the mound, they seemed to have agreed to end the inning and put this behind them. Unfortunately, that would only be the start of the Gators problems. During the rest of the game:
Junior Ashton Wilson was caught in a pickle between 3rd and Home to end the top of the 3rd
Error on a pickoff at the bottom of the 3rd, runner advanced from 1st to 3rd
Top of the 4th a runner survived a pickle to get from 2nd to 3rd
A failed pickoff attempt bottom of the 4th, runner got to second from first
This was immediately followed by an infield throwing error trying to get an out at first
To end the top of the fifth, a routine fly ball to left field was dropped. The left fielder still sent it back to the infield, where a base runner who hadn’t noticed the error was tagged out.
Bottom of the 5th was also mercy-ended after poor outfield play resulting in a 4th run scoring. Score is 9-5 for Blue.
Mercy finally shown it’s bright light on the Gators after the game ended 9-5 to the Blue team. If the Gators show up like this to the regular season, it won’t be pretty. The only and the largest positive that can be drawn from today is that it was practice. It was a practice scrimmage with nothing to win and nothing to lose. If there was ever a time to look like you forgot how to play baseball, it’s practice. And based on their other outings so far this spring training, there’s nothing to suggest that this wasn’t just a wild fluke from the Gators. Hopefully the Gators will bounce back in their upcoming practice sessions.
