NCAAOct 20, 2015 by Sarah Hoffman
ACC Season Preview: Florida State
ACC Season Preview: Florida State
After previewing the top teams in the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, and Big 12, we're moving to the last major Division 1 conference and breaking down the top three
After previewing the top teams in the SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12, and Big 12, we're moving to the last major Division 1 conference and breaking down the top three teams in the ACC, starting with the Florida State Seminoles.
When softball fans think consider the legendary coaches of the sport, they often go right to Sue Enquist or Mike Candrea, and for good reason. Both are legendary in the sport and have certainly earned the right to be considered some of the best softball coaches ever. Fewer fans consider former Florida State Seminole softball coach Dr. JoAnne Graf.
Dr. Graf coached an impressive 30 seasons at Florida State and boasts 1,437 career wins with the Seminoles. She amassed seven Women's College World Series and 10 ACC conference championships before handing the reigns over to current head coach Lonni Alameda in 2008. Alameda has managed to bring the Seminoles back to the preeminence it experienced in the 1990s and early 2000s. 2014 was the first year Florida State made a WCWS appearance since 2004 and missed last year's by a single game.
Much of Florida State's recent success has come from the arm of graduated senior Lacey Waldrop. The three-time All-American and 2014 National Player of the Year posted a 1.52 ERA with 28 wins last season. Waldrop's collegiate success earned her the No. 3 draft pick by the Chicago Bandits this past summer and the National Pro Fastpitch rookie started off her pro career with a Cowles Cup Championship.
Florida State will have to continue its recent success without the 2015 ace Lacey Waldrop
Besides Waldrop, the Seminoles lose senior shortstop Maddie O'Brien. Taken No. 9 in the NPF draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion, O'Brien was second on the team last season in home runs with 13 and third on the team in runs batted in with 43. Pitcher/utility player Bailey Schinella, who started 62 of 63 games for Florida State last year, was also a 2015 graduate.
Good news for the Seminoles is that they return most of their top performers from the 2015 season, including ACC Freshman of the Year Jessica Warren. The infielder led Florida State in eight different categories in 2015, including home runs (19), runs batted in (57), and slugging percentage (.761).
Jessica Warren had a breakout freshman season, leading the Seminoles in home runs, RBIs, and six other statistical categories
Speedy outfielder Morgan Klaevemann also returns for her sophomore season. As a freshman, the lefty paced the Florida State offense with a .393 batting average and 20 stolen bases, while also posting a perfect fielding percentage. Likely stepping into the circle to replace Waldrop will be redshirt junior pitcher Jessica Burroughs. As the no. 2 pitcher last season, Burroughs posted a 2.08 ERA and won 19 games for the Seminoles.
As important as Florida State's returners is their class of six freshmen. Leading the rookie class for the Seminoles will be a trio of FloSoftball Hot 100 players. The No. 22 ranked freshman Cali Harrod goes to the Seminoles after having completed a successful travel ball career with the Atlanta Vipers. The middle infielder adds a solid offensive threat to the lineup.
Like Harrod, No. 47 ranked player Carsyn Gordon adds depth to the Florida State infield and brings a prolific bat to the Seminoles offense. Pitcher/first baseman Tessa Daniels should also be another impact freshman for Florida State, going in as FloSoftball's No. 79 player. Power-hitting infielder Sabrina Stutsman, speedy outfielder Zoe Casas, and right-handed pitcher Abby Evans round out the Seminoles' 2016 class.
Infielder Carsyn Gordon is one of three FloSoftball Hot 100 freshmen for Florida State
Assistant Coach Craig Snider seems to really like his team's chances this season. This is the most talented team I've coached in my four years at Florida State, and we'll have thunder from No.2 to No.8 in the lineup."
If that's the case, expect to see the Seminoles atop the ACC and fighting for a spot in Oklahoma City this June.
When softball fans think consider the legendary coaches of the sport, they often go right to Sue Enquist or Mike Candrea, and for good reason. Both are legendary in the sport and have certainly earned the right to be considered some of the best softball coaches ever. Fewer fans consider former Florida State Seminole softball coach Dr. JoAnne Graf.
Dr. Graf coached an impressive 30 seasons at Florida State and boasts 1,437 career wins with the Seminoles. She amassed seven Women's College World Series and 10 ACC conference championships before handing the reigns over to current head coach Lonni Alameda in 2008. Alameda has managed to bring the Seminoles back to the preeminence it experienced in the 1990s and early 2000s. 2014 was the first year Florida State made a WCWS appearance since 2004 and missed last year's by a single game.
Much of Florida State's recent success has come from the arm of graduated senior Lacey Waldrop. The three-time All-American and 2014 National Player of the Year posted a 1.52 ERA with 28 wins last season. Waldrop's collegiate success earned her the No. 3 draft pick by the Chicago Bandits this past summer and the National Pro Fastpitch rookie started off her pro career with a Cowles Cup Championship.
Florida State will have to continue its recent success without the 2015 ace Lacey Waldrop
Besides Waldrop, the Seminoles lose senior shortstop Maddie O'Brien. Taken No. 9 in the NPF draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion, O'Brien was second on the team last season in home runs with 13 and third on the team in runs batted in with 43. Pitcher/utility player Bailey Schinella, who started 62 of 63 games for Florida State last year, was also a 2015 graduate.
Good news for the Seminoles is that they return most of their top performers from the 2015 season, including ACC Freshman of the Year Jessica Warren. The infielder led Florida State in eight different categories in 2015, including home runs (19), runs batted in (57), and slugging percentage (.761).
Jessica Warren had a breakout freshman season, leading the Seminoles in home runs, RBIs, and six other statistical categories
Speedy outfielder Morgan Klaevemann also returns for her sophomore season. As a freshman, the lefty paced the Florida State offense with a .393 batting average and 20 stolen bases, while also posting a perfect fielding percentage. Likely stepping into the circle to replace Waldrop will be redshirt junior pitcher Jessica Burroughs. As the no. 2 pitcher last season, Burroughs posted a 2.08 ERA and won 19 games for the Seminoles.
As important as Florida State's returners is their class of six freshmen. Leading the rookie class for the Seminoles will be a trio of FloSoftball Hot 100 players. The No. 22 ranked freshman Cali Harrod goes to the Seminoles after having completed a successful travel ball career with the Atlanta Vipers. The middle infielder adds a solid offensive threat to the lineup.
Like Harrod, No. 47 ranked player Carsyn Gordon adds depth to the Florida State infield and brings a prolific bat to the Seminoles offense. Pitcher/first baseman Tessa Daniels should also be another impact freshman for Florida State, going in as FloSoftball's No. 79 player. Power-hitting infielder Sabrina Stutsman, speedy outfielder Zoe Casas, and right-handed pitcher Abby Evans round out the Seminoles' 2016 class.
Infielder Carsyn Gordon is one of three FloSoftball Hot 100 freshmen for Florida State
Assistant Coach Craig Snider seems to really like his team's chances this season. This is the most talented team I've coached in my four years at Florida State, and we'll have thunder from No.2 to No.8 in the lineup."
If that's the case, expect to see the Seminoles atop the ACC and fighting for a spot in Oklahoma City this June.