Monthly Archives: February 2022

Gator Softball have 3 – 0 Start

Gator Sports

Gators improve to 3-0 with wins over No. 16 Michigan, Kansas City

 
Florida Gators softball
Photo by Mark LoMoglio/UAA Communications

The Florida Gators softball team won both of its games Saturday, beating the Kansas City Roos 7-1 and the No. 16 Michigan Wolverines 4-0 in Tampa.

The Gators improved to 3-0 on the season with one more matchup this weekend. They face the USF Bulls on Sunday at noon in their final game at the USF-Rawlings Invitational.

Gators’ first-ranked win over Michigan

The Gators’ victory over the Wolverines was all about pitching and defense for both teams.“I was really excited,” Delbrey said. “This is one of my biggest dreams ever, so I just wanted to compete against them.”

Delbrey pitched all seven innings in her starting debut and lost her no-hit bid after 6.1 innings pitched. 

Still, it was an incredible performance from Delbrey, who finished with five strikeouts and held the Wolverines to just one hit and no runs.

“I felt really good,” Delbrey said. “I was a little too excited at first, but then I kind of calmed down, and then all of my pitches started settling down and looking better.”

Lindsey wasted no time, cranking a grand slam over the wall and giving the Gators a 4-0 advantage.

“I was really just trying not to make the moment bigger than what it was, stay poised and just keep my swing the same,” Lindsey said. “I’ve been hitting and making really good contact, so just staying the same and not letting the situation get me worked up.”

Florida’s victory over Kansas City

The Kansas City bats got hot in the first inning when the Roos scored their only run of the game. From there, starting UF pitcher Elizabeth Hightower took over and earned her second win of the season. 

Hightower finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched, allowing five hits and two strikeouts.

Florida claimed the lead in the bottom of the second inning when left fielder Kendra Falby hit the first homer of her career, driving in two runs.

UF catcher Sam Roe’s first hit of her young career was a solo home run in the fourth inning, extending Florida’s lead out to 3-1.

The Gators’ bats were on fire in the bottom of the sixth when center fielder Cheyenne Lindsey drove in two runs with a triple to right center field. Roe added another one with a sacrifice bunt to bring Lindsey home.

The Gators will look for a 4-0 start to the 2022 season against the USF Bulls on Sunday.

Lacrosse opens with a win

Gator Sports

Special report on the Florida Gators lacrosse team:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The seventh-ranked Florida lacrosse team kicked off the 2022 season on a high note on Saturday, defeating the Kennesaw State Owls 22-7 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

 

 

Florida was led offensively by freshman Emma LoPinto, who notched eight points on six goals and two assists in her collegiate debut. That marks the most goals scored by a Florida player in a season opener in program history and ties the program record for most goals  scored by a freshman.

 

Danielle Pavinelli added four goals of her own in the victory – tying her career-high – followed by two apiece from Maggi Hall and Emily Heller. Eight Gators each registered one goal on the afternoon: Paisley Eagan, Brie Catts, Kaala Puglisi, Celeste Forte, Ashley Gonzalez, Charlotte Harmon, Kylee Hubiak and Bella Palagonia.

 

Florida won the battle in the draw circle, coming up with 18-of-32 draws – led by four apiece from Heller and Sawers.

 

The Gators’ defense held the Owls to just 7-of-18 shooting in the game and registered 10 caused turnovers. Forte led the way with two, while Leigh Lingo, Catherine Flaherty, Becky Browndorf, Maeson Tydings, Sarah Mackey, Eagan, Hall and Gonzalez each recorded one.

 

Emma Wightman and Mackey each notched a team-high two groundballs, while 10 other Gators each recorded one groundball in the win.

 

In the cage, Reznick tallied three saves in her 45:00 between the pipes, while Julia Hammerschlag notched one save in her 15 minutes of action.

 

The Gators return to the field on Tuesday to take on Scotland in an exhibition game. Opening draw is set for 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

 

Records
No. 7 Florida (1-0)
Kennesaw State (0-1)

 

How it Happened

  • The Gators got on the board first thanks to Emma LoPinto’s first goal in a Gator jersey just over 90 seconds into the game. Danielle Pavinelli followed with her first goal of the season and LoPinto added her second of the day to put Florida up 3-0.
  • Kennesaw State got on the board with 7:56 remaining in the first quarter, but Florida answered less than two minutes later, with LoPinto netting her first collegiate hat trick. The Owls cut their deficit to two at 4-2, but the freshman LoPinto once again answered, recording her fourth goal with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter to put Florida up 5-2 going into the break.
  • The Owls got on the board first in the second quarter, but Florida strung together a 6-0 run behind goals from Emily Heller, Pavinelli (2), Maggi Hall (2) and Paisley Eagan.
  • Kennesaw State pulled back to within seven goals with just under two minutes left in the half, but LoPinto tallied her fifth goal with six seconds remaining in the frame to put the Gators up 12-4 going into the locker room.
  • Coming out of the half, Kennesaw State pulled to within seven at 12-5, but Florida answered with the duo of Ashley Gonzalez and LoPinto – each adding a goal and an assist to put the Gators up 14-5 with 10:05 left in the third quarter. After the Owls got one back at 14-6, the Gators went on a 7-0 run behind goals from Pavinelli, Heller, Puglisi, Forte, Harmon, Palagonia and Hubiak.
  • The Owls would add one more to their column, but Brie Catts posted the first goal of her career to close out the game 22-7.

Softball season opener,

Gator Sports
Gators Shut Out Redbirds to Open 2022 Season
 
Softball
Posted: Friday, February 11, 2022

TAMPA – The No. 6-ranked Florida softball team picked up a 3-0 victory Friday evening over Illinois State on Opening Day at the USF – Rawlings Invitational.

The Gators (1-0) were led in the circle by Natalie Lugo, Elizabeth Hightower (1-0) and Lexie Delbrey (1 SV). The trio combined for 11 strikeouts and the program’s 21st career opening day shutout.

Hightower picked up the victory after she entered in relief in the third inning with Redbirds on the corners with one out. The Monticello, Fla. native hit the first batter she faced to load the bases, but went on to record back-to-back swinging strikeouts.

From there, the NFCA Third Team All-American, went on to retire six-straight additional batters, before being relieved by freshman Lexie Delbrey. Delbrey, a Bainbridge, Ga. native, picked up her first career save as she retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

Lugo, a native of West Covina, Calif., threw 3.1 innings as the starter of today’s game and struck out three, while allowing only three hits and a pair of walks.

Offensively, Florida broke open the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning of play. Sophomore catcher Emily Wilkie (Cumming, Ga.) produced a two-out single, which was then followed up by fellow sophomore outfielder Avery Goelz’s RBI triple to center field.

Freshman outfielder Kendra Falby drove in Goelz during the ensuing at-bad with an RBI double down the left field line to give UF a 2-0 lead.

Hannah Adams (Hoschton, Ga.) and Skylar Wallace (Woodstock, Ga.) also picked up base hits in the contest with Wallace adding two stolen base and Adams swiped one in the effort.

Overall, the Gators stole five bases in tonight’s game.  

The Gators return to action Saturday, Feb. 12, with a pair of games against Kansas City at 10:30 a.m. and No. 16 Michigan at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF and on The Varsity Network app.

Notes:

  • The Gators improved to 26-1 in opening day games and 33-5 in games during opening weekend.
    • UF now holds a 16-2 against the Redbirds and now have won its last 15 games.
    • It’s also the 21st shutout for the Gators during Opening Day.

More to come…..

News
Thanks to Ward Scott and his “investigator/instigator” for bringing this information into public awareness. Ward’s show is on YouTube at 9am on weekdays. Watch the Ward Scott Files. 
 

FDLE sends report with probable cause for 10 Alachua County voter fraud cases to State Attorney Kramer

February 11, 2022

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

On Thursday, February 3, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) sent a report with the results of their investigation into voter fraud in Alachua County to 8th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Kramer. Kramer has confirmed that there are ten criminal cases in the report; he is now assigning them to assistant state attorneys, who will make the charging decisions.

More information about the cases will be available when the State Attorney’s office drops the case, when his office answers discovery to the defendant, or when they “otherwise determine that the ‘investigative’ exemption no longer applies.”

 

The UFuture

Gator Sports

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida head football coach Billy Napier welcomed his inaugural recruiting class on Wednesday, signing eight on National Signing Day.

The eight join fourteen Gators for a total of 22 that signed during the early signing period or transfered in following the 2021 season. 

I think evaluation and recruitment is kind of a separate entity. Then the players arrive then it’s time to develop them, motivate them, improve their lives as people, students and players,” said Napier. “I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made. I thought we answered a lot of needs. I thought we took advantage of each opportunity to add players to the team.”

The full list of Florida’s signees on national signing day, early signing period and midyear transfers can be found below. For more information on each signee, you can visit the Gators’ National Signing Day website here.

Florida’s Current 2022 Signing Class 
 

Name Position
Max Brown QB
David Conner^ OT
Caleb Douglas WR
Trevor Etienne RB
Jalen Farmer OL/G
Hayden Hansen TE
Shemar James^ LB
Montrell Johnson* RB
Jalen Kimber* DB
Tony Livingston^ TE
Jamari Lyons^ DT
Chris McClellan^ DL
Jack Miller III* QB
Miguel Mitchell S
Devin Moore^ CB
Jack Pyburn OLB
Andrew Savaiinaea DL
Trey Smack^ K
O’Cyrus Torrence* OL
Kamryn Waites* OL
Christian Williams^ OL
Kamari Wilson^ S

* Indicates midyear transfer
^ Indicates from early signing period