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On Saturday afternoon, the top ranked and defending national champion Florida softball team will host an event at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to meet with the team, watch part of a scrimmage, receive autographs and participate in other family activities.
Coming off a national championship year, expectations are high for this year’s Florida team. The USA Softball Preseason Poll has ranked the Gators number one going into the season. This is only the second time under Florida head coach Tim Walton that the Gators were honored with this ranking. The last time was in 2009.
Walton believes the preseason ranking does not mean anything.
“Preseason number one ranking means about absolutely nothing. You don’t really know what you have and you don’t know what other people have.”
Walton continued to discuss how during the spring practices, he wanted to focus on getting his team to operate on the same mindset.
“You know the one main thing we are really trying to accomplish is just get that team striving together. You know one common goal, one team.”
The Gators only lost two players from last year’s squad. Experience is not going to be an issue on this year’s team. Walton, though, is not going to stick to one lineup.
“We’re going to play multiple lineups. In the past we might have played four kids here four kids there. We’re going to rotate a lot.”
The Gators will open up the season in the USF Softball Classic, playing Hampton on February 6.
For full audio from Tim Walton, click below:
Walton wanting his team to share the same mindset
