Latest news with #Gainesville-area
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Golden Gators: Florida softball's Falby, Erickson Gold Glovers again, Shumaker earns top honor
OKLAHOMA CITY — Taylor Shumaker has made history all season for Florida softball. In her maiden voyage with the Gators, she set not only freshman records, but also overall program records. Tuesday night, on the sport's biggest stage, she added one more, and it was more prestigious one of all. Advertisement Shumaker was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the Year on Tuesday in Oklahoma City – two days before the Gators kick off the WCWS vs. Texas. Shumaker became the second freshman to claim the award for the Gators – joining Amanda Lorenz. Lorenz, a UF legend, grew up in Moorpark in Southern California, not far from Shumaker's hometown of Fullerton. The two played in many of the same AAU circuits. She currently sits at 23 home runs and 86 RBIs. Both of those tie program records. For home runs, she ties with Brittany Schutte in 2011, and RBIs with Jocelyn Erickson last season. During Florida's pre-WCWS press conference Wednesday, Shumaker touched on what the experience of OKC has been like. Advertisement 'It's all really surreal. It's crazy to think I'm here after watching it for so many years,' Shumaker said. 'It's an unreal venue, so many amazing softball fans. We're growing the game we have been playing since we were five, six years old.' Shumaker wasn't the only Gator to leave Wednesday with hardware. Kendra Falby and Erickson made history by going back-to-back with Gold Gloves, becoming just the second and third player to do so. Falby was a no brainer. She awed players, coaches and fans alike with a new home run-stealing catch almost every week. This season, though, came with the new honor of All-American as she was named a second teamer – the first of her career. The speedster said she credits her teammates more than anyone for her success. Advertisement 'The numbers that I've been able to put up when it comes to runs wouldn't be any help without Jocelyn and Taylor Shumaker and like the list goes on,' Falby said. 'It's really thanks to my teammates and pushing me every single day.' Erickson credited outfielders like Falby for pushing her. Falby, along with fellow outfielders Shumaker and Korbe Otis, have mentioned how competitive the outfielders are in practice. Erickson said that mantra rubs off on the rest of the team. 'Our team feeds off of each other. When the outfield makes insane plays, like when Kendra robs a home run, it just makes me want to be so much better,' Erickson said. 'Having teammates around you that want to push you to be your best is honestly surreal.' In total, Shumaker was named as a first team All-American by the NFCA, and Falby and Mia Williams were named second team. Advertisement Florida begins its WCWS journey vs. Texas at 12 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@ Follow him on X @Noah_ram1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball's Kendra Falby, Jocelyn Erickson, Taylor Shumaker win awards
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Florida softball vs. Texas live scoring updates: Gators begin in WCWS vs. Longhorns
OKLAHOMA CITY — For the 13th time in the last 18 seasons, Florida softball has moved its operations north for the summer. In this case, 1,200 miles northwest to the 'Big Friendly' and Oklahoma City. This current iteration of Gators are no strangers to OKC. UF advanced to the WCWS last season, and its first semifinals since 2017. Now, Florida returns and holds high expectations. After all, it ended the regular season less than a month ago by taking two of three from Oklahoma in Gainesville. Advertisement The Gators have the nation's best young hitter in Taylor Shumaker, All-Americans in Kendra Falby and Mia Williams, and a pitcher in Keagan Rothrock who shined here last season. 'Told my team as we began our journey that this is the greatest show on dirt and the greatest opportunity for student-athletes in our sport to play,' coach Tim Walton said. Florida's opponent is no stranger to success. Texas bested Florida in OKC last season and advanced to the championship series. The 'Horns began this season strong, including taking two of three from UF in Gainesville in March (Rothrock didn't play in that series). However, UT was swept by Oklahoma in April ad has struggled at times to gain momentum back. All in all, it'll be an intriguing all-SEC showdown in OKC Thursday. Advertisement Here's live updates: Florida softball vs. Texas in 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series: Live updates This section will be updated as the game begins. Florida softball vs. Texas in 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series: Starting lineups This section will be updated as the game begins. Florida softball vs. Texas in 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series: Start time First pitch from Devon Park in Oklahoma City is set to for 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT. Florida softball vs. Texas in 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series: TV/Streaming TV channel: ESPN Streaming: Watch ESPN, FUBO (free trial) Advertisement You can listen to it here. Live stats are available on Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@ Follow him on X @Noah_ram1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball vs Texas score updates for Women's College World Series
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where does Florida baseball rank in national polls following its SEC series win over Texas?
To quote the theme from "Welcome Back Kotter," Welcome back! This week, it applies to Florida baseball and its return to the national polls. The Gators ranked in all four of the top national polls this week after a stunning series win at No. 1 Texas. Advertisement Last week, Florida came in at No. 22 in the Baseball America poll, but this week, it appeared in all four polls for the first time since March 17 following a sweep to Tennessee. A sweep the next weekend vs. Georgia knocked UF out for good. Florida fully reached rock bottom on April 6 after a disastrous home sweep to Vanderbilt. That dropped its SEC record to 1-11. Since then, coach Kevin O'Sullivan's squad has looked possessed. It has won five consecutive SEC series. Two were sweeps (vs. Missouri and at South Carolina), and the other three were two of three (at Mississippi State and Texas and vs. Arkansas). A narrative flip began with the series win over Arkansas and completed with the Longhorns win. A few weeks ago, pundits doubted if Florida would make the NCAA Tournament. Now, the question is whether UF can host a regional. Where does Florida baseball rank after Texas series win? USA TODAY Coaches Poll: No. 21 (NR) Advertisement Perfect Game: No. 20 (NR) Baseball America: No. 13 (+9) D1 Baseball: No. 23 (NR) Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@ and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida baseball: Where do the Gators rank after Texas series win?
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Florida basketball was called for technical foul vs Houston in NCAA Championship
Why Florida basketball was called for technical foul vs Houston in NCAA Championship SAN ANTONIO — Early in the second half of the NCAA Championship vs. Houston, Florida basketball lost its cool. The Gators were called for a technical foul with 17:21 left in the second half. Assistant coach Kevin Hovde stormed onto the court after guard Will Richard was called for a blocking foul. Richard had previously called for two offensive fouls in the second half. Advertisement The referees T'ed up Florida's bench as a result as Hovde was grabbed and taken back to the bench by UF's other coaches. Afterwards, guard Alijah Martin gathered the Gators starters together at center court to calm the team down. Martin played in the Final Four two years ago with FAU. The Cougars went 1-2 from the free throw line after the game's first technical foul was called. Houston has frustrated UF all game, getting the Gators out of their rhythm. The Coogs lead early in the second half. Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@ and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball called for technical foul in NCAA Championship vs. Houston
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida basketball vs. Houston tickets in 2025 NCAA Tournament Final: Prices, how to buy
SAN ANTONIO — For the first time in 18 years, Florida basketball will be playing for a shot at immortality in the NCAA Final. The Gators came back from a second half deficit for third time in four games with a dramatic 79-73 win over Auburn in the Final Four. Walter Clayton Jr. was once again otherworldly for Florida with a masterful and career-high 34 points. Advertisement UF also saw key contributions from Alijah Martin, who overcame a previous Final Four loss at FAU, with 17 points, and 12 from Thomas Haugh, who also helped shut down Tigers star Johni Broome. Florida trailed by eight at halftime, but it quickly tied the game in the second half and held AU to 27 points and 33% shooting. Now, the Gators will play for their third national title in program history, and it'll be against the in-state team, Houston. The Cougars defeated the Duke Blue Devils and their National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg 70-67 in the second game from the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday night. Houston (34-4), under veteran coach Kelvin Sampson, ranks first in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 58.3 points per game. That defense shined through in the final three minutes of the game vs. the Blue Devils. The Cougars held Duke without a field goal in the final 3:03 after a Flagg made three pointer. From that moment, the 'Cougs went on a 15-3 run, including 9-0 to end it, in one of the most stunning endings in recent Final Four history. Advertisement The two squads have met just twice, with the Cougars taking both games and the last meeting between the two programs coming in 1973. Florida will play Houston at 8:50 p.m. ET on Monday, and the game will be on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus with Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery and Grant Hill will be on the call, with Tracy Wolfson providing sideline reports. Florida basketball vs. Houston tickets for March Madness 2025 Final Four STUBHUB: Starting at $141 Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@ and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball tickets vs. Houston in 2025 NCAA Tournament Final
