Opening Day For Gator Baseball

The wait is finally over, the day is here, and the time is now for the highly touted 2015 Florida baseball team. After finishing the 2014 season as regular season SEC champions, the expectations for this team are lofty. The team enters Friday’s match up against Rhode Island as the number five ranked team in the country according to USA Today’s Top 25 Coaches poll.

It is going to be a steady-led sophomore squad for the Orange and Blue this season. Florida’s sophomore Logan Shore will spearhead the mound attack after finishing his freshman campaign as the team’s ace and one of the SEC’s best arms. Behind him will be two other sophomores; Saturday starter Dane Dunning and Sunday’s dealer preseason All-American AJ Puk. Dunning showed flashes of greatness last season but has reportedly put it all together this off-season.

The talent starting games on the hill for Florida will be complimented by a handful of relievers including multiple left-handers. The Florida pitching staff will likely get support from a much-improved lineup.

After losing Taylor Gushue and Casey Turgeon to the draft last season, Kevin O’Sullivan has brought in seven freshmen who all spurned pro baseball after being drafted last year.

Second baseman Dalton Guthrie has emerged as the man opposite veteran Richie Martin in the middle of the infield. JJ Schwarz and Mike Rivera will battle it out for a spot behind the plate. The injury to Peter Alonso just a few days ago will give other players such as freshmen Christian Hicks from Jacksonville some playing time at first base when Puk is spending time on the mound.

Rhode Island is coming off a season in which it was a disappointing 12-38 but the Rams do feature two veteran pitchers in lefty Steve Moyers (who will pitch Friday) and righty Lou Distasio, a possible high draft choice (who will pitch Saturday).

ESPN 850 WRUF has live coverage of all three games with Friday’s coverage starting at 6:55 pm, Saturday at 3:55 pm and Sunday at 12:25 pm.