Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan is preparing for his 17th season in Gainesville. [AP Photo/Matt Stamey]

Florida Baseball Opens Season

It’s a beautiful 73 degrees in Gainesville. Partly cloudy, the sun breaking through the cracks to illuminate the University of Florida and its students. Perfect baseball weather.

Swinging Right Back

It marks the 11th-straight season that head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s club has been ranked during the preseason in the nation’s oldest college baseball poll, which began in 1959.
Courtesy: Daniel Apple

The Gators have had a long time to think about the end of last season, eight months in fact. While the team suffered heartbreaking losses to USF and South Alabama to end the 2021 season, they will not let these games define them. Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan is keen on bouncing back.

Florida has built up an impressive team so far, with standouts Junior Jud Fabian and Sophomore Hunter Barco being named to the preseason All American First Team. Though this team has phenomenal standout players, they shine as a team. The preseason Coaches Poll predicts Florida to place third in the SEC, only behind Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

Dream Team

O’Sullivan has not backed away from the challenge of creating a powerful team, and it seems he may have succeeded. The team brought in a remarkable freshman class, led by eight D1Baseball Top-50 Impact Players, giving Florida the number one recruiting class in the country.

While the team has promising new blood, The Gators were also able to return six starters from last season, most notably Fabian and Barco. Kris Armstrong, Kendrick Calilao, Josh Rivera and Sterlin Thompson return to the field as well, combining for a 0.279 batting average.

Defensively, the team is focused on the strength of their center, and with Jud Fabian at Center Field and Josh Rivera at Shortstop, The Gators seem prepared for whatever is hit their way.

It All Starts Today

This team has put in the work over the offseason, and now they have the chance to reap the benefits. Opening day sees Florida host the Liberty University Flames.  Starting the night off strong, new head football coach Billy Napier will open the season with the first pitch.

The Gators projected starting lineup is as follows:

C 9 Mac Guscette

1B 6 Kendrick Calilao

2B 5 Colby Halter

3B 23 Deric Fabian

SS 24 Josh Rivera

LF 36 Wyatt Langford

CF 4 Jud Fabian

RF 29 Sterlin Thompson

DH 34 Kris Armstrong

Pitching:

LHP 12 Hunter Barco

LHP 44 Timmy Manning

LHP 18 Pierce Coppola

This will be the first matchup between the Gators and the Flames since 1981, with Florida taking a convincing 11-6 win. The hometown team has won eight straight home openers, and are looking to bring that number up to nine. In all openers, Florida is 13-1 under Kevin O’Sullivan, who is entering his 15th season in Gainesville.

O’Sullivan is ready for the matchup, but refuses to take them for granted, being focused on Liberty’s outstanding pitching and mature approach to the game.

Florida will begin the season ranked No. 9, hoping to pull out another National Championship season. Until tonight, however, all we can do is wait and see what the Gators will bring to the plate.

https://twitter.com/GatorsBB/status/1494673058790973443?s=20&t=kYgedzsHOYGy966CoXlLGQ

Florida opens their season at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18th at Florida Ballpark.

About Christopher Cappiali

Check Also

Orange & Blue Sports Network

Catch the student-led broadcasts from the College of Journalism and Communications right here.

LIVE THREAD: National Signing Day

Here’s an updated thread of all the recruits who picked the Gator hat today! RB …

AFC Divisional Round Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers

During last weekend’s NFL Wild Card round, the Steelers made a statement by handing the Dolphins a …

Houston Looking For an Upset in Foxborough

The saying has always been “it’s hard to beat a good team twice,” and in …

Blue Jackets vs. Lightning Tonight

The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be facing each other once …

Possible Additions to McElwain’s Recruiting Class Visiting this Weekend

With National Signing Day less than three weeks away, the Gators are hosting several talented …

Florida Gymnastics Prepares for Season Opener

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Gator gymnastics team will kick off their season this Sunday …

Surprised Gators Promote Randy Shannon To Defensive Coordinator? You Shouldn’t Be

Florida’s head coach, Jim McElwain, announced Friday morning that Randy Shannon would be making the …

Quarterbacks in Spotlight for NFL Wild Card Weekend

The NFL Wild Card kicks off Saturday and the quarterback situations could not be any more different. On …

College Football Playoff Shakes Up Schedule

The College Football Playoff was a success in its first year. Yet, that doesn’t stop …

Michael Jordan Speaks out about Shootings, Police Officers

NBA great Michael Jordan opened up about his thoughts about shootings of African-Americans and the …

Treon Harris to Transfer

With the college football season approaching, the Florida Gators have announced that former starting QB …

USA Basketball Wins Second Exhibition Game

Just a few short days after their big win over Argentina, team USA won its …

Charlotte Is No Longer The Home Of The 2017 NBA All-Star Game

The House Bill 2 came between Charlotte, North Carolina and the 2017 All-Star Game. The …

Tampa Bay Rays Continue Series Against Oakland

The Tampa Bay Rays are continuing their three-game winning streak. The Rays defeated the Oakland …

MLB Preview Tonight

It’s summer time—the best time to go to a baseball game and experience the atmosphere. …

Braves Begin Series With Rockies

The Atlanta Braves (33-62) open up a four-game road series with the Rockies (43-51) tonight …

Marlins To Close Out Series With The Phillies

The Miami Marlins are in the middle of a crucial ten game span against NL East …

Rays Crush Rockies 11-3, Face A’s Next

In the midst of a terrible season that has seen the Tampa Bay Rays (37-57) …

American League Second Half Outlook

The second half of the baseball season is in full swing which translates to? Pennant races. Teams …

National League Evening Preview

Tonight is a busy night for the National League in the MLB. Starting with the …

Big 12 Looks To Expand

Following a Tuesday meeting between Big 12 presidents, Oklahoma president David Boren announced that the …

LSU Looks To Capitalize On Its Opportunity

The Louisiana State University Tigers will enter the 2016 college football season with high expectations, …

Muschamp Helps Close Out SEC Media Days 2016

It wasn’t Will Muschamps first SEC Media Days experience, but 2016 marked the first time …

Phil Mickelson Leads British Open After First Day

The 145th annual 2016 British Open is underway at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. The …

Missouri’s Football Crisis: Rebuilding A Program

On the final day of SEC Media Days, Barry Odom took the stand as Missouri’s head …

Second Half Of MLB Season Begins

The All-Star Break is a good time for teams to rest up and reform themselves …

British Open Underway

The 145th Open Championship is already underway at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Welcome …

Newberry Softball Caps Week With Third Run-Rule Win In A Row

By Hannah Getman and Adam Edelin  The Newberry High School softball team beat the Eastside …