More Honors for Gator Softball

Just when you think the Gator softball team has picked up just about every award in sight, they added another one on Tuesday. Florida’s coaching staff, headed up by Head Coach Tim Walton was named the outstanding staff in the Southeast Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Walton shares the honor with assistant coaches Jennifer Rocha and Jenny Gladding and student coach Mary Ratliff. The quartet led the Gators to a 63-5 record and runner up finish at the College World Series. Along the way the Gators posted a 26-1 record in the SEC, winning their second consecutive SEC Title and conference tournament championship. At one point they won a school record 29 straight games.

The 2009 Gators broke eight team offensive records, including batting average (.323), home runs (86), runs scored (431) and slugging percentage (.543). Individually the Gators saw Francesca Enea break the single season records for home runs (18) and RBI (71). Kelsey Bruder set a new standard for total bases (139) while Aja Paculba (27) broke the stolen base record.

Stacey Nelson and Stephanie Brombacher dominated opposing hitters.

In the circle the Gators were equally impressive. Senior Stacey Nelson and sophomore Stephanie Brombacher combined for the lowest ERA (0.69) in the nation. The duo broke 11 single-season records, including strikeouts (547) and shutouts (39). Nelson finished her career tied for sixth in NCAA record books with 136 wins, while Brombacher has yet to lose a game (42-0) in her two years at UF.

Over the past three seasons the Gators have posted a record of 183-32, including a mind-boggling 133-10 the last season years. Overall Walton has posted a 226-57 mark in four seasons with the Gators including the school’s only two trips to the GWS.

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Florida looks to be extremely strong again in 2010 despite having to replace Nelson as well as centerfielder Kim Waleszonia, first baseman Ali Gardiner and catcher Kristina Hilberth.

Enea (.339, 18, 71), Bruder (.369, 16, 68), Paculba (.368, 9, 34) and Brombacher (22-0, 0.84) all return. They’ll be joined by shortstop Megan Bush (.327, 16, 46) and third baseman Corrie Brooks (.301, 11, 51).