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Clearwater Day Two: Could Texas be the Top-Ranked Team Nationally?

by:Tara Henry•02/17/24
Kavan
Texas Athletics

Texas is demonstrating exceptional skills in all facets of the game and could arguably be considered the top team in the nation. The Longhorns possess a diverse pitching staff, excel in clutch situations, and showcase strong defensive abilities—a winning combination.

Let’s focus on their pitching. Rookie Tegan Kavan impressed yet again with nine strikeouts in just 4.0 innings against Stanford, showcasing her effective riseball, down ball and off-speed. Kavan struck out the side in the first inning and eight of the first nine outs she record came via the K.

Sophia Simpson and Mac Morgan also contributed effectively. In the game against Tennessee, Citlaly Gutierrez‘s complete-game victory displayed her command. While Estelle Czech adds further depth to the pitching rotation.

Texas possesses a wealth of pitching talent, with head coach Mike White steadily assembling a formidable pitching staff in recent years. With the addition of Kavan, it could now be considered fully stocked.

On the offensive front, the Longhorns exhibit power throughout their lineup, boasting impressive statistics including a .415 team batting average, 14 home runs, and 69 RBI. Reese Atwood stands out with a remarkable .619 batting average and OPS of 1.910. The Longhorn catcher leads the team in home runs (4), RBI (15) and is slugging 1.333. The most impressive stat? Atwood carries an average over .700 with runners in scoring position.

In comparison to their struggles in 2022, Texas’ defense has shown vast improvement, committing only five errors in seven games this season.

Other Clearwater Notables:

Florida State and UCLA are relying on pitching-by-committee strategies, as seen in their recent matchup, which ended in a high-scoring game favoring UCLA. Both teams utilized multiple pitchers, indicating an ongoing adjustment process.

 

Georgia Tech, despite a winless weekend, demonstrates impressive offensive firepower, led by Mallorie Black, Reese Hunter, and Sara Beth Allen. The Yellowjackets have scored a total of 26 runs in three games.

Speaking of runs…

Instant replay. Numerous questions regarding no instant replay in Clearwater. Reminder, instant replay is not mandatory.

Pace of play. Shortest game 1:40 min (Tennessee vs. Stanford), longest game 3:07 (UCLA vs. Georgia)

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