When you cover or cheer for an athletics program like Florida State, it can be difficult to maintain proper perspective.
The Seminoles want to win championships. In just about every sport. And in a few — like softball, soccer and now football and baseball again — it can feel like anything less than that ultimate goal, anything less than at least getting to the final weekend, the final game, the final play, can seem and feel like a letdown.
Which is why before the postseason begins, I want to write this column about the Florida State softball team, and to a lesser degree the baseball team.
Lonni Alameda has built her program to a point where anything less than Oklahoma City will be viewed by many as a disappointment. As a failure. And with the way Link Jarrett has turned the baseball program around next door, if his Seminoles don’t get to Omaha this year, it might feel that way as well.
And while you’re free to feel that sentiment, you’re free to be disappointed or upset or sad if these two seasons end short of their ultimate goal, I hope at the very least you appreciate how telling these two seasons have been when evaluating who these coaches are.
First, softball.
Last year, her team was in the WCWS championship finals. This year, Alameda’s program had some really down moments. Getting bombed in Clearwater, losing early games to teams they never typically lose to, dropping two of three to Syracuse for crying out loud, and then falling in the ACC championship game to Duke.
This is a proud, dominant program. It’s not used to disappointments like that.
Which is why I think what was accomplished last weekend speaks volumes about Alameda as a coach and the culture of her program.
A down year for FSU Softball is still a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals.
They’ve had horrible injury luck in the circle, the only really reliable arm is a freshman, and yet the Seminoles’ season — one way or another — will end in Oklahoma yet again. Either they’ll be in Oklahoma City for another Women’s College World Series, or they’ll fall at the hands of the No. 2 Sooners this week in Norman.
Either way, it was really cool and special that veterans like Kaley Mudge and Devyn Flaherty and Kalei Harding got to experience a win like the one they enjoyed on Sunday night to scan their barcode (we’ve got to ditch “punch their ticket”) to the Supers. It would have been a shame for them to not walk off that field for the final time as winners. And this week, no matter how it goes, will be a great experience for the young super-duper stars like Jaysoni Beachum and Isa Torres and starting pitcher Ashtyn Danley.
There isn’t a tougher or bigger road venue to play in than the one awaiting them in Norman. What a great environment to take lessons from, to pass on to the players coming behind them, to help sustain this program near the top of the sport.
All teams have blips like the one FSU experienced this season. All teams have lulls. All teams have rough patches. Most don’t still make it to the Supers. I hope the players understand how special a program has to be to still be playing at this time of year even while overcoming injury obstacles (especially since that clearly isn’t allowed to happen in football!).
“Gosh, I’m so proud of these guys,” Alameda said on Sunday night. “I got emotional in the fifth inning, the sixth inning, and I was like, ‘Holy Shmoley, this could actually happen.’ We’ve been through it. We’ve been through it as a team. …
“I’m just really proud of this opportunity to move on. It’s very special.”
Because it’s not a guarantee. Playing in Super Regionals is not a right. It’s earned. And Florida State, despite having “been through it,” went out and earned it. Because this program is about doing just that. It expects to. Every year.
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In reality, Alameda has already built what Link Jarrett is trying to build.
And I truly don’t care what happens this week in Charlotte for the baseball team. This year has been special. The Seminoles can go 0-2 in the ACC Tournament, and they’re still almost certainly hosting an NCAA Regional the following weekend.
You know the last time a postseason game was played at Dick Howser Stadium?
2018!
It’s been six years!
So that accomplishment, in and of itself, is something to smile about. Now, is it enough? Of course not. The Seminoles want to go win the whole thing. But is that likely with two weekend starters still not fully back from injury? Of course not.
But to get to 39 wins during the regular season — in a year in which you lost two weekend starting pitchers for essentially the final two months — is special. And appreciated. Because this program had seen some dark times recently. This program had been in the doldrums. And last year, this program wasn’t even in the postseason.
Now, they’re going to be hosting. I love that for the players. I love that for the fans. I love that for me!
Like the softball team, because of the pitching issues, I’m not expecting FSU baseball to go win the whole darn thing. I would love to see the Seminoles advance to the Supers for the first time since 2019. Heck, I’d love to see this team get to Omaha. That would be incredible.
But it’s already been a great year. It’s been a rejuvenation. It’s been a remarkable turnaround. And it’s given us all confidence that Jarrett is one of the best coaches in the country.
Just like his counterpart over at the softball stadium.
We already knew Lonni was great. And this year, even with the weird losses and pitching issues, she actually proved that even more. Her program is built to last. Built to overcome. Built to win despite obstacles.
There’s still more left to prove with baseball, obviously. But man, it sure does seem like Link and his program have that DNA as well.
And I can’t wait to see another NCAA Regional at Dick Howser Stadium. It’s been way too long!
*Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State baseball fans in the FSU Baseball Forum*
The post Corey Clark: FSU baseball, softball teams have already proven so much in 2024 appeared first on On3.