Just hours after the Women’s College World Series ended, Florida State softball players gathered with their families and friends in an Oklahoma City hotel to the season.

Among them were Michaela Edenfield, who was taking home a souvenir: An oversized sign that said “Welcome to the CWS.” The sign will go up somewhere in her apartment, a daily reminder of the memories and the journey — as well as the goal.

“There's always expectation,” FSU coach Lonni Alameda said. “Of course, last year’s expectation was to get past regionals. That was the goal, right? Here we are (in OKC). We just blossomed in an environment. You never really know as a coach what you're doing that actually clicks. But we've been pretty good at building teams to flourish at the right time. I would say that's to our entire staff. I think it's a collaborative effort.”

The collaborative effort begins very soon. Alameda said the staff will break down the season, what went right and wrong, and contemplate how the Seminoles (58-10 and national runners-up) can reload and improve in the fall as they work toward Team 41 in the 2024 season.

Among the biggest concerns? Pitching.

FSU loses one of the all-time greats in Kathryn Sandercock, who is the program leader in appearances (184) and saves (18). She had 107 career wins and a 1.44 ERA, including a 28-3 mark with 10 saves and a 1.05 ERA in 2023. FSU also loses Mack Leonard, who went 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA and was a big contributor in the postseason in the circle. Leonard also hit .266 with five home runs, 42 RBI and 46 runs scored (she also struck out just 17 times in 173 at-bats).

“The circle is probably one of the biggest things we really have to figure out,” Alameda said. “Replacing the innings that Kat gave us will be tough. Replacing what Mack gave us towards the end is going to be tough. We're going to have some rookies. It's going to take some time to get people in experienced situations.”

Alameda used freshman left-hander Makenna Reid in some tough situations, beginning with a midseason start at Clemson. While 39 of her 43 appearances were in relief, Reid could be used in both roles. She went 13-0 with a 0.97 ERA and 91 strikeouts (with just 22 walks) in 79.1 innings.

FSU will also return Allison Royalty (8-1, 2.62 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 37 walks in 69 innings) and Madi Balk, who pitched in eight games as a freshman but none down the stretch in the spring. Reserve Emma Wilson is also an option.

The Seminoles will no doubt look to the transfer portal for pitching options, and they have found good ones in recent years in landing Caylan Arnold (2020-21), Leonard (2022-23) and Royalty.

Leonard and Bethaney Keen vacate a spot at first base, while Josie Muffley’s highlight-reel glove at short will be missed. But FSU also welcomes back Kaley Mudge and Devyn Flaherty, veterans who spent a COVID season at FSU in 2020 and have added eligibility.

FSU returns seven regulars with a .388 on-base percentage or higher, including everyday starters in Michaela Edenfield, Jahni Kerr, Kalei Harding, Hallie Wacaser as well as Mudge and Flaherty. Katie Dack started in 52 of 64 games and had a .408 on-base percentage and team-leading .618 slugging.

The Seminoles also welcome in six freshmen: 3B Jaysoni Beachum, 1B Angelee Bueno, LHP Ashtyn Danley, RHP Mimi Gooden, OF Kennedy Harp and infielder Isa Torres. Bueno hits left-handed and is known for her glove as well as bat, while Danley is one of the top left-handers in the Southeast.

“We have some really talented freshmen coming in that have been texting every single day,” Alameda said. “Even though they're not here, they are getting videos from me of like, this is what it's like when we get here. We've got the dream of where we want to be with the new ones coming in. It's just going to take work.”

Alameda began to walk off the podium in OKC, thanking FSU administrators, NCAA support staff and media. “I don’t even know what day it is but thank you for everything,” Alameda said.

That’s perfectly understandable at the end of a 10-day trip to the Women’s CWS. Even with an expanded schedule, the stay in OKC was lengthy and it’s the goal again in 2024 as the Seminoles seek a sixth trip in nine years to the WCWS.

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