2/7/2023 other sports Edit

Quote book and video: Lonni Alameda on pitching depth, 3B options and more

Bob Ferrante • TheOsceola

Editor

Florida State coach Lonni Alameda talks with the media on Tuesday, two days before opening the 2023 season. Alameda discusses the Seminoles' pitching depth, options at third base and the outlook for the season ahead.

Some thoughts from Alameda:

(Looking forward to playing a game and tournament beginning Thursday) "Playing each other is just not fun. Get someone in a different uniform to play. I’m excited to see some of our freshmen in moments. Kalei Harding at the plate. Mack Leonard looks awesome right now. Just the ebb and flow of a game and the weekend and maybe no rain."

(Players are tired of intrasquad practice or scrimmage and want to face an opponent) "This is the time of year you could put a practice play out there and they could care less. They’re just so over it and want to play. I get that. We’re at the point right now where we need the game to teach us some things to work on. So that’s the next step for us."

(On the new deck on the right-field line and seating above the bullpen) "You think of the berm. I don’t know, six years ago, you were sitting on a berm. And then last year, you’re launched down because of the erosion. So I felt bad. I remember one guy had just bought a drink and he was up there and a foul ball came and it just knocks his drink over. I’m like, ‘Run up and buy him another drink.’ Now there’s actual seating and comfortability. It’s not so much for the more seats, it’s just more for the experience. I look at us kind of like a Wrigleyville. We have seats in spots every direction. It’s a very unique place. I just love that about it."

(FSU could use even pitchers) "Kat (Sandercock) can go a full seven. She can go back to back. We all know that. I’m sure Allison could probably squeak seven in there if we wanted to. But when you have arms like that you can get some relief moments, you can do some matchups, you can close games, you can open games. I think that’s just really where we’re diving into, and I think softball is diving into that quite a bit, too. More rosters you see more than just two pitchers on the roster."

(The options at third base) "Kalei Harding, experience and swings it. We know that. Krystina is really explosive. Moves really well. She’s pretty good forward and back. Avery (Weisbrook) is a shortstop that we moved over to third base. I think she’ll mix into both positions for us. Avery is really intrinsic. She’s got some good mindset in the game. Just drinking from a fire hose as a freshman right now but I think it’s all filtering in. I expect to see all of them."