Lonni Alameda Talks FSU 2017

On this edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez talks to Florida State Seminoles Head Coach Lonni Alameda about the high expectations entering the 2017 season.

Lonni Alameda taken Florida State to WCWS 2 times in last 3 seasons.

Alameda enters her 9th season coaching the Noles coming off second trip in three seasons to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series reaching the semifinals for the third time in school history and ending with a 55-10 record with a No. 4 national ranking, which tied for the highest final NFCA ranking ever for FSU.

Alameda has led the Seminoles to ACC Championship titles in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Among the topics Alameda talks about include :

Jessica Burroughs leads Noles Pitching staff.(Photo Courtesy of FSU)

• Expectations of 2017 season with almost entire team back from WCWS appearance.
• Learning from experience in Oklahoma City in 2016
• Depth on the roster on offense and pitching.
• Being the target in the ACC and in the country
• Jessica Burroughs leading the pitching staff
• Leaders passing on the tradition from senior class to senior class under Alameda.
• Being Head Coach in the NPF with USSSA Pride
• Being involved with Canadian National team in 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
• Softball back in the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

Interview with Lonni Alameda Episode 74

Alex Powers leads deep Offense attack ( Photo Courtesy of Tallahassee Democrat)

Alameda won ACC Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season in 2016 as Jessica Burroughs and Alex Powers earned ACC Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, respectively in the ACC. FSU set an ACC record with six members on the All-ACC First Team as Burroughs and Powers were joined by Ellie Cooper, Meghan King, Morgan Klaevemann and Jessica Warren. Burroughs, Powers and Warren were named NFCA All-Americans, marking the sixth time that FSU had three All-Americans in the same season.

2017 is the first time in program history the Noles return three All-Americans from a previous season.

Alameda spent summer of 2016 being the Head Coach of USSSA Pride in 2016 leading them to the best record in the NPF in regular season and took them to NPF Championship Series before falling to the Chicago Bandits in 3 games for the championship.  Balancing multiple coaching jobs is nothing new for Alameda.

Lonni Alameda coached USSSA Pride in 2016 in the NPF.(Photo Courtesy USSSA)

Alameda helped the development of Canada’s National team from 2004 to 2008 aiding Canada up until the 2004 Summer Olympics and resumed as an assistant following the  2005 season when Alameda was  the Head Coach at UNLV. In the summer of 2006, Canada qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, after its strong showing in the World Championships. Alameda spent the summer of 2008 with the Canadian team which ended its quest for the gold with a fourth-place finish at the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

Jenn Salling Talks Washington Softball

On this edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez talks with  Graduate Asst Manager Jenn Salling who played at Washington being part of the Huskies 2009 National Championship team.

Among the topics Salling discussed in the interview include :

Jenn Salling played in the NPF from 2011-2014 winning NPF Championship with the USSSA Pride in 2013. (Photo Courtesy of USSSA)

• Outlook for the 2017 Huskies
• What got Salling into coaching?
• Being part of 2009 National Championship team
• Playing with Danielle Lawrie
• Being part of Canadian National team
• Playing in the NPF
• Softball back in the Olympics

Jenn Salling Interview

Salling joined the Huskies program as a player  on April 2, 2009 after transferring from Oregon. Salling  started every game at shortstop to help Washington win their first National Championship in program history.

In  2010, Salling earned first team NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-America, All-Pacific Region and All-Pac-10 honors. She was named a top-25 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.

As a senior in 2011, Salling  earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and left Washington ranked in the Husky career records for batting average (T-10, .342), triples (T-eighth, 7), slugging percentage (ninth, .543),  on-base percentage (fifth, .474).

Salling would go on to play in the NPF as Salling was selected 3rd overall in the 2011 NPF Draft by the USSSA Pride where Salling played with from 2011-2013. Salling was part of the Pride’s 2013 NPF Championship.  Salling played 2014 season with the Pennsylvania Rebellion.

Salling is part of Canadian Softball team. Been involved since 2006 (Photo Courtesy of Canada Softball)

Salling left the NPF after 2014 season. Salling decided to return to Washington  joining the coaching staff as its graduate assistant coach in the fall of 2015. Salling still plays as a member of the Canadian National Team which she has been involved with since 2006. Salling was part of Canadian National team that participated in Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008. Among the highlights of her career with Canada, Salling   won the gold medal in the 2015 Pan American Games.

Washington coming off a 2016 season where the Huskies finished 39-15 advancing to the Super Regionals before falling at Alabama. The Husky program is celebrating their 25^th season as an NCAA sport under 13^th year head coach Heather Tarr as they enter the 2017 season.

The Huskies offense will be led by  Ali Aguilar,Casey Stangel and Taylor Van Zee.

Washington’s pitching will be led by duo of Madi Schreyer and Taran Alvelo in the circle.

For more on the Washington Huskies softball program. Go to GoHuskies.com  and follow on twitter @UWSoftball.