Gators’ Maldonado shows grit at CWS
OMAHA, Neb. — Perhaps nobody in Florida’s lineup needed a couple days off more than Nelson Maldonado.
The area around third base has taxed the sophomore right fielder the past few days at the College World Series, but no doubt he’ll be in the lineup today when the Gators (49-18) take on the winner of the Louisville versus TCU game played late Thursday night at TD Ameritrade Park.
“He’s really, really tough. He always puts the team first whether he’s hurting or not,” UF left fielder Austin Langworthy said.
Maldonado, the team’s top hitter at .305, rolled his right ankle when he slipped rounding third in Sunday’s win against the Horned Frogs.
He stayed in the game two more innings before being pulled.
Maldonado, playing with a taped ankle, jammed his shoulder diving back to third base in Tuesday’s win against Louisville.
With the bases microphoned, everyone in the press box could hear Maldonado groan as he tried to stand up.
“It didn’t feel good, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “It didn’t affect my swing; just a little discomfort.”
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan praised his “top-notch medical staff ” for assuring that every Gator in the starting lineup is healthy.
“He’s certainly not playing 100 percent,” O’Sullivan said. “He is a tough kid.”
While there is toughness, there is no tension in the Florida locker room this season. Maldonado, 2-for-6 with a run battedin at the CWS, said that wasn’t the case last year when Florida lost its first two games in Omaha.
“We came in with a little pressure last year. We were very anxious at the plate,” he said. “Now we’re playing relaxed; we’re playing easy.”
O’Sullivan said there’s nothing different about his approach to the games. He stays out of his players’ way, giving them freedom other coaches may not.
“We don’t check curfew; I trust them,” he said.
Former Oviedo High standout Deacon Liput, whose three-run homer was critical in Tuesday’s 5-1 win against Louisville, was a freshman on last year’s team. He remembers the same pressure Maldonado noted, but said this year’s bunch is a year older and noticeably calmer.
“It’s a lot easier this year than last year to not get caught up in the atmosphere and how many fans are around you,” Liput said.
Florida hopes history repeats itself in the short run but not the long. Twice before the Gators have won their first two College World Series games, and each time they advanced to the series final. Once there, they were swept; in 2005 against Texas and in 2011 by South Carolina. Florida, in the CWS for the 11th time, has not won a national championship.
“We’re excited we’re 2-0,” O’Sullivan said. “We’re not foolish to not know that we have a long way to go in this thing. And there’s three really good teams left in our bracket. And we’re not going to take anything for granted.”