FSU softball: 3 major questions heading into 2024 season
By Kelvin Hunt
Pitching
Makenna Reid will enter her sophomore season as the unquestioned ace after an outstanding freshman season in 2023. Coach Lonni Alameda brought her along carefully, but Reid exemplified poise in several outings with outstanding numbers. Reid must continue to develop, and if she can add a consistent change up or something else offspeed? She has the potential to be another all-time great. Allison Royalty returns after a decent 2023 campaign. She has valuable experience, but must become more consistent in the strike zone to help eat up innings in 2024.
Freshman Ashtyn Danley could fill a role similar to Reid last season. Reid saw work in 79 innings last year, with Sanderock amassing 193 innings pitched. Danley and freshman Mimi Gooden saw work in the Garnet and Gold scrimmage over the weekend. Both freshman fared well, only allowing two runs over seven innings. FSU still has Madi Balk (eight innings) and Emma Wilson 6.1 innings), who pitched sparingly in 2023. Both had more walks than strikeouts and will need to improve there if they want to be contributors.
If FSU can find consistency from Reid, Royalty, and one of the freshmen? They will win a lot of games in 2024.