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FSU softball freshman from Tallahassee tabbed as potential breakout by Softball America
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- FSU softball freshman from Tallahassee tabbed as potential breakout by Softball America
Is Tallahassee's own Jaysoni Beachum the next superstar for Florida State softball ?
Softball America writer Gray Robertson, in a roundtable with Tara Henry and Brady Vernon, tabbed the former Florida High standout as a potential breakout freshman candidate.
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The No. 4 Seminoles open the season by hosting the JoAnne Graf Classic starting Thursday at JoAnne Graf Field.
FSU hosts Charlotte at 6 p.m. Thursday to open the 41st season in program history.
"I love Tara's pick of Tegan Kavan, so I'll switch it up and show a little love to Florida State's Jaysoni Beachum," Robertson wrote.
"I've seen some amazing hitters swing through the summer leagues, but Beachum may have been the most impressive of all. This past summer, as a rising college freshman facing players with actual collegiate experience, she hit .640 with an OPS of 2.039. Beachum drove in 21 runs in 25 at-bats , and she displayed uncanny power on a variety of pitches all over the zone (including a few in the other batter's box). Her pitch selection and recognition are remarkable for her age, and I can't wait to see what she does with Lonni Alameda when given the chance."
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Beachum led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a triple and scored later in the frame in the annual Garnet & Gold Scrimmage on Saturday.
She is the competition for playing time at third base and first base. As a junior at Florida High, she was named the 2022 Big Bend Player of the Year and to the All-Big Bend First Team after hitting .507 with 12 home runs, 36 RBI and 35 hits.
Beachum was named the Alabama 3A All-State Hitter of the Year in 2021.
While Robertson is high on the FSU freshman, he along with Henry did not have the Seminoles contending for the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Vernon was the lone person on the roundtable to predict FSU as a finalist to keep Oklahoma from completing the four-peat.
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The Seminoles were swept in a three-game series by the historically dominant Sooners in last year's World Series.
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TH: Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Clemson, Stanford, Tennessee, LSU, Duke
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GR: One of my bold predictions is that the WCWS is filled mostly with the "New SEC" and "New Big Ten." I'll take Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon, UCLA, and Clemson.
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BV: Oklahoma, Florida State, Stanford, Texas, Georgia, Clemson, LSU, Arkansas
Lonni Alameda , 53, is entering her 16th season as the FSU head coach, posting a career 716-198-3 (.782) record.
FSU will be tasked with replacing pitching star Kathryn Sandercock in the circle, Josie Muffley at short and Mack Leonard in the circle and at first base.
This year's team will be a bit younger and the early weeks of the season will be important for establishing the team's identity, with some freshmen, including Beachum, pushing for playing time.
Full FSU softball 2024 schedule
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Feb. 3: Garnet & Gold Scrimmage/Fan Day (2 p.m.)
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Feb. 8: vs. Charlotte (6 pm.) JoAnne Graf Classic
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Feb. 9: vs. Charlotte (6 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic
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Feb. 10: vs. Texas Tech (1 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic
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Feb. 10: vs. Florida A&M (3 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic
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Feb. 11: vs. Florida A&M (12:30 p.m.) JoAnne Graf Classic
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Feb 15: vs. Stanford (4 p.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational
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Feb 16: vs. UCLA (1 p.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational
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Feb 17: vs. Georgia (10 a.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational
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Feb 18: vs. Tennessee (8 p.m.) at 2023 Clearwater Invitational
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Feb. 22: vs. FIU (6 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic
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Feb. 23: vs. FIU (3 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic
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Feb. 23: vs. Nicholls (5:30 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic
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Feb 24: vs. Nicholls (3 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic
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Feb 24: vs. Charleston Southern (5:30 p.m.) Dugout Club Classic
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March 1: vs. Mount St. Mary's (3:30 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.
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March 1: vs. Maryland (6:30 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.
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March 2: vs. Washington (1 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.
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March 2: vs. Oregon (6 p.m.) University of Oregon Tournament, Eugene, Ore.
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March 8: vs. vs. Purdue (12:15 p.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers
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March 8: vs. vs. FGCU (5 p.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers
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March 9: vs. Purdue (10 a.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers
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March 9: vs. Western Michigan (12:30 p.m.) FGCU Spring Break Classic, Fort Meyers
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March 12: vs. South Dakota State (1 p.m.)
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March 12: vs. South Dakota State (3:30 p.m.)
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March 13: vs. Alabama (6 p.m.)
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March 15: vs. Duke* (6 p.m.)
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March 16: vs. Duke* (1 p.m.)
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March 17: vs. Duke* (Noon)
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March 20: vs. Texas (6 p.m.)
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March 22: at Pittsburgh* (6 p.m.)
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March 23: at Pittsburgh* (3 p.m.)
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March 24: at Pittsburgh* (1 p.m.)
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March 28: vs. NC State* (6 p.m.)
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March 29: vs. NC State* (1 p.m.)
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March 30: vs. NC State* (Noon)
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April 2: vs. McNeese (6 p.m.)
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April 3: vs. McNeese (6 p.m.)
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April 5: at Louisville* (6 p.m.)
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April 6: at Louisville* (1 p.m.)
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April 7: at Louisville* (noon)
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April 12: vs. Notre Dame* (6 p.m.)
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April 13: vs. Notre Dame* (1 p.m.)
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April 14: vs. Notre Dame* (Noon)
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April 17: vs. Alabama State (6 p.m.)
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April 19: at Boston College* (3 p.m.)
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April 20: at Boston College* (4 p.m.)
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April 21: at Boston College* (1 p.m.)
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April 24: at Florida (6 p.m.)
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April 26: at UNC* (6 p.m.)
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April 27: at UNC* (1 p.m.)
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April 28: at UNC* (Noon)
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May 1: vs. Florida (6 p.m.)
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May 3: at Syracuse* (3 p.m.)
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May 4: at Syracuse* (1 p.m.)
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May 5: at Syracuse* (Noon)
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May 8-11: ACC Tournament
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* ACC Game
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Jaysoni Beachum: FSU freshman tabbed as breakout player by Softball America
