'Freshmen aren't freshmen': FSU's first-year starters excited for first NCAA Softball Tournament

Florida State softball freshmen are no longer freshmen, technically and theoretically.

Head coach Lonnie Alameda understands the concept of that phrase.

However, because the season is still not over for the young Seminoles as they prepare for Friday's NCAA Regionals when FSU takes on Chattanooga at 4:30 p.m. at JoAnne Graf Field, there is a time and place for a reflection when the postseason is concluded.

"'Freshmen aren't freshmen,' in the sense that we've been through it, but they haven't been through this," Alameda said. "This is still new to them; hopefully, it's fun for them. They don't put a lot of pressure on themselves."

Knowing that the school year is over for the first-year Seminoles, it opens a new beginning of the season as all five will prepare for their first postseason appearance, with the Seminoles hosting the 10th consecutive regional of the NCAA Softball Tournament on Friday.

"I'm super excited," freshman pitcher Ashtyn Danley said. "We may not have that much experience, but I'm excited to go out there and give it our all and obviously play for the seniors, like I did last go-around when I gave it all to them and obviously to the team. I'm excited to see the atmosphere. Our atmosphere was great during the regular season. I can't wait to see what it is like after the season."

Danley, along with Jaysoni Beachum , Kennedy Harp, and Isa Torres, have been key contributors for the Seminoles from the start of the season while going through growing pains to going on a huge winning streak but not finishing on a high note in the ACC championship after falling to Duke in the finals.

All learning lessons have the freshmen ready for regional.

"I feel like we have been in a lot of situations, a lot of tough situations," Danley said. "So definitely not freshmen as we were in the beginning of the year, but in this situation, a little bit of freshmen because we haven't experienced it, but with their support and leadership, we're going go in not feel that much pressure or nervousness."

Fortunately for the first-year starters, they have a senior group that has made runs in the postseason, including reaching the Women's College World Series last year. Senior outfielder Kaley Mudge gave her words of wisdom to the freshmen class about the softball tournament and encouraged them to enjoy every minute of it, especially playing at JoAnne Graf.

"The returners obviously have had a handful of regionals and a handful of postseason runs," Mudge said. "So, just sharing those experiences and kind of teaching them the ways of the postseason of everyone is playing like it's their last game, so we know at regional, the teams are coming in hot, but I think we're really ready. I'm really excited."

What's next for FSU softball in NCAA Softball Tournament

Thursday: FSU vs. Chattanooga

Where/When: JoAnne Graf Field / 4:30 p.m.

TV: ACC Network

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 'Freshmen aren't freshmen': FSU's first-year starters excited for first NCAA Softball Tournament