« Softball 2010

Francesca Enea

School
University of Florida
Position
Outfield
Major
Family, Youth and Community Sciences
AVG
.308
R
48
H
48
FLD%
1.000
ERA
-
W-L
-
RBI
65

Classroom

Enea is a two-time Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll member and was a member of the freshman academic honor roll. A youth, family and community science major, she aspires to be a speech pathologist after attending graduate school. Francesca hopes to one day open a school for disadvantaged children with her sister, Christina, a former All-American softball player at the University of Oklahoma.

Character

Enea tore her ACL early in 2007, which would sideline most players for the remainder of the season. Instead, she returned on April 4, missing only 26 games. While she had to adjust to a new role on the field, playing in the outfield instead of behind the plate, she kept the same role off the field. Playing on a torn ACL, Enea was named to the 2007 SEC all freshman team. In the fall of 2008, Enea injured the same knee, re-tearing the same muscle. She chose to play the entire 2009 season, hitting, running and playing left field on a torn ACL. It turned out to be the most productive season of her career and one of the best in UF history. Her teammates said her determination and willful attitude were inspiring. This inspiration helped the team make it all the way to the Women’s College World Series championship series. Coach Walton notes her determination, will to improve, and drive to win as strong characteristics for why she is one of the Gator captains.
Head coach Tim Walton continually attributes Francesca’s strong work ethic for her success on the field.  Most days before practice, she can be found in the batting cages taking swing after swing, working on her hitting.  Coach Walton notes her determination, will to improve and drive to win as strong characteristics for why she is one of the Gator captains.

Community

Enea has donated her time and energy off the field wherever she is needed. As a junior, she created and organized the Swing for Cancer event, which gave fans a chance to watch Florida student-athletes and coaches try to hit against Florida’s All-American pitchers, all while raising money for cancer initiatives. She was also the co-chair of the Climb for Cancer Sport Camps, an event in which children diagnosed with cancer come to UF for the day to play with current and former Gators. In 2009, she researched and implemented a plan to “adopt” a 13-year-old girl with a brain tumor through the Friends of Jacyln Foundation. She took it upon herself to plan the ceremony and continues to find new ways to raise money and awareness for the cause. Enea has also connected with many of the local youth in Gainesville. She has mentored a local student for the past three years through CAMP Gator and this spring she will be the student supervisor for the program. She also has made, and will continue to make weekly visits to Shands Hospital, mentoring and developing close relationships with patients. This year, she was the co-chair of GatorTracks, which collects and donates sneakers to over 400 local children in need of new shoes at the holidays. She also participates in Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics activities and Miracles on Main; where low-income families were able to “shop” for holiday gifts using tickets and coupons in downtown Gainesville. For her efforts, she was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service team as a junior and was awarded a Point of Light Award. The softball team also won the University Athletic Association’s Life Skills Cup, which includes community service hours, many of which Enea organized for the team.
Francesca has also connected with many local youths in Gainesville.  She has mentored a local student for the past three years through CAMP Gator and this spring, on top of her academic and athletic obligations, she will be the student supervisor for the program.  She also has made and will continue to make weekly visits to Shands Hospital, mentoring and developing close relationships with patients.  This year, she was the co-chair of GatorTracks, which collects and donates sneaks to over 400 local children in need of new shoes at the holidays.  She also participates in Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics activities and Miracles on Main, where low-income families were able to “shop” for holiday gifts using tickets and coupons in downtown Gainesville.  For her efforts, she was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service team as a junior and was awarded a Point of Light Award.  The softball team also won the University Athletic Association’s Life Skills Cup, which includes community service hours, many of which Francesca organized for the team.

Competition

A two-time All-American, Enea holds nine offensive records at Florida. She hit 18 home runs and drove in 70 runs in 2009 and is threatening to
top them in 2010. She broke Florida’s career marks for home runs, RBIs and sacrifice flies as a junior and the career total bases record as a
senior.  She is also on pace to break the Southeastern Conference’s career home run record and possible career RBI total, as she already
ranks second and fourth, respectively.  The left fielder ranks 22 times on UF’s top-10 single-season lists and on seven other career lists at
Florida. Enea earned All-SEC second-team honors and was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist in 2009. She had a stellar
2008 post-season, racking up SEC All-Tournament and Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team accolades as she recorded a .391
batting clip with 18 hits, including four home runs and 15 RBIs. She also earned SEC All-Freshman team honors for the Gators.