Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team will look to put 2023 in the past and move forward to focus on the 2024 season. The Manatees will open their season on neutral grounds as they travel to Clearwater to compete in the three-day JUCO Kickoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex where they will face Georgia Military College at 10 am and USC Union at 3 pm on day one before playing Parkland College at 11:30 am and the United States Air Force Academy 4:30 pm on day two.
The following teams listed are also participating in the classic:
College of Central Florida
Eastern Florida State College
Florida Southwestern State College
Gulf Coast State College
Hillsborough Community College
Indian River State College
Northwest Florida State College
Pasco-Hernando State College
Patrick & Henry Community College (VA)
Pensacola State College
Polk State College
Santa Fe College
Seminole State College
St Johns River State College
St Petersburg College
Tallahassee Community College
Last Time Out:
The Manatees are coming off finishing last 19-28 overall with a 4-11 record in the now defunct Suncoast Conference. They would finish in last place in conference play and not qualify for the FCSAA State Tournament. Apart from it, they did manage to make history as they became the first team in SCF athletics history to play a college/university from another country where they played Western University (Canada).
The Manatees are lead by head coach Mandy Schuerman, who enters her 10th season as head coach for the team. Schuerman is joined by associate head coach Tony Cummins and assistant coach DJ Bennett.
Conference Changes:
This year, the FCSAA has made a change to the conferences as the Mid-Florida, Southern and Suncoast Conference will merge together to form the Citrus Conference. The Panhandle Conference and Sun Lakes Conference (DII) will remain the same.
The team are listed in the conference as followed -
Panhandle:
Chipola College
Gulf Coast State
Northwest Florida State
Pensacola State
Tallahassee CC
Citrus:
SCF
St. Pete
Hillsborough
Polk State
Florida Southwestern
Miami Dade
Eastern Florida State
Seminole State College of Florida
Central Florida
Daytona State
Indian River State
Santa Fe
Sun Lakes (DII):
Pasco-Hernando State
South Florida State
St. John's River State
Lake Sumter State
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Florida Gateway
New Bloods:
The Manatees will be without eight sophomores as they graduated and/or transferred: Presley O'Kimosh, Olivia Seibert, Tori Copeland (Nova Southeastern; NCAA DII), Renee Dixon, Molly Starinsky, Gabi Nicholson (Tusculum; NCAA DII), Chantel Schurr and Sam Carlin (West Virginia Wesleyan College; NCAA DII). With the departure of the sophomores, Schuerman was able to sign 10 newcomers to join the 2024 squad with two being transfers.
Avery Arrington:
A infielder and local product from Sarasota, Arrington joins the Manatees from Sarasota High School. As a member of the Sailors, she was a two-sport athlete playing both basketball and softball. On the basketball team, Arrington averaged 2.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Additionally, she helped the Sailors to regional quarterfinals in the FHSAA 6A State Tournament.
On the softball team, Arrington played two years on varsity where she compiled a batting average of .267 with eight hits, 22 runs, seven RBI and 12 stolen bases while making an appearance in the FHSAA 6A and 7A State Tournaments.
Julianna Stachowicz:
A pitcher/utility player from Leetonia, Ohio, Stachowicz joins the Manatees after graduating from South Range High School in Canfield, Ohio. As a member of the Raiders, she was a two-sport athlete playing both volleyball and softball. On the volleyball team, she played her sophomore year as an outside hitter and put together 80 kills, 42 digs, 15 assists and 19 blocks while helping them to districts.
For softball, Stachowicz batted .419 with 49 hits, 36 runs, six home runs and 44 RBI at the plate while on the mound she went 12-2 with a 1.76 ERA, 35 walks and 179 strikeouts in 128.1 innings. She also helped the Raiders to three straight appearances in the OHSAA DIII State Softball, which include a runner-up finish her sophomore year and final four finish her senior year (2023).
Jaylin Prado:
An outfielder from Weston, Florida, Prado joins the Manatees after transferring from Miami Dade College. She will have one year of eligibility remaining. As a member of the Sharks, Prado batted .167 with two runs and four walks.
Prior to Miami Dade, Prado played for West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines. As a player for the Bobcats, she helped them to two straight appearances in the FHSAA 7A State Softball Tournament.
Lilah Denton:
An infielder from Lake Wales, Denton joins the Manatees after graduating from Lake Wales High School. As a member of the Highlanders, Denton was a two-sport athlete where she played both volleyball and softball.
As a member of the volleyball team, she played libero where she played two years on varsity where she finished with six kills, 22 aces, 29 assists and 254 digs. Additionally, she helped them to the FHSAA 5A State Tournament during her junior year.
With the softball team, she played three years on varsity where she finished her career batting .170 with 30 hits, 35 runs, 22 RBI and seven stolen bases. In addition, she helped the Highlanders to three straight appearances in the FHSAA 4A State Tournament which included a runner-up finish her junior year before winning the state tournament her senior year.
Lydia Denton:
An infielder from Lake Wales, Denton joins the Manatees after graduating from Lake Wales High School. As a member of the Highlanders, she played three years on varsity where she finished her career batting .318 with 67 hits, 38 runs and 37 RBI while helping them to three straight appearances in the FHSAA 4A State Tournament which included a runner-up finish her junior year before winning the state tournament her senior year. Additionally, Denton joins her twin sister, Lilah, on the team.
Olivia Rogers:
A catcher from Bethany Beach, Delaware, Rogers returns home to join the Manatees after graduating from Laurel High School in Laurel, Delaware. As a member on the Bulldogs, she helped them to the final DIAA State Softball Championship her junior year.
Hailey Margetis:
An infielder from Wesley Chapel, Margetis joins the Manatees after graduating from Cypress Creek High School. As a member for the Coyotes, she played all four years on varsity where she finished her career batting .295 with 51 hits, 40 runs and 40 RBI. Additionally, she would help the Coyotes to an appearance in the FHSAA 3A State Tournament.
Ryleigh Bennett:
A local pitcher/outfielder from Sarasota, Bennett joins the team after graduating from Sarasota High School. As a member of the Sailors she played all four years on varsity where she compiled a 25-4 record with 1.98 ERA, 94 walks and 300 strikeouts in 343 innings on the mound, while at the plate she batted .248 with 40 hits, 25 runs, 26 RBI, 31 walks and 10 stolen bases. Bennett also helped the Sailors to three straight appearances in the FHSAA State Softball Tournaments (two in FHSAA 6A, one in FHSAA 7A).
Janessa Benavides:
A utility player from Homestead, Benavides joins the Manatees after transferring from Miami Dade College with fellow teammate, Prado, with one year of eligibility remaining. As a member of Sharks. during the 2022 season, Benavides batted .150 with six hits, six runs and five RBI before sitting out the following season.
Prior to Miami Dade, Benavides played at and graduated from Keys Gate Charter High School (2017-21) where she was a two-sport athlete playing both volleyball and softball. She played all four years on varsity for the Knights where she compiled a .386 career batting average with 86 hits, 34 runs, 45 RBI and 26 stolen bases.
Saremi Flores:
A local catcher/outfielder from Sarasota, Flores joins the Manatees after graduating from Sarasota High School and reuniting with Arrington and Bennett. She played three years of varsity for the Sailors and compiled a .275 career batting average with 19 hits, runs, three home runs and 11 RBI.
Returning Veterans:
Schuerman was also able to bring back eight returners to help the newecomers out: Taylor Halback, Maddisan Noriega, Haley Rosenbaum, Karsyn Rutherford, Jordan O'Brien, Stephanie Oaks, Alissa Kessler and Brielle Bostow.
Halback finished her first year batting .240 with 18 hits, six runs, one home run, 19 RBI and six stolen bases. She was named to the All-Suncoast Second Team as an at-large player.
Noriega batted .169 with 11 hits, 13 runs, seven RBI and nine stolen bases.
Rosenbaum finished her first season bating .212 with 17 hits, one home run and four RBI.
Rutherford, the hybrid of the returners, went 8-10 overall with a 3.11 ERA, 22 walks and 45 strikeouts on the mound while batting .242 with 15 hits, 11 runs, four RBI and 10 stolen bases. She was named a member of the All-Suncoast First Team as an at-large player.
O'Brien enters her third year with the Manatees after utilizing a medical redshirt her freshman year (2022). Last season, she batted .105 with two hits, six runs and six stolen bases.
Oaks, the primary speedster of the team, finished her first season batting .288 with 36 hits, 36 runs, eight RBI and 30 stolen bases. Additionally, she was named on the All-Suncoast Second Team.
Kessler, the powerhouse of the returners, finished her first season batting .357 with 46 hits, 21 runs, four home runs and 30 RBI. She was named to the All-Suncoast First Team.
Bostow finished last season 6-14 with a 3.58 ERA, 37 walks and 55 strikeouts. Additionally, she was named on the All-Suncoast Second Team.
Scouting Georgia Military:
Georgia Miltary College is located in Milledgeville, Georgia and represents NJCAA Region 17. They are lead by head coach Ashley Bunn, who enters her 14th season as head coach after earning her 400th career win last season as well as winning the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Coach of the Year.
The Bulldogs are coming off of finishing last season 37-18 overall with a 20-4 record in GCAA where they would finish runner-up in the championship.
Key returners for the Bulldogs include Addie Moss (20-6, 2.85 ERA, two saves, 33 walks and 85 strikeouts/.361, 43 hits, 29 runs, nine home runs and 38 RBI; GCAA Pitcher of the Year and All-GCAA First Team), Katelynn Anglin (.356, 48 hits, 29 runs, nine home runs and 37 RBI; All-GCAA First Team), Madison Carruthers (.320, 24 hits, 19 runs and 17 RBI; All-GCAA First Team), Paris Kirby (.355, 43 hits, 23 runs, seven home runs and 33 RBI; All-GCAA Second Team) and Kaitlyn Hallman (.363, 62 hits, 52 runs, three home runs, 33 RBI and 19 stolen bases; All-GCAA Second Team).
Scouting USC Union:
USC Union hails from Union, South Carolina and represents NJCAA Region 10 (Carolina Junior College Conference). They are lead by head coach William Royce, who enters his fourth season as head coach.
The Lady Bantams are coming off of finishing last season 22-24 overall with a 10-6 record in the CJCC where they would finish as the runner-up in the NJCAA Region 10 Championship Tournament.
Key returners for the Lady Bantams include Gracie Starnes (.373, 59 hits, 44 runs, two home runs, 28 RBI and 34 stolen bases; All-CJCC First Team) and Brianna Compton (4-9, 3.15 ERA, 40 walks and 52 strikeouts).
Scouting Parkland College:
Parkland College hails from Champaign, Illinois and represent the Mid-West Athletic Conference (NJCAA Region 24). They are lead by Dan and Kristi Paulson, who enter their fifth season as co-head coaches after winning M-WAC Co-Head Coach of the Year last season.
The Lady Cobras are coming off of finishing last season 52-12 overall with a perfect 20-0 record in conference. They would go on to win the MWAC Regular Season Championship and NJCAA DII Central District Championship before finishing fifth in the NJCAA DII National Tournament while being ranked #4 in the nation.
Key returners for the Lady Cobras include Karley Yergler (28-9, 1.61 ERA, two saves, 49 walks and 301 strikeouts/.330, 34 hits, 18 runs, seven home runs and 26 RBI; MWAC Pitcher of the Year, NJCAA Region 24 Pitcher of the Year, All-MWAC First Team, NJCAA All-Region 24 Team and NJCAA Second Team All-American), Emma Mason (.333, 54 hits, 34 runs, six home runs and 43 RBI; All-MWAC First Team), Lizzie Stiverson (.357, 65 hits, 56 runs, four home runs, 30 RBI and 22 stolen bases; All-MWAC First Team and NJCAA All-Region 24 Team), Ryleigh Owens (.310, 45 hits, 31 runs and 16 RBI/11-1, 1.25 ERA, one save, 22 walks and 121 strikeouts; All-MWAC First Team and NJCAA All-Region 24 Team), Ellie Vetter (11-2, 1.72 ERA, one save, 41 walks and 113 strikeouts/.326, 47 hits, 26 runs, three home runs and 34 RBI; All-MWAC Second Team) and Kami Pearson (.324, 34 hits, 17 runs, three home runs and 16 RBI; All-MWAC Honorable Mention).
Scouting US Air Force Academy:
The US Air Force Academy is located in Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and primarily represent the Mid-West Conference (MWC) in the NCAA for 25 of their 29 sanctioned sports with softball being deemed as a club sport. They are lead by head coach Russell Meyer, who enters his 16th season as head coach.
The Falcons are coming off finishing last season 15-6 overall with a 12-0 record in the Mid-America West Conference.
Key returning players for the Falcons include Lindsey Weber (.641, 25 hits, 30 runs, 11 home runs and 34 RBI), Angela LoCricchio (.532, 16 hits, 16 runs, three home runs and 19 RBI), Jaina Swann (6-0, 2.80 ERA, 16 walks and 36 strikeouts) and Asha Swann (5-0, 2.33 ERA, seven walks and 27 strikeouts).
How to Keep Up:
All of the Manatees' games will provide livestats by GameChanger. Fans can also keep up with the Manatees on social media:
GameChanger Link - https://web.gc.com/teams/i23lUaOZpGKA/2024-spring-state-college-of-florida
Social Media Links -
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SCFManatees
X - https://twitter.com/SCFSoftball
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/scfsoftball/
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