SCF Returns for Pasco Hernando

Bradenton, Fla - After a successful weekend on neutral grounds, the SCF baseball team (4-3) return home to Robert C. Wynn Field for midweek baseball action. The Manatees will welcome Pasco Hernando State (2-4) to their home field Tuesday night, February 6 at 6 pm.

Last Time Out:

The Manatees are coming off of competing in the Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic in Panama City where they finished 3-1 this past weekend with two upset wins. They would open on the main bracket  by defeating McLennan CC 11-9 on Friday to advance to the quarterfinals. On Saturday, they would fall to Wallace CC-Dothan by a score of 7-1 and drop to the gold bracket where they would upset #15 Florence Darlington Tech by a score of 8-1 before defeating St. John's River State by a score of 11-5.

O'Beirne Burning Up Pitches:

Since returning from injury last season, redshirt freshman Palmer O'Beirne has improved himself being on the mound since his debut against #6 Northwest Florida State. O'Beirne is currently 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, three walks and 10 strikeouts in five innings of work. In the game against #11 McLennan CC, the New Yorker threw one and two-thirds innings of relief with four strikeouts to earn his second win.

O'Beirne will be given the nod to start against Pasco Hernando.

AGF Building His Bat:

After a slow start to the beginning of the season, freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez has started to build up his bat this past weekend. In the first three games of the season, Gil-Fernandez started batting .091 (1-for-11, one run), but during the weekend in Panama City, his batting average increased exponentially as he batted a .563 batting average (9-for-16).

The Dominican native is currently batting .370 with 10 hits, one home run and nine RBI. He hit his first collegiate home run against #15 Florence-Darlington Tech.

A Strong Gust of Hitting:

Gil-Fernandez is not the only batter that has been hitting strong as sophomore Jalen Hairston and freshman Hayden Gustavson have also been swinging the bat well.

Hairston is currently batting .321 with nine hits, eight runs, one home run and six RBI.

Gustavson is batting .400 with eight hits and four RBI. In the game against St. John's River, he went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

Gaining Momentum:

Although he was a little shook up against McLennan CC, sophomore Brandon Clarke has shown consistency in his pitching. Clarke is currently 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA, five walks and 10 strikeouts so far, an increase from last season.

Clarke is not the only pitcher gaining some momentum as of late as classmate Bryan Gomez has also been improving on the mound. Gomez is currently 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA, three walks and 12 strikeouts. In the game against #15 Florence-Darlington Tech, he threw 4.2 innings with a career-high seven strikeouts to earn his first collegiate win of his career.

Scouting Pasco Hernando State:

The Bobcats are coming off of completing a three-game series against Polk State. They would fall 4-1 in the first game in Winter Haven before splitting a doubleheader at Pasco winning the first game 3-1 and losing the second game 4-1.

Redshirt sophomore Aidan Corn leads the way at the plate as he is batting .421 with eight hits, two home runs and six RBI.

On the mound, redshirt sophomore Riley Fisher is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA, seven walks and eight strikeouts.

The Manatees hold a 35-18 overall record against the Bobcats.

How to Keep Up:

Livestats will be provided by GameChanger and will air on Team One Sports livestream. Fans can also keep up with the Manatees on all social media platforms

Livestats Link: https://web.gc.com/teams/wbkG6N4UTmsV/2024-spring-state-college-of-florida

Livestream Link ($): https://team1sports.com/scfmanatees/?B=847350

Social Media:

X - https://twitter.com/SCFBaseball

SCF Baseball Concludes Panama Baseball Classic

Panama City, Fla - The SCF baseball team (4-3) closed out their part on the third day of the Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic at Publix Sports Park as they defeated St. John's River State (7-2) 11-5 in the gold bracket. 

"Today was the best we have swung the bat all year at least in the first three innings," said head coach Tim Hill II. "While we didn't do much after the third inning, it was nice to see a lot of guys have some good at-bats. Allan (Gil-Fernandez) had a very good weekend and after a slow start, he is picking it up and swinging the bat well. I look forward to the guys playing well on their home field Tuesday."

Hill II would send sophomore Liam Best (0-1, 3.00 ERA) to the mound while Vikings head coach Ross Jones went with freshman Griffin Howe (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to counter.

The top of the first inning saw the Manatees open the gates early on offense beginning with a leadoff double by sophomore Luis Garrido. After classmate Jalen Hairston drew a walk, freshman Allan Gil-Fernandez would send a double to center to bring both Garrido and Hairston in before classmate Hayden Gustavson sent a double of his own to bring in Gil-Fernandez. Two batters later, sophomore Preston Wetherell would hit an RBI double to bring in Gustavson before freshman Rex Smith brought in Wetherell with a single to make it 5-0 SCF. After a single by sophomore LT Cockrill, Jones would pull Howe and send freshman Tyler Waters to the mound.

Following the Vikings' pitching change, the Manatees would bat around as Garrido would send a triple to right-center to bring in Smith and Cockrill before Hairston drove Garrido in with a single to right and Gil-Fernandez sent Hairston home with an RBI double to make it 9-0 SCF.

After the second inning went scoreless, the Manatees would increase the lead to double digit runs thanks to back-to-back RBI singles by Gustavson and freshman Luke Boykin that brought in Hairston and Gil-Fernandez to make it 11-0 SCF.

The Vikings would eventually get on the board in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Andon Lewis sent a three-run homer to center for his first of the season. Best would still fight through and get out of the inning. 

The Vikings would add two more runs to the board on the bottom of the sixth as freshman Ben Barrow hit an RBI double and classmate Devin Dizon was hit by a pitch to drive in a run to make it 11-5 still in favor of SCF, but it was they could muster together as the Manatees sealed the win.

Best would improve to 1-1 after giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts in four innings. Sophomore Trey Clucas would give up two runs (one earned) on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts in two and a third innings of relief, while freshman Gavyn Bowen threw two-thirds of an inning of relief with one strikeout.

Howe would fall to 1-1 after giving up seven runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.

Four Manatees had a multi-hit game. Gil-Fernandez and Gustavson each had three hits apiece. Gil-Fernandez (3-for-5) added two RBI and two runs, while Gustavson (3-for-5) added two RBI, one run and a stolen base.

Garrido (2-for-5) and Cockrill (2-for-3) rounded out the order with two hits apiece. Garrido added two RBI and two runs, while Cockrill added one RBI and one run.

Hairston (1-for-4, three runs and one walk), Boykin (1-for-3, two RBI), Wetherell (1-for-4, one run) and Smith (1-for-4, one run and one RBI) had the remaining four hits. 

Freshman Jackson Toberman lead the Vikings in hitting as he went 2-for-4 with a run, while Lewis was the only Viking with a multi-RBI game as he went 1-for-3 with the two-run home run.

Other Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic Scores:

Host Gulf Coast State (7-0) defeated Wallace CC-Dothan (3-1) 12-2 in six innings to win the main bracket of their hosted classic.

In the second gold bracket game, Pearl River CC (4-1) shutout Miami Dade (3-4) 14-0.

In the silver bracket, #15 Florence Darlington Tech (2-2) defeated #2 Wabash Valley CC (5-3) 12-10 while RV Chipola (5-3) defeated #16 Florida Southwestern (3-5) 9-5.

In the bronze bracket of the classic,  RV Andrew College (2-3) defeated Chattahoochee Valley CC (0-5) 8-3 while Dyersburg State CC (2-4) defeated #11 McLennan CC (1-3) 6-4.

The 3rd place game between #6 Northwest Florida State (3-3) and Meridian CC (2-1) was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Up Next:

The Manatees return home briefly to Robert C. Wynn Field as they welcome Pasco Hernando State (2-4) Tuesday night, February 6 at 6 pm. Redshirt freshman Palmer O'Beirne (2-0, 0.00 ERA) will be given the nod to start the game.

SCF Baseball Splits Day Two of Classic

Panama City, Fla - The SCF baseball team (3-3) took a split to the second day of the three-day Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic at Publix Sports Park. The Manatees fell to Wallace CC-Dothan (3-0) before upsetting #15 Florence Darlington Tech (1-2) 8-1. The loss would send the Manatees to the gold bracket semifinals.

"I thought we beat ourselves in the first game, but responded better in the second," said head coach Tim Hill II. "The first five innings went pretty well and Ed (Wagner) threw outstanding, but we couldn't handle a bunt that opened up a big inning for Wallace Dothan. I thought Bryan (Gomez) and Adian (McBride) did a fantastic job on the mound and we had better at-bats in the second game. Looking forward to Liam (Best) finishing off a good weekend tomorrow."

SCF vs Wallace CC-Dothan:

Hill II sent sophomore Ed Wagner to the mound, while Wallace CC-Dothan head coach Ryan Ihle went with freshman Jake Middleton.

The Manatees would get on the board first as freshman Allan Gil Fernandez would send a double to left to bring in sophomore Jalen Hairston for the first run of the game.

Wagner was able to hold the Governors scoreless for the next three innings, but when the top of the fifth came, the Governors would buckle Wagner and take over the entire offense the rest of the game to the end.

Wagner would fall to 0-1 after giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in four and a third innings. Freshman Daniel Hartley would give up two runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings of relief, while sophomore Preston Wetherell gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits with one walk in no innings and freshman Gavyn Bowen threw one scoreless inning of relief.

Middleton would improve to 1-0 after giving up one run on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts in four innings. Sophomore Jackson Chancey threw three scorelss innings of relief giving up three hits with two strikeouts.

Gil-Fernandez would lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI. He was the only Manatee in the game with a multi-hit game.

Hairston (1-for-3, one run) and freshmen Pip Smalley (1-for-4), Luke Boykin (1-for-3) and Walker Vanecek (1-for-3) had the remaining four hits.

Sophomore Sean Darnell would lead the way for the Governors as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

SCF vs #15 Florence Darlington Tech:

Hoping to bounce back in the gold bracket, Hill sent sophomore Bryan Gomez to the mound, while Florence Darlington Tech head coach Preston McDonald went with freshman Aydin Palmer. The Stingers fell to RV Chipola College 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

The Manatees would open on the board first at the top of the first as Gil-Fernandez would send a double to left to bring in sophomore Luis Garrido for the first run of the game. They would increase the lead further at the top of the second beginning with leadoff walk drawn by sophomore Santiago Ordonez. After a double by Wetherell put runners in scoring position, Hartley would reach first on a fielding error while Ordonez and Wetherell scored to make it 3-0 SCF.

At the top of the third, the Manatees would make it 4-0 as Gil-Fernandez would hit a solo home run to center for his first collegiate home run before the Stingers would get their only run on the board off of an RBI groundout by freshman Patrick Evans.

While the Manatees continued to hold the lead, Gomez would continue his dominance on the mound for the next one and two-thirds before freshman Aidan McBride would come in for relief and close the fifth inning.

At the top of the sixth, the Manatees would increase the lead further. After freshman Devan Meran and Garrido drew back-to-back walks, Hairston would send a single to right to bring in Meran and Garrido to make it 6-1 SCF. They would add their final runs at the top of the seventh beginning starting with an Ordonez leadoff walk. After Hartley drew a walk of his own and Meran reached first on a fielding error to load the bases, Garrido would hit into a fielder's choice and bring in Ordonez and Hartley to make it 8-1 SCF before the Manatees sealed the deal for the win and send the Stingers to the 

Gomez would earn his first collegiate win after giving up on unearned run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings. McBride threw two and a third scoreless innings of relief, giving up three hits and striking out two batters.

Palmer would be dubbed with the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in three innings.

Gil-Fernandez would lead the way in hitting as he went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Garrido (1-for-4) and Hairston (1-for-5) also finished with two RBI each with Garrido adding two runs scored.

Boykin (1-for-3), Wetherell (1-for-3, one run and one walk), Hartley (1-for-4, one run and one walk) and fresham  Hayden Gustavson (1-for-4) had the remaining four hits, while Ordonez (two runs and three walks) and Meran (one run and one walk) also contributed in the game.

Redshirt sophomore Ethan Plyler lead the way in hitting for the Stingers as he went 4-for-4 at the plate.

Up Next:

The Manatees will wrap up the final day of the classic as they will face St. John's River State (7-1) Sunday afternoon, February 4 at 2 pm EST (1 pm CST). Sophomore Liam Best will be given the nod to start the game.

Winner's Bracket -

Championship Game - Gulf Coast State vs Wallace CC-Dothan @ 3 pm EST (2 pm CST)

3rd Place Game - #6 Northwest Florida State vs Meridian CC @ 2:30 pm EST (1:30 pm CST)

Gold Bracket -

SCF vs St. John's River State @ 12:30 pm EST (11:30 am CST)

Pearl River CC vs Miami Dade @ 2 pm EST (1 pm CST)

Silver Bracket -

#15 Florence Darlington Tech vs #2 Wabash Valley CC @ 12 pm EST (11 am CST)

#16 Florida Southwestern vs RV Chipola  @ 1:30 pm EST (12:30 pm CST)

Bronze Bracket - 

RV Andrew College vs Chattahoochee Valley CC @ 11 am EST (10 am CST)

Dyersburg State CC vs McLennan CC @11:30 am EST (10:30 am CST)

SCF Baseball Upset McLennan in Panama

Panama City, Fla - The SCF baseball team (2-2) got back to even in the standings as they defeated #11 McLennan Community College (0-1) 10-9 in seven innings on day one of the three-day Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic at Publix Sports Park. As a result, the Manatees advanced to the quarterfinals in the winner's bracket of the classic.

"The team did a good job swinging the bats today," said head coach Tim Hill II. "The win might have been ugly, but the guys fought hard to get the win."

Hill II sent sophomore Brandon Clarke (0-0, 0.00 ERA; #8 JUCO prospect) to the mound to start for the Manatees, while McLennan head coach Tyler Johnson went with freshman Gavyn Jones (0-0, 0.00 ERA; #2 JUCO Prospect).

The top of the first inning was shaky for Clarke as the Highlanders opened on the board first as freshman Daiten Lachance would send a three-run homer to left for his first collegiate of the season. They would then extend the lead to 4-0 after sophomore Xander McAfee scored at the top of the second before the Manatees brought their first run of the game in the bottom half of the second as freshman Alan Gil-Fernandez would bring in classmate Hayden Gustavson with a single to center.

At the top of the third, the Highlanders would bring the lead back up to four as freshman Marcus Smith would send an RBI single to left to make it 5-1 McLennan. It would signal the end for Clarke as Hill II would send freshman Trevor Zeigler to come in for relief in success

In the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would start waking up their bats beginning with a leadoff single by sophomore Jalen Hairston and a walk by freshman Pip Smalley. After freshman Luke Boykin would draw a walk to load the bases, Johnson would pull Jones and send freshman Clayton Freshcorn to come in for relief. 

After the pitching change, before Gustavson was hit by a pitch and brought in Hairston for the Manatees' second run. One batter later, Gil-Fernandez would follow with a bases-loaded two-run single to bring in Smalley and Boykin before sophomore Santiago Ordonez reached on a fielding error to reload the bases. Freshman Daniel Hartley would then tie the game at 5-5 after reaching on a fielder's choice to bring in Gustavson.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Highlanders would retake the lead after an RBI single by sophomore Landon Underhill and an RBI double by freshman Phoenix Meza to take the lead 8-7. In the bottom half of the fifth, the Manatees would return the favor beginning with a leadoff single by Ordonez. After Hartley drew a walk and sophomore Luis Garrido hit a single to load the bases, Johnson would pull sophomore Nick Greaney, who came in for Freshcorn, and send classmate Connor Zaruba to the mound.

After the pitching change, Hairston would send a single to center to bring in Ordonez and Smalley would get hit by a pitch to bring in Hartley and tie the game at 9-8 before Boykin brought in Garrido with a sacrifice fly to give the Manatees back the lead.

At the top of the sixth, following a one out walk, Hill II would pull Ziegler and send redshirt freshman Palmer O'Beirne to come in for relief. The Highlanders would tie the game at 8-8 after an RBI single by Underhill. In the bottom half of the sixth, the Manatees would not go away without a fight as they would try to take the lead beginning with a one-out double by Ordonez before freshman Devan Meran would come in to pinch run. Meran would then advance to third on a groundout before Garrido drew an intentional walk to put runners on for Hairston as the Winter Haven native would start to extend the lead with an RBI single to bring in Meran before Smalley hit an RBI single of his own to right to bring in Hairston for a 11-8 SCF lead.

At the top of the seventh, the Highlanders would add their final run on the board off of an RBI single by freshman Andrew Mac Rose, but it was all they could produce as the Manatees would seal the upset win.

Clarke and Jones would both earn no-decision in their starts. Clarke would throw two innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts, while Jones gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts in two innings.

O'Beirne would get the win and improve to 2-0 after giving up one unearned run on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings of relief. Zeigler gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three and a third innings of relief.

Greaney would be hit with the loss for the Highlanders after giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.

Five Manatees had a multi-hit game. Hairston and Smalley would lead the way in hitting as they each had three hits. Hairston (3-for-5) would add two runs and one RBI, while Smalley (3-for-3) added one run, one walk and two RBI.

Gustavson, Gil-Fernandez and Ordonez rounded out the order as they each had two hits apiece. Gustavson (2-for-3) added two RBI and two runs, while Gil-Fernandez (2-for-4) added one RBI and Ordonez (2-for-3) added two RBI, two runs and a walk.

Garrido (1-for-4, one run) had the remaining hit, while Boykin (one run, one RBI and one walk) and Hartley (one run, one RBI and one walk) also contributed.

For the Highlanders, Mac Rose, Meza and Underhill each had two hits while Lachance lead the way offensively as he went 1-for-5 with a home run and four RBI.

Other Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic Scores:

Gulf Coast State (4-0) defeated Pearl River CC (1-1).

St. John's River State (6-0) defeated Dyersburg State CC (0-4) 5-2.

#2 Wabash Valley CC (5-0) defeated RV Andrew College (1-1) 11-2.

#6 Northwest Florida State (2-2) defeated #16 Florida Southwestern (2-3) 6-3.

Wallace CC-Dothan (1-0) defeated Meridian CC (0-1) 8-7.

#15 Florence Darlington Tech (1-0) defeated Chattahoochee Valley (0-1) 13-3.

RV Chipola (3-2) defeated Miami Dade (2-2) 4-1.

Up Next:

The Manatees will look to continue to play in the winner's bracket as they will face Wallace-Dothan CC in the second round of the winner's bracket at 12 pm EST (11 am CST). Following that game, the Manatees will play a second game after. Sophomore Ed Wagner will be given the nod to start game two, while classmate Bryan Gomez is given the nod for game three.

If the Manatees win, then they will play the winner between RV Chipola and #15 Florence Darlington Tech in the semifinals. If they lose, then they play the same teams in the Gold Bracket.

Bracket Settings:

Winner's Bracket -

Gulf Coast State vs St. John's River State

#6 Northwest Florida State vs #2 Wabash Valley CC

SCF vs Wallace CC-Dothan

#15 Florence Darlington Tech vs RV Chipola

Gold Bracket -

Pearl River CC vs Dyersburg State CC 

Andrew College vs #16 Florida Southwestern

McLennan CC vs Meridian CC

Chattahoochee Valley vs Miami Dade

SCF Baseball Heads to Neutral Grounds

Bradenton, Fla - After a strong start to their season, the SCF baseball team (1-2) will look to set their sights on their first road trip of the season as they travel to Panama City Beach to participate in the three-day Visit Panama City Beach Baseball Classic at Publix Sports Park, hosted by Gulf Coast State College. The Manatees will open their part of the classic against #11 McLennan CC Friday afternoon, February 4 at 12:30 pm (11:30 am CST). It will be the first matchup between both teams.

Last season, the Manatees finished 2-2 in the classic where they upset then #10 Chipola College (3-2) and #6 San Jacinto - North (11-3) to win the Bronze Bracket.

If the Manatees defeat McLennan CC, then they will face the winner between Wallace-Dothan and Meridian CC in the main bracket, but if they lose they will bump down to the gold bracket and face the loser between the two teams.

The following teams will be participating with the Manatees and McLennan:

Gulf Coast State (host)

Pearl River (Mississippi)

St. John's River State

Dyersburg State CC (Tennessee)

RV Andrew (Georgia)

#2 Wabash Valley (Illinois)

#16 Florida Southwestern

#6 Northwest Florida State

Wallace CC-Dothan (Alabama)

#13 (NJCAA DII) Meridian CC (Mississippi)

RV Chipola

#15 Florence Darlington Tech (South Carolina)

Miami Dade

Chattahoochee Valley CC (Alabama)

All 16 teams are guaranteed four games in the classic.

Game Starters:

February 2: Game one vs McLennan CC - Brandon Clarke (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

February 3: Game two vs Wallace Dothan CC or Meridian CC - Ed Wagner (0-0, 7.36 ERA)

Game three vs TBD - Bryan Gomez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

February 4: Game four vs TBD -  Liam Best (0-1, 3.00 ERA)

Last Time Out:

The Manatees are coming off of opening their season with the second annual three-day SCF Legends Classic. They would fall to Gulf Coast State (4-3) and upset #6 Northwest Florida State (7-5) before falling to Indian River State (9-0).

Scouting McLennan CC:

McLennan CC hail from Waco, Texas and represent NJCAA Region 5 (North Junior College Athletic Conference). They are lead by Tyler Johnson, who enters his second season as head coach.

The Highlanders are coming off of finishing last season 40-18 overall with a 22-10 record in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Association (NTJCAA). They would finish fourth in conference play before losing both games in the NJCAA Region 5 West Championship.

Playing a big part for the Highlanders' pitching is freshman Gavyn Jones, who is ranked #2 in the Perfect Game Top 500 JUCO Prospects List.

How to Keep Up:

All the games will feature livestats provided by PerfectGame and will air livestream. Fans can also keep up the Manatees on all social media platforms.

Livestats Link: https://www.perfectgame.org/DiamondKast/Game.aspx?gameid=919032

Livestream Link: https://www.perfectgame.tv/

Social Media:

X - https://twitter.com/SCFBaseball

SCF Baseball Upsets Northwest Florida State in Home Opener

Bradenton, Fla - After falling in their season open, the SCF baseball team (1-1) pulled off a major upset back at Wynn Field as they defeated #6 Northwest Florida State (1-2) 7-5 in their home opener on day two of the SCF Legends Classic.

"Northwest Florida is a very good program, are very well coached and have very good athletes," said head coach Tim Hill II. "That's why we have this tournament and to get a win on our field against a good team like that is good. I thought the environment was good and both teams played pretty hard where every pitch meant something and it pay dividends down the road."

"We did really well," said sophomore Jalen Hairston. "Our pitchers kept us in the game and we had some big hits that came around and the RBI helped us keep the pitchers in the game"

"I thought there were some moments we saw from a lot of our guys and some things we need to work on," said redshirt freshman Palmer O'Beirne. "I'm super excited to get going with these guys."

"While we did struggle early with the bats, at the end of the day we picked each other up and showed teamwork," said freshman Hayden Gustavson. "Every guy played a part in this game."

Hill II sent sophomore Ed Wagner to the mound for the start, while Northwest Florida head coach Doug Martin went with freshman Mack Estrada.

After a scoreless first inning, the Raiders would get on the board first at the top of the first after an RBI single by sophomore Cayden Gaskin.

Following the end of the top of the third, the Manatees would take their first lead of the game beginning with a leadoff single by sophomore Preston Wetherell and a walk by classmate Luis Garrido. After freshman James Asmus drew a walk to load the bases, classmate Luke Boykin would get hit by a pitch and reload the bases and bring in Wetherell for the first run of the game. One batter later, sophomore LT Cockrill would draw a walk to reload the bases a second time and bring in Garrido to make it 2-1 SCF.

At the top of the fourth, the Raiders would tie the game at 2-2 after a one out solo home run by sophomore Cade Sadler for his third of the season before retaking the lead after an RBI double by sophomore Tyler Lejune. This would signal the end for Wagner as Hill would send O'Beirne to take over and finish the fourth with his first collegiate strikeout.

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Manatees would regain the lead as Hairston would drive in Wetherell and Garrido with a three-run homer to right for his first of the season and make it 5-3 SCF.

The Raiders would cut the Manatees' lead to 5-4 after an sophomore Cayden Gaskin scored on a double play at the top of the sixth. O'Beirne was still able to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Manatees would add their insurance runs as Gustavson would send a triple to right to bring in Boykin and freshman Allan Gil to make it 7-4 SCF.

At the top of the eighth, Hill would send freshman Daniel Hartley to the mound for O'Beirne. Despite giving up and RBI single by sophomore Colby Jones, the Auburndale native was able to get out of the eighth.

At the top of the ninth, Hartley face a little bit of a jam after hitting the leadoff batter and a wild pitch sent him to second, but after a strikeout, Hartley saw a moment and was able to pick off the runner at second before a final fielder's choice sealed the deal for the Manatees first win.

Wagner and Estrada both earned no-decisions in their starts. Wagner gave up three runs on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings, while Estrada gave up two runs on one hit with five walks and four strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings.

O'Beirne would earn his first collegiate win of the season after giving up one unearned run on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts in three and a third innings of relief. Hartley would earn his first collegiate save after giving up one run on one hit with one walk and one strikeout in two innings of relief.

Sophomore Parker Dilloff would be hit with the loss after giving up three runs on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings of relief.

Gustavon and Wetherell would be the leaders in hitting as they each finished 2-for-3. Gustavon added two RBI, while Wetherell added two runs, one walk and a stolen base.

Hairston lead the way offensively as he going 1-for-3 with the three-run homer and one walk.

Boykin (1-for-3, one RBI and one run) and Gil-Fernandez (1-for-4, one run) had the remaining two hits while Garridon (two runs and three walks), Cockrill (one RBI and two walks) and freshman James Asmus (one walk) also contributed in the game.

For the Raiders, Gaskin lead the way in hitting as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base, while Lejune and Sadler each had two hits and an RBI.

Following SCF's win, Gulf Coast State (2-0) defeated Indian River State (0-3) 12-2 in five innings, while Miami Dade (2-0) defeated Indian River State 15-12 in a 7 pm game.

Up Next:

The Manatees will wrap up the SCF Legends Classic as they play Indian River State Sunday afternoon, January 28 at 2:30 pm. Sophomore Liam Best will be given the nod to start for the game.

SCF Softball Set for Home Opener

Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team (3-1) look to make some more noise after completing their first four games on neutral grounds as they return home to the SCF Softball Complex for the next six games. The Manatees will welcome Heartland Community College for their home opener Thursday, February 8 at 4 and 6 pm. This will be the first ever matchup between both teams.

Citrus Conference Standings:

1.  Eastern Florida State (8-0)

2. #1 FSW (4-0)

3. #10 Indian River State (5-0)

4. #13 Seminole State (5-1)

5. Daytona State (3-1)

6. Hillsborough (3-1)

7. SCF (3-1)

8. #7 Central Florida (4-2)

9. Santa Fe (4-2)

10. Polk State (2-2)

11. St. Pete (4-6)

12. Miami Dade (0-0)

Last Time Out:

The Manatees are coming off opening the season at the three-day JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater. They would sweep the first day by defeating Georgia Military College 7-2 and USC Union 14-1 in five innings before splitting the second day losing 2-0 to Parkland College (#4 in NJCAA DII) and defeating the US Air Force Academy 5-2.

Debuts:

During the JUCO Kickoff Classic, 10 newcomers made their SCF debuts, which included sophomore transfers Janessa Benavides and Jaylin Padro. Both joined the Manatees after transferring from Miami Dade.

Breezy Pitching:

Sophomore Brielle Bostow has improved with her role on the mound so far this season. Bostow is currently 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA, one save, two walks and six strikeouts. In game one against Georgia Military College, she threw five innings with four strikeouts while in the game against the US Air Force Academy, she threw one scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.

A Need for Speed:

On the basepaths, sophomore Stephanie Oaks leads the way with her running. Oaks is batting .286 with four hits, four runs, one RBI and five stolen bases.

Unexpected Source of Hitting:

In the second game against USC Union, redshirt sophomore Jordan O'Brien showcased a side of confidence in her swing after going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs. O'Brien is currently batting .375 with three hits, three runs and three RBI.

Freshman Hailey Margetis also played a key role in hitting for the Manatees. Margetis is currently batting .625 with five hits and three RBI. In her debut game against Georgia Military College, she went 3-for-3 with one RBI.

From the sophomore side of things, Haley Rosenbaum is batting 1.000 with three hits, one home run, two RBI and two stolen bases.

Hybrid Life:

Freshman Ryleigh Bennett is one of the new upcoming hybrids that played a strong role on the mound and at the plate. Bennett is currently batting .500 with three hits and two RBI, while on the mound she is throwing a 0.00 ERA with one walk and four strikeouts in seven innings so far.

Classmate Julianna Stachowicz, who made her pitching debut against the US Air Force Academy, is currently 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, one walk and seven strikeouts, while batting .500 with two hits, three runs and two RBI.

Road to #300:

For head coach Mandy Schuerman, she is looking to become the second head coach in program history to reach 300 career wins. The first is Jeffery Roberts (366, 1999-2007).

Scouting Heartland CC:

Heartland CC hails from Normal, Illinois (an hour south of Springfield) and represents the Mid-West Athletic Conference (NJCAA Region 24 DII). They are lead by head coach Casey Jefferson, who enters her fifth season as head coach.

The Hawks are coming off of finishing last season 12-28 overall with a 5-15 record in the MWAC. Prior to playing SCF, they will play New College of Florida 

Key returners for the Hawks include Morgan Malone (7-6, 6.77 ERA, two saves, 27 walks and 72 strikeouts) and Ellie Downing (.320, 33 hits, 20 runs, two home runs, 13 RBI and seven stolen bases).

How to Keep Up:

Livestats will be provided by GameChanger and will air on the SCF Sports Networks. Fans can also keep up with the Manatees on all social media platforms.

Livestats Link: https://web.gc.com/teams/i23lUaOZpGKA/2024-spring-state-college-of-florida/live

Livestream Link: https://team1sports.com/scfmanatees/

Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SCFManatees

X - https://twitter.com/SCFSoftball

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/scfsoftball/

SCF Softball Finishes Classic 3-1

Clearwater, Fla - The SCF softball team (3-1) wrapped up their part of the JUCO Kickoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Field in Clearwater with a split as they fell to #4 Parkland College (2-2) 2-0 before defeating the US Air Force Academy 5-2.

"Going 3-1 is not a bad start to the season," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "Offensively, we just took a little too long to adjust, but overall as long as we continue to compete with every pitch good things will happen."

"I think we did our job for the two games today," said sophomore Haley Rosenbaum. "We tried our best on the first game and had a good fight against them (Parkland). We kept the score low and in winning difference. The difference between both games was we kept our heads in the game more so in the first game while in the second game we kind of knew we would win, so we played down to their level instead of ours."

"The team as a whole did a great job this weekend," said freshman Julianna Stachowicz. "We had some ups and downs, but in the end we learned and grew more together with each challenge we faced. Our focus is going to be starting off hitting the ball and not giving up. We all just need to stay focused and play this game one pitch at a time and we will be successful."

SCF vs Parkland College:

Schuerman sent sophomore Karsyn Rutherford to the mound, while Parkland co-head coaches Kristi and Dan Paulson countered with reigning MWAC Pitcher of the Year in sophomore Karley Yergler.

After a scoreless first inning, the Cobras would score first at the top of the second off of a Yergler RBI double. One inning later, sophomore Lexie Griffin would bring in the second run with an RBI double of her own. From there, the Manatees were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities as the Cobras took the first game.

Rutherford would fall to 1-1 after giving up two runs on six hits with one strikeout in three innings. Freshman Ryleigh Bennett would throw four innings of relief giving up four hits with two strikeouts while batting 1-for-3.

Yergler would improve to 1-1 after throwing six shutout innings, giving up three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts while batting 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Aside from Bennett, Rosenbaum and freshman Hailey Margetis would each have one hit each.

We did struggle to hit against Parkland, so we knew we had to get our bats going against Air Force.

SCF vs USAFA:

Looking to bounce back from the loss, Schuerman went with a new face on the mound as she sent Stachowicz to the mound, while Air Force head coach Russell Meyer went with Jaina Swann.

For the first four innings, it would be a pitcher duel between Stachowicz and Swann as they both put threw a combined eight strikeouts (six by Stachowicz).

At the top of the fifth, the Manatees would get on the board first as sophomore Stephanie Oaks would reach base on a fielding error while classmate Maddisan Noriega scored. The Lady Falcons would respond back in the bottom half of the inning and take the lead 2-1 after scoring off of a Manatee fielding error and a sacrifice bunt.

Heading to the top of the sixth, the Manatees would starting to fight back beginning with a Stachowicz leadoff double. After an infield single by Oaks and a double steal by both players, Margetis would put her bat to the test as she sent a double to center to bring in Stachowicz and Oaks to give the Manatees a 3-2 lead. One inning later, with sophomore Alissa Kessler on second after a leadoff double, Rosenbaum would showcase her power in a pinch hit role as she sent a homer to left center for her first of the season to make it 5-2 SCF.

"In my head, I was thinking 'I need a base hit'," said Rosenbaum on the home run. "The whole game, our coaches said all we need is ground balls and line drives too, so I just kept in my mind I didn't need to think about hitting it hard just to hit it and the bag would do the rest."

From there, sophomore Brielle Bostow would take over the seventh inning and despite giving up two hits, she was able to seal the deal with a final strikeout.

Stachowicz would get her first collegiate win of the season after giving up two unearned runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in six innings while batting 1-for-3 with a run, one walk and one stolen base. Bostow would earn her first collegiate save after throwing one scoreless innings, giving up two hits with two strikeouts.

"It felt great to be out there for the first time," said Stachowicz on her mound debut. "It felt good knowing that I had a great defense behind me and an amazing offense to give me some breathing room."

"Juli did a good job of staying in the zone today and pitched very well," said Schuerman on Stachowicz. "I thought all of our pitching was very good as a whole."

Swann would get the loss after throwing a complete game, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with five walks and four strikeouts.

Margetis and Rosenbaum were the offensive leaders for the Manatees as they each had two RBI. Rosenbaum added one walk to her stat line.

"Hailey M [Margetis] has been a solid hitter all fall and is continuing her approach during the spring and Haley R [Rosenbaum] stepped up in a big way as well," said Schuerman on Margetis and Rosenbaum. "We have a lot of different options this year."

Oaks (1-for-4, one run and one stolen base), Kessler (1-for-2, one run), Noriega (1-for-3, one run and one stolen base) and freshmen Lilah Denton (1-for-2) and Lydia Denton (1-for-2) had the remaining five hits, while Rutherford (one walk) also contributed.

Up Next:

The Manatees will get ready for the next six games at home as they begin with their home opener against Heartland Community College for a doubleheader, Thursday, February 8 at 4 and 6 pm.

SCF Softball Sweep JUCO Classic

Clearwater, Fla - The SCF softball team (2-0) opened their season strong on day one of the JUCO Kickoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Field as they defeated Georgia Military College (0-2) 7-2 in the first game before defeating USC Union (0-1) 14-1 in five innings via the eight-run mercy rule.

"I thought when we made mistakes we did a great job of bouncing back," said head coach Mandy Schuerman. "We did a fantastic job of hunting pitches in our zone and capitalizing on defensive miscues with our base running. In both games, we did make a couple of defensive mistakes, but when we have up runs we came back to score more. In both games, we continued to score in multiple inning, which made me proud. I look forward to tomorrow as we take it one pitch at a time."

"The team did very well overall," said sophomore Brielle Bostow. "Our communication and focus through both game is what stood out. Both offense and defense did well and got the job done. It felt really good opening up with two wins. It definitely set a tone that we will strive for every game."

SCF vs Georgia Military:

Schuerman sent Bostow to start game one for the Manatees, while GMC head coach Ashley Bunn went with reigning GCAA Pitcher of the Year in sophomore Addie Moss.

At the top of the first, the Bulldogs would get on the board first as sophomore Paris Kirby would bring in a run on an RBI groundout. In the bottom half of the inning, the Manatees would string together an offensive onslaught. Sophomore Stephanie Oaks would lead off the inning with a single to left and a stolen base before freshman Hailey Margetis would secure her first collegiate hit with a double to right to bring in Oaks and tie the game at 1-1 before moving to third on a passed ball. 

Two batters later, classmate Ryleigh Bennett would send a single to right for her first collegiate hit to bring in Margetis as the Manatees would take the lead. The lead would increase further as sophomore Taylor Halback would send a double to center to bring in Bennett before advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring off of a single by freshman Lydia Denton for her first collegiate hit of the season. After sophomore Haley Rosenbaum was hit by a pitch, classmate Maddisan Noriega would send a single to right to bring in Denton to make it 5-1 SCF.

In the bottom of the second, Margetis and freshman Olivia Rogers would open the inning with back to back singles before Margetis was called out at third. After Rogers stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch and sophomore Alissa Kessler drew a walk, Bennett would send a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Rogers for a 6-1 SCF lead.

Meanwhile, Bostow continued playing her part on the mound as the Tampa native was able to breeze through the next two innings of works.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Manatee would add their final run of the game as Kessler would send a double to center to bring in Margetis for a 7-1 lead for the Manatees.

At the top of the sixth, after giving up a lead off single, Schuerman would pull Bostow and send sophomore Karsyn Rutherford to the mound. The Bulldogs would get a second run on the board off of a Manatee fielding error, but it was all they could produce as Rutherford was able to hold her own and seal the the final two innings for the first win of the 2024 season.

Bostow would go to 1-0 after giving up two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings. Rutherford would throw two scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.

"I felt really good," said Bostow on her game. "I was excited to start competing and being out there with my team. We as a pitching staff have been focused on attacking the strike zone and throwing quality pitches."

Moss would fall to 0-1 after giving up seven runs on 12 hits with four walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

All nine Manatees in the starting lineup would have at least one hit. Margetis would lead the way in hitting as she went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI and one walk. Kessler would follow after finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Bennett would be the offensive leader as she went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run.

Halback (1-for-3, one RBI and one run), Rosenbaum (1-for-1, one RBI and one stolen base), Noriega (1-for-3, one RBI), Oaks (1-for-3, one run and one stolen base, Lydia Denton (1-for-3, one RBI and one run) and Rogers (1-for-4, one run and one stolen base) had the remaining six hits. Sophomore Jaylin Padro (one walk) also contributed in the game.

For the Bulldogs, Kirby, sophomores Kaitlyn Hallman, Hudson Smith and Reign Williams and freshman Shayla Stephenson each had one of the teams five hits.

SCF vs USC Union:

For game two against USC Union, Schuerman went with Rutherford, while USC Union head coach William Royce went with freshman Abby Benfield.

The first inning opened up the floodgates for the Manatees beginning with a lead off single by Oaks before stealing second and a walk drawn by Rutherford. After Oaks stole third and Rutherford moved to second on a defensive indifference, redshirt sophomore Jordan O’Brien would bring in the first runs of the game as she sent a double to center to bring in Oaks and Rutherford before stealing third. Rogers would then send O’Brien home with a sacrifice fly to center. After back-to-back singles by freshman Lilah Denton and sophomore Janessa Benavides and a stolen base by Lilah Denton, freshman Avery Arrington would bring in Lilah Denton with an RBI groundout to make it. 4-0 SCF.

The Bantams would get on the board with their only run of the game as freshman Peyton Morris would bring in the run with a groundout to make it 4-1 still in favor of the Manatees.

At the top of the second, the Manatees would increase their lead further beginning with back-to-back one out singles by Oaks and Rutherford before O’Brien sent another double to center to bring in Oaks. One batter later, Lilah Denton would send a single to left to bring in Rutherford and O’Brien before stealing second. Benavides would then send a single to center to bring in Lilah Denton to make it 8-1 SCF. 

Oaks would make it 9-1 SCF after grounding out to bring in Noriega at the top of the third. In the bottom half of the inning, Schuerman would send Bennett to the mound for Rutherford and breeze through the inning.

At the top of the fourth, the Manatees would increase the lead to double digits beginning with a lead off by freshman Julianna Stachowicz before she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a fly out. Following the two out, Arrington would reach first on a fielding error to bring in Stachowicz before Padro brought in Arrington with a double to center and reaching third to make it 11-1 SCF and invoke the mercy rule.

At the top of the fifth, the Manatees would add their final runs on the board beginning with a one-out single by Bennett and a double by O’Brien before Stachowicz sent a triple to right to bring them both in. An RBI single by Benavides to bring in Stachowicz would make it 14-1 SCF before Bennett shut the door in the bottom half of the inning to seal the sweep for the Manatees.

Rutherford would get the win after giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout in two innings. She also went 2-for-2 with two runs, one walk and one strikeout.

Bennett would throw three scoreless innings of relief with one walk and two strikeouts while batting 1-for-1 with a run.

Benfield would get the loss after throwing a five inning complete game, giving up 14 runs (12 earned) on 17 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Alongside Rutherford, four Manatees have a multi-hit game. O’Brien and Benavides would lead the way with three hits each. O’Brien (3-for-4) also lead the way offensively with a career-high three RBI, three runs and a stolen base, while Benavides (3-for-4) added two RBI.

“Jojo has been hitting the ball well in practice and is having more and more confidence in the strength of her shoulder.” said Schuerman on O’Brien. “I was happy to see her have such an explosive outing.”

Oaks and Lilah Denton both finished with two hits and two stolen bases each. Oaks (2-for-4) added two runs and one RBI, while Lilah Denton (2-for-3) added two RBI and  two runs.

 Stachowicz rounded out the offensive order after going 1-for-1 with two RBI, two runs and one walk.

Arrington (1-for-4, one RBI and one run), Padro (1-for-4, one RBI) and Noriega (1-for-3, one run) had the remaining three hits, while Rogers (one RBI) also contributed in the game.

Sophomore Gracie Starnes and freshman Bailey Stewart had the only two hits for the Bantams.

Notes:

This was the debuts of Bennett, Margetis, Rogers, Lydia Denton, Lilah Denton, Arrington, Benavides, Padro, Stachowicz and freshman Saremi Flores. Benavides and Padro joined  the team after transferring from Miami Dade.

For Schuerman, this was wins #259 and #260 for her in her career. She needs 40 to reach 300 career wins.

The 2-0 is their best start to the season since 2017.

Other Citrus Conference Scores:

#10 Indian River State (2-0) defeated Gulf Coast State (1-1) 10-8 and Georgia Military 11-6 on day one of the JUCO Classic. The Lady Pioneers will face Tallahassee CC and #4 Parkland College (NJCAA DII) (1-1) for day two of the classic at 9 am and 4:30 pm.

#7 Central Florida (1-1) split their first two games on day one of the JUCO Classic as they defeated #4 Parkland College 4-1 before losing 6-4 to Gulf Coast State (1-1). The Lady Patriots will face #2 Northwest Florida State (2-0) and USC Union at 11:30 am and 4:30 pm.

St. Pete College (0-1) fell to #2 Northwest Florida State 8-2 on day one of the JUCO Classic. The Lady Titans will take on Gulf Coast State and and Tallahassee CC at 9 am and 2 pm.

Hillsborough (1-1) split their first two games on day one of the JUCO Classic as they defeated Georgia Military 4-3 before falling to St. John's River State (2-0) 13-4 in five innings. The Hawks will travel to Leesburg to take on Lake Sumter State Saturday afternoon, January 27 at 12 and 2 pm.

Up Next:

The Manatees will wrap up their part of the JUCO Kickoff Classic on Saturday, January 27 and a clean sweep as they play #4 Parkland College at 11:30 am before playing the US Air Force Academy Club Team at 4:30 pm.

SCF Baseball Opens Season With SCF Legends Classic

Bradenton, Fla - The SCF baseball team will look to put the 2023 season to rest and move forward for the 2024 season as they open their season with the second annual three-day SCF Legends Classic. The Manatees will first face Gulf Coast State College at CoolToday Park in Venice Friday afternoon, January 26 at 3 pm. They will then have their home opener at Robert C. Wynn Field against #6 Northwest Florida State Saturday afternoon, January 27 at 12 pm before wrapping up the classic against Indian River State Sunday afternoon, January 28 at 2:30 pm.

#16 Florida Southwestern and Miami Dade will also be participating in the classic but will not face SCF until later in the season.

Schedule of Times:

January 26 - 

#6 NWFS vs #16 FSW @12 pm

SCF vs Gulf Coast State @3 pm

#6 NWFS vs Miami Dade @ 6 pm

January 27 - 

SCF vs #6 NWFS @ 12 pm

Indian River State vs Gulf Coast State @ 3:30 pm

Indian River State vs Miami Dade @ 7 pm

January 28 - 

Gulf Coast State vs Miami Dade @ 11 am

SCF vs Indian River State @ 2:30 pm

Last Time Out:

The Manatees are coming off of finishing last season 35-26 overall with an 18-6 record in the now defunct Suncoast Conference. They would win the Suncoast Conference Regular Season Championship after finishing in first place in conference for the first time since 2018. They would then qualify for the FCSAA State Tournament by defeating then #9 Santa Fe College 2-1 in a best-of-three regional qualifier to advance to the final four of the state tournament before losing to Miami Dade and Northwest Florida State.

The Manatees are lead by head coach Tim Hill II. Hill II enters his 12th season as head coach after taking over for his father, the late Tim Hill Sr. in 2013. Last season, Hill II was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.  He is joined by long time associate head coach Barry Batson, pitching coach Don Robinson and assistant coach Chris Sabo.

Batson, the founder of Athletics in Christ ministry, enters his 18th season with the Manatees since joining in 2006 under then head coach Tim Hill Sr.

Robinson, the former Pittsburgh Pirate that won the 1978 National League Rookie of the Year and 1979 World Series Champion, enters his 10th season as pitching coach for the Manatees.

Sabo enters his first season with the Manatees after spending the last four seasons as the head coach of the University of Akron. The Detroit native and former Michigan Wolverine played nine seasons in the MLB where he was the 1988 National League Rookie of the Year and the 1990 World Series with the Cincinnati Reds.

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

Palm Beach State

Lake Sumter State

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Out with the Old:

The Manatees have parted ways with 17 players who helped lead the 2023 Suncoast Conference Regular Season Champions team. Richie Morales (Arizona), Liam Moreno (St. Cloud State: NCAA DII), Kevin Karstetter (Arizona State), Ben Gilbert (Florida Atlantic), Austin Dearing (Florida International), Nick Romagnola (Eckerd: NCAA DII), Connor Hults (Florida State), Brayden Woodburn (Tampa: NCAA DII), Lucas Ismali (South Alabama), Ryan Stefiuk (Tampa: NCAA DII), Victor Sanchez (Oklahoma Wesleyan: NAIA), Mario Lopez, Jr. (South Florida), Cameron Clines (Florida International) and Aidan Troy (New College of Florida: NAIA) have all committed to continue playing collegiately. Pitcher Michael Forrett was the only player on the Manatees that was drafted for the 2023 MLB Draft as he was selected in the 14th round of the draft to the Baltimore Orioles.

Welcome the Newbloods:

With the veteran players moving on, Hill was able to have 28 newcomers join the team for the 2024 season (16 freshmen and eight transfers) and help the returners from last season.

Christopher 'Pip' Smalley:

A local product from Sarasota, Smalley, a pitcher/outfielder/infielder, joins the Manatees after transferring from Stetson University in Deland, Florida. He is listed as a freshman and will use one year of eligibility with the Manatees. Following this season, Smalley will then transfer to the University of Houston with three remaining years of eligibility.

Upon his arrival with the Hatters, Smalley would redshirt for the 2023 season before arriving to SCF. Prior to Stetson, he attended Riverview High School in Sarasota. 

As a player for the Rams, Smalley played three seasons on varsity where he finished his career batting .396 with 72 hits, three home runs, 47 RBI, 38 runs, 32 walks and 13 stolen bases, while on the mound he finished 9-1 with a 1.45 ERA, 46 walks and 114 strikeouts. Additionally, he helped lead the Rams to two straight appearances in the FHSAA 7A State Tournament.

Collin Mastromauro:

An infielder from Port Orange, Florida, Mastromauro joins the Manatees after graduating from Spruce Creek High School. He follows in the footsteps of his elder brother, Evan, who also currently plays for the Manatees.

As a member of Hawks, Mastromauro played three years on varsity where he put together a .255 career batting average with 38 hits, one home run, 29 runs scored and 22 RBI while also helping the team to the FHSAA State Baseball Tournament in 6A (Regional Semifinals) and and 7A (Final Four).

Walker Vanecek:

A first baseman/catcher from Riverview, Florida, Vanecek joins the Manatees after spending time at A3 Academy in Tampa. He is ranked the #14 first baseman in the state and has won several awards for seven years.

Gavyn Bowen:

A left-handed pitcher from Waukesha, Wisconsin, Bowen joins the Manatees after spending time at P27 Academy in Lexington, South Carolina.

Dylan DeLeo:

A right-handed pitcher from Winter Haven, DeLeo joins the Manatees after graduating from Winter Haven High School. As a member of the Blue Devils, he played one year on junior varsity before being bumped up to the varsity team for the remaining three years. During his varsity career, he finished 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 60 walks and 135 strikeouts in 106.2 innings on the mound while batting .268 with 22 hits, one home run, 11 runs and 19 RBI. Additionally, he helped the Blue Devils to three straight appearances in the FHSAA 6A and 7A State Baseball Tournaments. 

DeLeo reunites with rising sophomores and high school teammates Jeremy Weaver and Jalen Hairston.

Santiago Ordóñez:

A catcher from Fort Myers, Ordóñez joins the Manatees as a transfer from Florida State University with one year of eligibility remaining. As a member of the Seminoles, Ordóñez played in two games with one at-bat.

Prior to Florida State, Ordóñez graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. As a member of the Eagles, he played all four years on varsity and became a big part of the team's offense. He would finish his career there batting .415 with 85 hits, seven home runs and 67 RBI. Additionally, Ordóñez helped the Eagles to back-to-back championship wins in the FHSAA 7A State Baseball Tournament (2021 and 2022), which included hitting a walk-off home run to send the Eagles to the 2021 FHSAA 7A State Baseball Tournament.

Per Perfect Game, Ordóñez was ranked the No. 5 catcher and No. 264 overall player in the nation while being tabbed a two-time first team All-American.

Daniel Hartley:

A right-handed pitcher/infielder from Auburndale, Florida, Hartley joins the Manatees after graduating from Lakeland Christian High School in Lakeland, Florida where he played football and baseball.

As a member of the Vikings' football team, Hartley played as a wide receiver and a defensive back while helping the team to the final four of the FHSAA 3A State Tournament before switching to playing baseball.

As a member of the Vikings' baseball team, he played two years on varsity where he batted .419 with 78 hits, three home runs, 67 runs and 32 RBI at the plate while on the mound, he went 5-4 with a 2.75 ERA, 32 walks and 76 strikeouts in 63.2 innings. During his senior year, Hartley would help the Vikings to win the FHSAA 2A Baseball State Championship.

Aidan McBride:

A right-handed pitcher from Debary, Florida, McBride joins the Manatees after graduating from University High School in Orange City, Florida. As a member of the Titans, McBride played his last two years on varsity where he went 4-5 with a 4.54 ERA, 46 walks and 87 strikeouts in 57 innings. Additionally, he helped the team to make a trip to regional finals in the FHSAA 6A State Baseball Tournament his junior year.

Trey Wilson:

A right-handed pitcher from Valrico, Florida, Wilson joins the Manatees after graduating from Bloomingdale High School. As a member of the Bulls, he played three years on varsity where he went 3-2 with a 2.20 ERA, 27 walks and 74 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched while helping the team to two appearances in the FHSAA 6A State Baseball Tournament his sophomore and senior years. In fact, he helped Bloomingdale win the 2021 FHSAA 6A State Baseball Tournament Championship his sophomore year after defeating Fleming Island by a score 5-1.

Luke Boykin:

An outfielder from Jessup, Georgia, Boykin joins the Manatees after transferring from the University of Georgia. He will have two years of eligibility with SCF. While Boykin did redshirt during the 2023 season, he was a part of a Bulldogs team that did advance to the SEC Tournament.

Prior to committing to Georgia, Boykin graduated from Wayne County High School where he helped the Yellow Jackets to the regional finals of the GHSAA 5A Baseball State Tournament his senior despite being limited to 57 at-bats due to an injury. His junior year was his most productive year after hitting .431 with 14 home runs, 39 RBI and 10 stolen bases while leading them

Hayden Gustavson:

A catcher/infielder/right-handed pitcher from Lake City, Gustavson joins the Manatees after graduating from Columbia High School. Playing the final two seasons for the Tigers on varsity, Gustavson finished batting .405 with 70 hits, three home runs, 59 RBI, 45 runs and 33 stolen bases at the plate while on the mound, he went 2-1 with a 1.60 ERA, five saves, six walks and 51 strikeouts. Additionally, he helped the Tigers to two straight final four appearances in the FHSAA 5A Baseball State Tournament.

Rex Smith:

An infielder/outfielder and local product from Sarasota, Smith joins the Manatees after graduating from Sarasota High School. As a member of the Sailors, Smith played his last three seasons on the varsity team where he finished batting .423 with 30 hits, 19 runs, one home run, 14 RBI and 21 walks. Additionally, he helped the team to two appearances in the FHSAA 6A and 7A State Baseball Tournament (both regional quarterfinals).

Ryan Slattery:

A right-handed pitcher from Windemere, Slattery joins the Manatees after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh with up to two years of eligibility remaining. With the Panthers, he would utilize a redshirt to maintain his eligibility before transferring to SCF.

Prior to Pitt, Slattery played three years at TNXL Academy in Ocoee, Florida, where he helped the team win the 2022 NAA Championship while being recognized as an AP Scholar.

Luis Garrido:

An outfielder and local product from Palmetto, Garrido returns home to join the Manatees after transferring from Wabash Valley College (NJCAA) in Mount Carmel, Illinois with one year of eligibility remaining. As a member of the Warriors, Garrido played in 10 games where he produced four runs and a stolen base. Additionally, he was a part of the Warriors team that finished #3 in the nation, won the NJCAA Region 24 Championship and the NJCAA Midwest District Championship before making a trip to NJCAA JUCO College Baseball World Series as runner-up behind then champion #1 College of Central Florida.

Prior to signing at Wabash Valley, Garrido graduated from Palmetto High School where he was a team captain for the Tigers and played all four years on varsity. Throughout his career with the Tigers, he put together a batting average of .317 with 44 hits, two home runs, 30 runs scored, 15 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Additionally, he helped the Tigers to make an appearance in the FHSAA 6A State Baseball Tournament.

Devan Meran:

An outfielder from Aventura, Florida, Meran joins the Manatees from the Elite Squad Baseball Academy in Pembroke Pines. There, he competed in several national and world tournaments while piling together preseason All-American awards from Perfect Game.

Prior to Elite Squad Baseball Academy, Meran played for St. Thomas Aquinas High School where in his lone season, he batted .364 with eight hits and one RBI before the COVID-19 Pandemic stopped his season.

Palmer O'Beirne:

A left-handed pitcher from Cutchogue, New York, O'Beirne joins the Manatees after graduating from Huntington High School in Huntington, New York. O'Beirne sat out last season as a redshirt to maintain his eligibility.

Allan Gil-Fernandez:

An infielder from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Fernandez joins the Manatees after transferring from College of Central Florida. He joined the Manatees last year and sat out from injury, but will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Prior to Central Florida, Gil-Fernandez played and graduated from IMG Academy where he batted .407 with 24 hits, 16 runs, two home runs and 14 RBI.

Trevor Ziegler:

A right-handed pitcher from Cincinnati, Ohio, Ziegler joins the Manatees after transferring from the University of Cincinnati. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after joining during the 2024 spring semester. Prior to Cincinatti, Ziegler graduated from West Clermont High School where he was a two-sport athlete playing both basketball and baseball. On the Wolves' baseball team, he played two years on varsity where put together an 8-1 record with a 2.33 ERA, 28 walks and 77 strikeouts. Additionally, he helped the Wolves to the regional semifinals of the OHSAA DI State Baseball Tournament.

James Asmus:

A first baseman from New Hyde Park, New York, Asmus joins the Manatees after transferring from Charleston Southern University this semester with up to two years of eligibility remaining. Prior to committing to Charleston Southern, Asmus played at New Hyde Park Memorial where he was a two-sport athlete playing both football and baseball for the Gladiators. On the football team, he was a fullback and linebacker where he helped the team to the quarterfinals of the NYHSAA DII State Tournament. With baseball, he helped them to a 16-7 record his senior year.

Following the end of his tenure with New Hyde Park Memorial, Asmus would then play a year of prep at P27 Academy in Lexington, South Carolina before committing to Charleston Southern.

Mario Trivella:

An infielder from Caracas, Venezuela, Trivella joins the Manatees after graduating from Sarasota High School. As a member of the Sailors, he played two years on varsity where he finished batting .324 with 44 hits, four home runs and 23 RBI. Additionally, he helped the Sailors to two appearances in the FHSAA 6A and 7A State Baseball Tournament (both regional quarterfinals) with fellow teammate Smith.

Trivella joined the Manatees last season, but sat out and utilized a medical redshirt.

Returning Blood:

Hill will bring back 10 returners to help the newcomers out for this season: Erick Almonte, Trey Clucas, LT Cockrill, Preston Wetherell, Ed Wagner, Liam Best, Brandon Clarke, Jalen Hairston, Bryan Gomez and Jayce Blalock.

Almonte finished his freshman campaign batting .317 with 65 hits, 61 runs, two home runs, 39 RBI, 14 stolen bases and 44 walks while being named a member of the All-Suncoast Conference First Team. His 44 walks ranked tied for #42 in the nation. Following the end of this season, the Dominican native will head to the University of Central Florida in Orlando with two years of eligibility remaining.

Clucas, who transferred from Rice University, is coming off finishing his first season with the Manatees after going 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA with 11 walks and 18 strikeouts.

Cockrill, who played primarily as a backup catcher, comes off of finishing his freshman campaign batting .261 with 18 hits, 16 runs, one home run and 16 RBI.

Wetherell, a transfer from Florida State, went 1-0 with a 9.20 ERA, six walks and 13 strikeouts on the mound while batting .216 with a home run in his first year.

Wagner, a transfer from George Washington University, finished his first year with the Manatees going 8-2 with a 3.82 ERA, 36 walks and 71 strikeouts. He would also be named on the All-Suncoast First Team for his performance. His eight wins last season ranked tied for 55th in the nation.

Best, who joined Wagner from George Washington University, finished his first year with the Manatees 3-0 with 3.56 ERA, 28 walks and 49 strikeouts, which included three games where he had 10 strikeouts in those games. He would secure a spot on the All-Suncoast Second Team from the season. Following this season, Best will transfer to Appalachian State University with two years of eligibility remaining. 

Clarke, a transfer from the University of Alabama, finished his first season on a limited basis due to injury as he went 0-2 with a 12.27 ERA, eight walks and six strikeouts. Following the completion of this season, the native of Cary, North Carolina was originally playing to transfer to Liberty University, but instead he will transfer to the University of South Carolina with two years of eligibility remaining while also declaring himself for the 2024 MLB Draft.

Hairston, a two-way player, comes off finishing his first season going 1-0 on the mound with a 7.90 ERA, one save, seven walks and 12 strikeouts while batting .262 with 11 hits, one home run and three RBI.

Gomez finished his first year 0-2 with a 3.91 ERA, 18 walks and 26 strikeouts on a limited basis due to injury.

Blalock, a transfer from Georgia Tech, finished his first season with the Manatees batting .259 with 22 hits, five home runs and 21 RBI.

Scouting Gulf Coast State:

The Commodores are coming off of finishing last season 28-19 overall with a 10-14 record in the Panhandle Conference where they would finish in last place. They are lead by head coach Tyler Younger, who enters his second year as head coach.

The Commodores did have one player get drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft in which it was left-handed pitcher Christian Oppor as he was selected in the fifth round by the Chicago White Sox.

Key returners for the Jeremy Todd (.319, 52 hits, two home runs and 42 RBI; All-Panhandle Conference Second Team), Coleman Rowan (.360, 31 hits, one home run and 18 RBI; All-Panhandle Conference Second Team) and Broc Parmer (.425, 37 hits, six home runs and 28 RBI; All-Panhandle Conference Second Team).

Overall, the Manatees are 17-8 against the Commodores.

Scouting Northwest Florida State:

The Raiders are coming off of finishing last season 34-19-1 overall with a 15-9 record in the Panhandle Conference. They would win the Panhandle Regular Season Championship before defeating Polk State 2-1 in the best-of-three series in Niceville to advance to the FCSAA State Final Four where they would fall to eventual winner and then #1 Central Florida in the finals.

The Raiders are lead by head coach Doug Martin, who enters his 16th season as head coach and is coming off of winning the Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year award.

Key returners for the Raiders include Kendry Maduro (.261, 48 hits, 14 home runs and 44 RBI; All-Panhandle Conference Second Team), Colby Jones (.339, 58 hits, seven home runs and 44 RBI; All-Panhandle Conference First Team and All-NJCAA Region 8 Second Team), Tyler Lejune (.299, 44 hits and 26 RBI; All-Panhandle Conference Second Team) and Colin Linder (5-2, 5.71 ERA, 36 walks and 73 strikeouts).

The Manatees are 1-9 against the Raiders.

Scouting Indian River State:

The Pioneers are coming off of finishing last season 25-18 overall with a 10-11 record in the now defunct Southern Conference. They are lead by head coach Frank Torre, Jr, who enters his sixth season as head coach.

Key returners for the Pioneers include Diego Alana (.331, 48 hits, one home run and 30 RBI; All-Southern First Team), Vincent Samuel (.355, 59 hits, 11 home runs and 47 RBI; All-Southern First Team), Raul Feliz (.418, 56 hits, eight home runs and 43 RBI; All-Southern First Team) and Daniel Baez (.299, 41 hits, five home runs and 27 RBI and 14 stolen bases; All-Southern Second Team).

Overall, the Manatees are 20-19 against the Pioneers.

How to Keep Up:

Livestats will be provided by GameChanger with the home games airing on Team One Sports livestream. Fans can also keep up with the Manatees on all social media platforms

Livestats Link: https://web.gc.com/teams/wbkG6N4UTmsV/2024-spring-state-college-of-florida

Livestream Link ($): https://team1sports.com/scfmanatees/?B=847350

Social Media:

X - https://twitter.com/SCFBaseball

Vercosa Named SCF BVB Head Coach

Bradenton, Fla - The SCF beach volleyball team has made a change to their staff as first-year assistant coach Eunyce Vercosa will be promoted to head coach after Lynn Burnett was named the head coach for indoor and beach volleyball at New College of Florida (NAIA).

A native of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Vercosa brings a wealth of experience to the beach volleyball program after joining the Manatees in September 2023, while being the current head coach for Premium Beach Volleyball Academy in St. Petersburg and the head coach for Be Volleyball Academy, INC. Additionally, she is a current beach volleyball player professionally in the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP).

As a professional player, Vercosa has participated in numerous beach tournaments in Brazil and the US as well as several FIVB tournaments in Russia, Korea, Mexico and China with her highest finish being ninth on two occasions.

Vercosa looks to guide the Manatees to a successful season for 2024 as they open at the UMR Complex in Lakewood Ranch with their home and conference openers against St. John's River State and Florida State College at Jacksonville.

SCF Students/Supporters Gets Discount

 

Bradenton, Fla - Tampa Event Guide

TicketSmarter is delighted to present a 5% discount on tickets for students and supporters of

the State College of Florida. This special offer applies to events not only in Bradenton or Tampa

but also across the nation. Click the links below and enjoy an instant discount at checkout.

Tampa Concerts

Immerse yourself in the world of music by securing tickets to some of the finest performances at

venues like the Amalie Arena, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, or the Straz Center.

The Amalie Arena stands out as a prominent venue, hosting chart-topping artists such as Taylor

Swift, Bruno Mars, and local talents alike. Whether you're a fan of rock, pop, or country,

Tampa's concert scene has something for everyone.

Sports in Tampa

During Spring Training, you can catch the Pittsburgh Pirates right here in Bradenton at LECOM

Park. This 8,500-seat stadium is also home to the Pirates’ Single-A affiliate Bradenton

Marauders of the Florida State League.

Tampa Bay boasts a rich sports culture, and TicketSmarter is your go-to source for securing

tickets to thrilling games. Cheer for the BUCS with Tampa Bay Buccaneers tickets at Raymond

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at Amalie Arena. For soccer enthusiasts, the Tampa Bay Rowdies deliver exciting matches at Al

Lang Stadium.

Tampa Theatre Scene

For those seeking cultural delights, Tampa's theatre scene is a treasure trove. The David A.

Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, affectionately known as the Straz Center, is a hub for

theatrical excellence. With its five distinctive theaters, Straz hosts a range of productions, from

Broadway hits to intimate performances. The Tampa Theatre, a historic landmark, is another

gem offering a classic movie-going experience and occasional live events.

Cultural Gems in Tampa

In addition to mainstream venues, Tampa boasts a vibrant cultural scene. The Florida

Orchestra, with performances at the Straz Center, enchants audiences with classical and

contemporary masterpieces. The Tampa Museum of Art and the Henry B. Plant Museum

provide glimpses into the city's rich history and artistic heritage.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic entertainment scene that

Tampa has to offer. From heart-pounding sports action to soul-stirring concerts and captivating

theatre productions, Tampa stands as a cultural hotspot for all enthusiasts.

SCF Softball Opens with JUCO Classic

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/