The College of Central Florida Patriots baseball team opens up their 2022 season at the Ed Davis Kickoff Classic Friday, January 28th with a double header. In the first game the Pats take on Chipola College at Noon. The Indians are the preseason #3 team in NJCAA Region 8. In the second game of the day, which starts at 4:00 PM, the Patriots will square off against the #9 NJCAA Region 8 ranked Pensacola State College Pirates.
It doesn't get any easier on Saturday as the #6 NJCAA Region 8 ranked Patriots take on nationally ranked #20 Dyersburg State Community College from Tennessee. That game starts at 10:00 AM. All games will be played at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Florida.
Head Coach Marty Smith begins his 28th season at the helm of the Patriots where he has earned 824 wins and two FCSAA State Titles. Smith is just one of two active coaches in the NJCAA state of Florida to have over 800 wins. The other is Mike McLeod of Tallahassee Community College. Just in the past three seasons the Patriots have put together a record of 102-32 and one Mid-Florida Conference Championship in 2019. The team returns nine players from last year's 37-15 team with many of the returners playing key roles in the success of the 2021 team.
Returners that will lead the team into the 2022 season include, Kevin Kilpatrick/OF (.347, 3 HR, 22 RBI), Edrick Felix/IF (.275, 6 HR, 21 RBI), Nicholas Calero/IF (.289, 1 HR, 26 RBI), Spencer Stephens/OF (.262, 1 HR, 17 RBI), Jackson Taylor/1B (.290, 3 HR, 30 RBI), Parker Seay (0-0, 16 IP, 25 K, 2.14 ERA), Riley Huge (3-1, 19 IP, 29 K, 2.63 ERA) and Ben Chestnutt (3-0, 37 IP, 2 SV, 38 K, 2.06 ERA).
The team will lean on these top returners but has also added some very talented newcomers. Players that transferred from other schools include David Pereira (Miami-Dade College), Brenden Vern (FIU), Caleb Cali (Hillsborough CC), Victor Castillo (FAU), Sam Swygert (University of South Carolina), Landon Ginn (East Carolina University), Aaron Combs (Coastal Carolina University), Matt Magrann (Austin Peay), John Marant (Georgia Tech), Jared Evans (Muskeegon CC), Anthony Westbrook (East Georgia State College) and Avery Love (Jacksonville University). Yehoshua Garcia and Mason Ronan will add depth to a solid pitching staff as they are both coming off of redshirt years due to injuries.
Incoming freshmen from the high school class of 2021 include, Carson Bayne (Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville, Fl), James Hill (Mitchell HS, Trinity, Fl), and Connor Godwin (Horsehead HS, Horsehead, NY)
The Pat's home opener will be on Monday, January 31st, 2:30 PM when they will host the Hillsborough Community College Hawks at Goodlett Field.