The 2022 College of Central Florida baseball season was one for the record books. The team won the Mid-Florida Conference for the second time in three seasons and won the FCSAA State Championship for the fourth time in school history and the first state championship since 1998. This earned the team a trip to Grand Junction, Colorado for the NJCAA JUCO World Series. The team went 1-2 in Grand Junction good enough for a sixth-place finish.

The coaching staff always knew this squad was loaded with talent, but sometimes talented teams don't win because they can't figure out how to play as one cohesive unit. Back on March 5th the Pats lossed to their archrival, the Santa Fe Saints in the conference opening game by squandering a late lead and fell to 13-12 on the season. This loss seemed to have woken up a sleeping giant and the team as a whole realized that the games really do count now. The Patriots promptly won 32 out of their next 34 games cruising to a Mid-Florida Conference title by ten games over second place St. Johns River State College. 

As Mid-Florida Conference Champions the team earned the right to host a regional at Goodlett Field in Ocala. In the Ocala Regional the Pats would sweep the Tallahassee Community College Eagles by scores of 11-3 and 9-5. This sweep would send the Patriots to the Final Four of the FCSAA Region 8 State Tournament in Lakeland, Florida.

The FCSAA State/NJCAA South Atlantic District Baseball Tournament, hosted by the Detroit Tigers and Joker Marchant Stadium, was loaded with perennial powerhouses including Chipola College Indians, Miami-Dade College Sharks, and the Indian River State College Pioneers. The Patriots opened up the tournament with a 7-2 win over #2 Nationally ranked Chipola. Chipola had previously beaten CF in the first game of the season 14-6. The Pats then had a match up with Indian River who were 2-0 against the Pats coming into the tournament with a 14-13 home win and a 13-4 road win. CF didn't let the record against Indian River bother them as they went on to dismantle the Pioneers 15-5. This placed the team into the state championship game against Miami-Dade College. MDC had to fight all the way back after losing their first game of the tournament. MDC beat up a depleted pitching staff in the first championship game and won 15-9 to set up a winner take all final. In the do or die game the Patriots trailed 3-0 in the sixth inning but rallied for two runs in the inning and two more in the eighth inning to win 4-3 and their first state championship in 24 years.

The Pats now had two weeks to prepare both physically and mentally for the trip to Grand Junction, Colorado, and the JUCO World Series. The team would fly out two days before their opening game to get used to the higher elevations, get some practice in, and attend the Tournament banquet. As luck would have it the Patriots played in the World Series opening game when they took the field against the Cowley College Tigers of Arkansas City, Kansas. The Patriots would score five runs in the fifth inning to break open a close game and cruise to an 8-2 win over the Tigers. The win earned the Pats a spot in the Monday Night Memorial Day Fireworks game against #1 Walters State Community College Senators. In front of the largest crowd of the 2022 JUCO World Series (10,624) the Pats would jump out to a 5-2 lead in the fourth inning but would eventually fall 16-8 and move to the losers' bracket. The Patriots found themselves in a rematch with #7 ranked Cowley College Tigers and despite having beaten them previously in the tournament fell 10-7 in a hard-fought game. This ended the Patriots magical season.

FCSAA Coach of the Year, Marty Smith stated, "Getting to Grand Junction is difficult. Winning in Grand junction is difficult. The teams that are left in this tournament can really, really play. It just wasn't enough. A great year. We had a blast. Thanks for the ride fellas. Love you guys."

Pitcher Sam Swygert said, "I want to thank HC Marty Smith and pitching coach Zac Cole for welcoming me this past year. Giving me a home and a place to play the game I love each and every day. I can't thank my teammates enough for all the laughs and memories throughout the year. Always remember to help your neighbor!"

Kevin Kilpatrick, OF stated, "Can't even wrap everything into words right now. CF is forever my home. I thank you coaches and teammates for the past 3 years and how it has impacted my life in ways that people can't imagine. True definition of family. Thank you for teaching me the right way and always being there for me. Love you guys."

Marty Smith about Kevin Kilpatrick, "One of the greatest Patriots of all-time. 100 hits in a season is a Pat record and the 100th hit was a bomb in Grand Junction. But more importantly a great person who leads with energy and passion. Love ya Kevo!

Assistant Coach Jon Koenigsfeld said, "This team was special! Proud of all they accomplished! Thanks for the memories!

FCSAA Player of the Year Caleb Cali stated, "Thank you CF for the amazing year! Super thankful for the friendships made this past year. A bond that'll last a lifetime. Thanks to the coaches for believing in me. Excited for what's next."

Assistant Coach Zac Cole about Caleb Cali, "The best season I have personally witnessed from a hitter! The growth has been so fun to watch. You want this guy in your dugout…I promise you, trust me, he moves the needle."

Victor Castillo, OF said, "It's been a heck of a year, thank you CF Baseball for an amazing time and giving me the opportunity to play the game we all love at the highest levels."

Marty Smith responding to Vic Castillo, "Thanks for choosing the Pats and trusting what we do, Victor! I knew you'd have a blast and thrive playing here. But I didn't know we'd break our HR record and hit ten more in Grand Junction. Love to see you guys have fun."

Assistant Coach David Houtz said, "What a fun ride it was coaching and watching this team play all season. All coachable players that enjoyed each other and love playing the game. Good luck to those moving on! You will be missed in Patland. Neighbors forever!"

Carson Bayne, OF stated, "I will never forget this team and the y ear we had. What a ride! I love each and every one of my brothers and coaches. Thank you, guys, for everything you have done for me this year. Freshman year in the books. See you soon."

John Marant, DH said, "One of the greatest years of my life. Thank you to my newfound brothers and amazing mentors. Can't wait for next year."

Former CF Assistant Coach Zach Bove (Minnesota Twins), "So pumped for the Pats on winning the State Championship! Marty Smith has built such a special program! He will deflect the praise, but it all starts with him. Assistant Coach Jon Koenigsfeld adds so much value on and off the field. Congrats guys!"

Yehoshua Garcia, Pitcher stated, "A State Championship and a trip to the World Series. It couldn't have been done without the best 25 guys in the country. Back to work we go. A lot of adversity to overcome, let's roll!

Edrick Felix, State Tournament MVP, IF, commented, "I couldn't be more excited to go to Grand Junction with this team! We had our ups and downs throughout the season, but we have come together as a family. We fought till the end, supported each other, and never gave up. I love this team."