Lake-Sumter 12, Central Florida 2 (BASE)

Central Florida took its worst loss of the season at an unfortunate time on Wednesday, falling out of first place in the Mid-Florida Conference with an 12-2, 8-inning home loss to Lake-Sumter.

CF (23-13, 8-5 MFC) managed 9 hits, including 2 apiece by Kenneth Stalls, Casey Smit and Tito Mendoza, but left most of its runners stranded on base. Hunter Smith scored on a Dru Jones double in the fourth, and Smit crossed home via a Jordan Zech sacrifice in the seventh.

The Patriots fall a half-game behind Lake-Sumter in the MFC standings. They visit Seminole on Saturday in a make-up of Monday's rain-out.

Patriots Retain National Top 25 Status

Central Florida remained ranked in the latest NJCAA Top 25 National Poll, released Wednesday. The Patriots checked in at No. 21, down eight spots from their No. 13 debut March 18.

Three other Florida teams are included in the rankings, though CF is the lone Mid-Florida Conference representative.

Central Florida 7, St. Johns River 2; CF 5, SJR 1 (SOFT)

A 27-hit offensive explosion powered Central Florida to its first Mid-Florida Conference sweep of the season on Tuesday as the Patriots beat St. Johns River 7-2 and 5-1.

After starting the conference schedule with 6 losses, the Patriots (13-26, 4-10 MFC) are 4-4 in their last 8 conference games. That stretch of .500 ball has placed CF square in the state tournament conversation as the regular season approaches its final act.

Jessica McClellan's 2-run home run and 3 RBIs powered the Patriots in a 12-hit early game. Kylie Ondriezek went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, Megan David went 3-for-4 and scored twice and Katie Hayes and Erin McMahan added a hit and an RBI each. Staff ace Megan Still allowed 7 hits and struck out 5 to earn the victory.

CF pounded out 15 hits in the late game as Jordan Rambo pitched a complete-game 3-hitter for her first win of the season. Jessica Chewning put CF on the board with a 3-run home run in the third, one of two hits on the day for sophomore, and her teammates poured on the hits in support. McMahan went 3-for-4, while Belinda Rennes, Jennifer Hunter, McClellan and Hayes had 2 hits apiece.

While the sweep is a confidence boost for CF, it also has more tangible effects. With their two wins and a pair of losses Tuesday by Lake-Sumter, the Patriots move out of a sixth-place tie with St. Johns River and into a tie for fifth place with Lake-Sumter at 4-10 in the conference standings. That's significant because the MFC's top five teams will qualify for the FCCAA State Tournament next month. In effect, Tuesday's sweep positions CF as a meaningful player in the postseason race with only 10 games left to settle the issue.

Thursday brings an opportunity for the Patriots to earn a couple of valuable wins at home, as they host Seminole at 2:30 p.m. That doubleheader is the second-to-last home date of the conference schedule; CF hosts first-place Santa Fe in its home conference finale on April 15.

UPDATE: Former Patriots Dot the Four-Year Baseball Landscape

In January, CFPatriots.com took a look at former Patriot baseball players preparing for their junior or senior seasons four-year level. Here's an update on their seasons thus far:

Division I

• Preseason All-American Nick Ebert has had a challenging senior season at South Carolina. The slugging first baseman missed the team's opening series due to administrative issues, and he's been slowly rounding into form ever since. He's currently hitting .246 with a home run and 11 RBIs in 17 games. More importantly, however, the Gamecocks are 19-5 overall and 5-1 in the SEC, so it looks like Ebert will have the opportunity for some postseason redemption.
• Former All-State performer Jesse Mesa is posting impressive numbers at College of Charleston, hitting .304 with 8 doubles and 12 RBIs while helping the squad to a strong 19-7 record.
• Senior Kyle Maulbetsch is continuing his career at nearby Stetson, where he still contributes as both a pitcher and occasional position player. Maulbetsch owns a 2-3 record and 5.64 ERA on the mound and has scored 2 runs in just 4 games in the infield.
• Third baseman Juan Perez has enjoyed a stellar start to his NCAA career at Bethune-Cookman, a MEAC school in Daytona Beach. Perez is hitting .340 with 11 extra-base hits, 21 runs scored and 15 RBIs.

Division II

• 
  
  Infielder Jon Koenigsfeld, recognized among the Gulf South Conference's top 10 all-around student-athletes prior to his senior year at Valdosta State, has more than lived up to that distinction. Koenigsfeld is hitting .381 with 13 doubles and 27 RBIs for the Blazers.

Sunshine State Conference

Former Patriots are all over the rosters of the Sunshine State Conference, a highly competitive NCAA Division II league with nine member schools across Florida. Click here for current standings.

• Former All-State outfielder Yas Gutierrez is hitting .383 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs and 30 RBIs for Barry University (Miami Shores), a successful encore to his first-team all-conference junior campaign.
• Nova Southeastern (Fort Lauderdale) features four former Patriots on its roster, and all are productive: Luis Penate (.308 BA, 3 home runs, 10 doubles, 20 RBIs); outfielder Matt Seese (.243 BA, 20 runs scored); catcher Michael Hartley  (.273 BA in 12 games) and pitcher Nick Avila (4-3, 5.26 ERA, 30 Ks).
• Catcher Dane Derstine earned honorable mention All-American status with the Patriots. At defending DII champ Lynn University (Boca Raton), Derstine is hitting .348 with 11 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs.
• Flagler College (St. Augustine) boasts a pair of contributing former Patriots in first baseman Zach Bove (.366 BA, 5 home runs, 32 RBIs) and outfielder Jarrod Simmons (.304 BA, 7 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs.)

NAIA

• CF alumnus Tommy Reed has 3 hits and 3 runs scored in 7 games for Montreat College, an Appalachian Athletic Conference member located in Montreat, N.C.
• Pitcher Jason Ferguson has posted a 4.63 ERA over 11.2 innings at Tennessee Wesleyan, an AAC school in Athens, Tenn.

Patriots Hold Steady at No. 4 in State Rankings

Central Florida maintained its No. 4 ranking in the latest FCCAA state coaches' poll, released Tuesday. In fact, the top five remained intact, led by No. 1 Gulf Coast.

Front-running CF is the only Mid-Florida Conference school to crack the top 10, as Lake-Sumter bows out. But just as they've formed a bottleneck behind the Patriots in the MFC standings, Daytona State, Santa Fe and St. Johns River are the top three teams in the "also receiving votes" category. Just another reminder that CF has very little room for error down the stretch of this conference season.

The data:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (12) 30-6 129 1

2. Palm Beach State (1) 25-9 111 2

3. State College of Florida 24-9 110 3

4. Central Florida 23-12 82 4

5. St. Petersburg 24-16 76 5

6t. Miami Dade 22-6 43 6

6t. Pensacola 21-14-1 43 10

8. Northwest Florida State 20-12 33 --

9. Polk State 21-13 27 8

10. Broward 15-13 14 --

Also receiving votes: Daytona State 12, Santa Fe 12, St. Johns River 9, Tallahassee 9, Lake-Sumter 4, Chipola 1. Dropped out of rankings: No. 7 Tallahassee, No. 9 Lake-Sumter.

Ricardo Ratliffe, Markeshia Grant Earn All-America Honors

Central Florida basketball standouts Ricardo Ratliffe and Markeshia Grant have been named NJCAA All-Americans.

Ratliffe, the FCCAA Player of the Year, is a first-team All-American for the second consecutive year.

Grant, a first-team All-FCCAA performer, made the third team. Grant also received honorable mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Baseball Rained Out at Seminole

Central Florida's scheduled road game at Seminole was rained out on Monday. The game will be made up Saturday at 1 p.m. at Seminole.

The first-place Patriots (23-12, 8-4 Mid-Florida Conference) host Lake-Sumter on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

Central Florida 8, FSC-Jacksonville 2 (BASE)

Central Florida vaulted back into first place in the Mid-Florida Conference on Saturday, finishing off a home-and-home sweep of FSC-Jacksonville with an 8-2 win on the road.

Kyle Bright pitched 6 solid innings to earn the win, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 9. Tim Luksha picked up a heavy-duty save with 3 shutout innings of relief.

Offensively, Dru Jones went 2-for-5 with a double and a home run, Matt Jones added a double and Hunter Smith drove in 2 runs.

The victory moves the Patriots (23-12, 8-4 MFC) back atop the standings, and this time they don't have company. Daytona State and Lake-Sumter, which entered Saturday in a two-way tie for first, took losses to St. Johns River and Santa Fe, respectively, to fall to 7-5 in conference and out of the top spot.

Even with the conference back in its grasp, however, CF can't breathe easy. The SJR and Santa Fe wins also improved those schools to 7-5, meaning there's a four-way tie for second place just one game behind the front-running Patriots. And CF plays each of those schools twice apiece over the remaining four weeks of the regular season, so there's plenty of time and opportunity for the conference deck to re-shuffle.

The Patriots' effort to pad their narrow advantage begins Monday with a visit to Seminole.

Santa Fe 9, Central Florida 1; Santa Fe 8, CF 0 (SOFT)

Central Florida dropped a pair of games at state power Santa Fe on Saturday by scores of 9-1 and 8-0.

Jessica McClellan had a double and a run scored to put the Patriots on the board in the early game, while Megan David, Kylie Ondriezek and Belinda Rennes added a hit each. McClellan and Rennes also recorded a hit apiece in the late game along with Jessica Chewning.

CF (11-26, 2-10 Mid-Florida Conference) visits St. Johns River on Tuesday.

Central Florida 5, FSC-Jacksonville 3 (BASE)

Central Florida halted its Mid-Florida Conference slide Friday at Goodlett Field, riding a trio of home runs and Chris Labriola's stellar bullpen work to a 5-3 win over FSC-Jacksonville.

Dru Jones, Bradley Goodson and Kenneth Stalls went deep for the Patriots, with Goodson's eighth-inning shot vaulting CF ahead of the Stars 4-3. Labriola recorded the final 9 outs to pick up the win in relief.

The Patriots (22-12, 7-4) kept the pressure on Daytona State and Lake-Sumter, which entered Friday in a first-place tie at 7-3, and kept its thin cushion over St. Johns River and Santa Fe, which entered Friday at 5-5 each. CF fell out of first place this week with consecutive losses to Santa Fe.

CF completes the home-and-home with the Stars on Saturday at Jacksonville, then travels to Seminole on Monday. The Patriots' next home game is Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Lake-Sumter.

State Approves College's Name Change

Central Florida Community College's request to become College of Central Florida was approved on Friday by the State Board of Education.

Central Florida 2, Daytona State 0; Daytona 3, CF 1 (SOFT)

Central Florida earned its second consecutive doubleheader split on Thursday and narrowly missed its first Mid-Florida Conference doubleheader sweep. The Patriots blanked Daytona State 2-0 in the opener, then dropped a 3-1 heartbreaker late.

Ace Megan Still pitched her second complete-game shutout of the week, including Tuesday's gem against St. Johns River. The freshman ace allowed just 3 hits against 9 strikeouts. Offensively, Jennifer Hunter hit a solo home run, Erin McMahan had a double and a run scored and Megan David added a hit and an RBI. The victory gave the Patriots their second win in three games after they opened conference play with six losses.

The nightcap saw Daytona plate 3 runs over the final 2 innings to deny CF the home sweep. Kylie Ondriezek, Jessica McClellan and Hunter notched a hit apiece, while McMahan drew a walk and scored the Patriots' lone run of the game.

CF (11-24, 2-8 MFC) visits powerhouse Santa Fe on Saturday.

CF Star Markeshia Grant Commits to South Carolina

After taking visits to three major-conference Division I schools, Central Florida sophomore point guard Markeshia Grant has decided to continue her academic and basketball career at the University of South Carolina.

Grant visited Miami and Texas along with South Carolina, using just three of the five official visits allotted under NCAA rules. She also had strong interest from Pitt and Minnesota, among others.

Grant earned first-team FCCAA All-State honors as a sophomore, averaging 17.7 points, 5.2 assists and 5 rebounds per game. She returned from injury late in the season to guide CF to three consecutive road victories, clinching second place in the Mid-Florida Conference and a berth in the FCCAA State Tournament.

The Tampa native now joins an up-and-coming program with its own postseason aspirations.

The Gamecocks improved to 7-9 in SEC play after finishing 2-12 in 2008-09. Their schedule was rated the 11th most difficult in the nation and second toughest in the conference, and it yielded a 14-15 overall record but also three victories over ranked opponents. Most encouraging, the team did not have any seniors, and the Gamecocks found an anchor for the low post in freshman center and SEC Newcomer of the Year Kelsey Bone. In addition to Grant, the Gamecocks will also add Marah Strickland, a former high-school All-American transferring to South Carolina from the University of Maryland.

Grant will now be taking instruction from one of the most accomplished point guards in basketball history. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a five-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time national player of the year at the University of Virginia. As a coach, Staley led Temple to six NCAA Tournament appearances in her eight-year tenure, which ended with her 2008 hire at South Carolina.

The opportunity to learn the point guard position from a living legend was no small factor in Grant's decision. But as impressive as Staley's resume is, it was her approach to the recruiting process that helped win Grant's commitment. Grant said Staley didn't dwell on her own achievements, but rather focused on Grant's potential and what the two might achieve together.

South Carolina was an attractive enough situation for Grant to turn down the opportunity to play for Gail Goestenkors, the head coach at Texas. Grant said she has long admired Goestenkors, along with Tennessee coach Pat Summitt. Tennessee did not recruit Grant, and now she looks forward to battling the storied program for SEC supremacy.

With her own innate confidence, the quality of the returning talent and Staley's track record of turning programs around, Grant expects big things in Columbia, beginning with the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. And though she can't officially become a Gamecock until the signing period opens April 14, Grant is already talking like a proud member of the team.

"We're going to shock some people," she said.

Central Florida 3, St. Johns River 0; SJR 9, CF 2 (SOFT)

Central Florida picked up its first Mid-Florida Conference victory on Tuesday, beating St. Johns River 3-0 behind ace Megan Still's complete-game shutout. The Patriots lost the late game 9-2.

Still allowed 2 hits and struck out 5 to keep the Vikings off the board in the opener. Jessica McClellan and Erin McMahan provided early offense with solo home runs in the first and second innings, respectively, and Katie Hayes' single scored Megan David from second base for a late insurance run (see video above).

Belinda Rennes went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI in the nightcap, while Jessica Knight and Kylie Ondriezek added a hit apiece.

The Patriots had lost six consecutive games to open MFC play after winning 7 of its final 11 non-conference games. CF (10-24, 1-7 MFC) completes its eight-game homestand Thursday with a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader against Daytona State.

Patriots Dip to Fourth in State Rankings

The new FCCAA state coaches' poll has Central Florida in the four spot, down two from last week, while Mid-Florida Conference foe Lake-Sumter joins the top 10 for the first time. Click through for the details.

Star-Banner: Ricardo Ratliffe Enjoying Recruiting Process

The latest details on the Ricardo Ratliffe recruiting process are in this morning's Star-Banner and at ocala.com. Here are some of the highlights:

• Ratliffe enjoyed his visits to Arkansas and Alabama. He declined to favor one over the other, though he did mention that the Razorback fans certainly did their part in wooing him with chants, autograph requests and the general celebrity treatment.
• Ratliffe will take his remaining three official visits to Clemson, Missouri and Cincinnati. All three schools have sent representatives to Ocala to meet with the 6-9 power forward over the past week.
• In an interesting twist, Ratliffe said Florida has scaled back its recruiting effort in recent weeks, making it unlikely the Patriots' all-time scoring leader will play out his college career just up I-75 from where it began.
• Finally, April 14 is the first day of the regular NCAA signing period, but Ratliffe likely won't be putting pen to paper that day. As it stands now, his last visit is set for April 17.

Santa Fe 7, Central Florida 4 (BASE)

Central Florida took its second consecutive loss to its closest rival on Monday, falling to Santa Fe 7-4.

The Patriots built the foundation of a rally in the ninth inning as Dru Jones doubled in front of a Kenneth Stalls opposite-field home run, cutting into the 5-run lead Santa Fe brought into the final frame. But the CF bats fell silent, going down in order to conclude the game.

Stalls hit 2 home runs on the game, including a solo shot in the fourth, for his fifth and sixth homers of the season. Bradley Goodson and Paul Karmeris contributed 2 hits apiece, while Hunter Smith drove in a run.

CF (21-12, 6-4 Mid-Florida Conference) has the better part of a week to recover for its next home-and-home series, against FSC-Jacksonville. The Patriots host on Friday, then visit the Stars on Saturday.

• Click here for full updated Patriot baseball statistics.

Santa Fe 8, Central Florida 2 (BASE)

Central Florida took a tough Mid-Florida Conference loss on the road Saturday, falling 8-3 at Santa Fe.

Dru Jones went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Paul Karmeris had a double and an RBI. Matt Gendron took the loss on the mound.

CF completes its home-and-home with the Saints on Monday, a 3 p.m. first pitch at Goodlett Field.

The loss, coupled with Lake-Sumter's win over Daytona State on Saturday, forced the Patriots (21-11, 6-3 MFC) out of the three-way tie for first place they captured on Friday. Lake-Sumter now holds that spot outright, as the updated standings below indicate. The top two finishers receive spots in the FCCAA State Tournament in May.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Saturday's games)

Lake-Sumter 7-2

Central Florida 6-3

Daytona State 6-3

St. Johns River 5-4

Santa Fe 4-5

FSC-Jacksonville 3-7

Seminole 2-9

Lake-Sumter 2, Central Florida 1; LS 11, CF 3 (SOFT)

Central Florida on Saturday suffered its third consecutive doubleheader sweep since the start of its Mid-Florida Conference schedule, this one at the hands of Lake-Sumter by scores of 2-1 and 11-3, the latter in 5 innings.

Belinda Rennes went 2-for-3 to provide a spark in the early game. Katie Hayes went 2-for-3 with a home run in the nightcap, while Heater Porter added a pinch-hit RBI and Jandrew Collins a pinch-hit double.

CF (9-23, 0-6 MFC) continues its homestand Tuesday, playing St. Johns River in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.

Central Florida 5, Daytona State 2 (BASE)

Central Florida took back its share of first place in the Mid-Florida Conference on Friday, beating Daytona State 5-2 behind a masterful bullpen effort from Chris Labriola.

The Patriots (21-10, 6-2 MFC) avenged Wednesday's 5-4 loss at Daytona and tied the Falcons (12-10, 6-2 MFC) and Lake-Sumter in a three-way deadlock atop the conference standings with one-third of the MFC schedule in the books.

CF's offense managed to manufacture just enough runs to help Labriola construct an impressive victory. The Patriots scored twice in the first inning and plated a run apiece in the second, fifth and sixth frames. Paul Karmeris drove in 2 of the runs, while Dru Jones and Jordan Zech had 2 hits each.

But Labriola was the game's breakout star. The sophomore lefthander entered the game in the fourth inning and yielded almost nothing to the potent Falcons offense, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 3 over 6 shutout innings. Only two Falcons reached scoring position on his watch - one of them on an infield throwing error - and he retired Daytona in order three times, including the ninth.

CF's conference schedule continues Saturday with a visit to Santa Fe.

FSC-Jacksonville 8, Central Florida 0; FSC-J 11, CF 2 (SOFT)

Central Florida lost both halves of its first home Mid-Florida Conference softball doubleheader on Thursday, dropping two games to FSC-Jacksonville by scores of 8-0 and 11-2.

A Jessica Knight solo home run in the nightcap provided the day's offensive highlight for the Patriots, while Jessica Chewning drew a bases-loaded walk for the home team's other run in the late game. Katie Hayes picked up a hit in each game, while Kylie Ondriezek, Megan David, Megan Still, and Erin McMahan added a hit apiece on the day.

The Patriots (9-21, 0-4 MFC) again try for their first conference win on Saturday, hosting Lake-Sumter at 1 p.m.

CF Baseball Cracks National Top 25

The Central Florida baseball team has played its way into the national conversation, earning the No. 13 spot in the latest NJCAA Top 25 National Poll.

The FCCAA No. 2 Patriots failed to earn national notice with its 8-0 streak to open the season, but their strong start to Mid-Florida Conference play has attracted some well-deserved recognition. CF (20-10, 5-2 MFC) is tied for second in conference and has a good shot at making good on its ranking with a berth in the FCCAA State Tournament in May.

CF is the only MFC team and one of five Florida schools included in the top 25. FCCAA No. 1 Gulf Coast is sixth; State College of Florida-Manatee is 14th; Palm Beach is 22nd; and Miami-Dade is 24th.

Daytona State 5, Central Florida 4 (BASE)

Central Florida fell into second place in the Mid-Florida Conference on Wednesday, dropping a 5-4 decision at Daytona State.

The Patriots (20-10, 5-2 MFC) entered the game in a first-place tie with the Falcons (12-7, 6-1), and will have a chance to regain their share of the top spot when Daytona visits Goodlett Field on Friday to complete the home-and-home.

CF and Daytona, ranked second and 10th in the FCCAA coaches' poll, respectively, will likely battle all season for the conference crown. The two will also have to keep an eye on Lake-Sumter, which beat Seminole 8-5 on Wednesday and now sits tied with CF for second place in the MFC at 5-2. Only the top two finishers in the conference advance to the FCCAA State Tournament in May.

Paul Karmeris hit a 2-run home run, his second consecutive game with a deep ball. Reigning FCCAA Player of the Week Hunter Smith added a hit and an RBI, while Jordan Zech had 2 hits. Kyle Bright took the pitching loss.

Valdosta State Ousts Rollins, Wins First Regional Title

Former Patriots Ricardo Lewis and Marvin Dibble continue to help Valdosta State University reach unprecedented heights. The latest achievement: a 71-58 win over Rollins College on Tuesday night, delivering a South Region championship and the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament Elite Eight.

The Blazers advance to Springfield, Mass., where the DII champ will be determined. VSU plays Indiana (Pa.) on March 24, with just three wins separating it from a national title.

Patriots Jump to Second in FCCAA Baseball Poll

A blistering start to its Mid-Florida Conference schedule has elevated the Central Florida baseball team to the No. 2 spot in the FCCAA State Coaches' Poll, released Tuesday. The Patriots are joined in the top 10 by previously-unranked Daytona State, which has emerged as their primary MFC rival. The teams play each other twice this week, on Wednesday at Daytona and Friday at Goodlett Field.

The full rankings:

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (12) 23-5 129 1t

2. Central Florida (1) 20-9 105 5

3. Palm Beach State 19-7 99 8t

4. State College of Florida (1) 17-7 97 4

5. Miami Dade (1) 20-5 74 1t

6. St. Petersburg 21-12 73 7

7. Chipola 16-13 68 8t

8. Tallahassee 16-9 31 10

9. Pensacola 17-10-1 24 6

10. Daytona State 11-7 23 --

Also receiving votes: Northwest Florida State 17, South Florida 11, Broward 9, St. Johns River 7, Polk State 3. Dropped out of rankings: No.3 Northwest Florida State.

CF's Hunter Smith Named FCCAA Player of the Week

Central Florida slugger Hunter Smith was rewarded for a stellar string of games at the plate on Tuesday, earning FCCAA Player of the Week honors. From the press release:
The sophomore second baseman keeps CF represented among the state's top players. Pitchers Matt Gendron and Megan Still were FCCAA Pitchers of the Week in baseball and softball last week.

Central Florida Community College’s Hunter Smith is this week’s FCCAA Baseball Player of the Week. Smith, a sophomore first baseman from Inverness, Fla., batted .619 (13-for-21, 1.047 SLG%) with five home runs and 15 RBI in five games. Smith enjoyed a pair of huge games offensively – three home runs and five RBI vs. Lincoln Land on March 9 and two home runs and six RBI vs. MFC foe St. Johns River on March 14. He also had at least two hits in all five games, scored two or more runs in his final four games of the week and has now recorded at least one RBI in eight straight games.

Central Florida 15, Seminole 5 (BASE)

Central Florida recovered nicely from its first Mid-Florida Conference loss, hammering Seminole 15-5 in 7 innings Monday at Goodlett Field and improving to 5-1 in the MFC.

The game was tight early as the Raiders scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to knot the game at 2. That's when the combustible CF offense unleashed one of its trademark huge innings.

Kenneth Stalls and Tito Mendoza walked to open the home half of the fourth, and leftfielder Shae Cothran ushered them home with a mammoth 3-run shot to right-center (click here for video of Cothran's home run). The Patroits tacked on 4 additional runs to blow the game open, scored 5 more in the following inning and Paul Karmeris scored the decisive run on an error after opening the seventh with a double.

Karmeris had a 3-run home run among his 3 hits and 4 RBIs, Bradley Goodson notched 2 hits and scored 3 runs and Dru Jones filled up the stat line with 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Michael Paulk pitched 6 innings for the win, yielding 5 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts.

CF (20-9, 5-1 MFC) now enters a home-and-home with fellow conference frontrunner Daytona State. The Patriots travel on Wednesday and host the Falcons on Friday at 3 p.m.

Valdosta State Upsets No. 1 Arkansas Tech, Reaches DII Sweet 16

Valdosta State, featuring former Patriots Ricardo Lewis and Marvin Dibble, knocked off No. 1 Arkansas Tech on Sunday to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. Next up is Rollins College on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

St. Johns River 14, Central Florida 8 (BASE)

Central Florida suffered its first loss of the Mid-Florida Conference season on Sunday at Goodlett Field, falling to St. Johns River 14-8.

Hunter Smith starred at the plate for CF, blasting 2 home runs and driving in 5. Reigning FCCAA Pitcher of the Week Matt Gendron, in his first start since no-hitting Lake-Sumter, took the loss on the mound.

It's a quick turnaround for the conference-leading Patriots (19-9, 4-1 MFC), who host Seminole on Monday at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field. CF defeated Seminole 11-1 on Saturday. 

CF Alum Ricardo Lewis Powers Valdosta State in DII Tournament

Valdosta State won its first round game of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Saturday, beating Clark Atlanta 74-67. One of the heroes of the Blazers win was a point guard who once delivered his share of wins to our own Central Florida Patriots.

From the VSU Spectator:

Despite holding a 10 point lead midway through the second half, VSU found their lead at just two points with 3:34 to play. Two straight Ricardo Lewis field goals sprouted the lead back to six points, 69-63. “Huge,” (VSU coach Mike) Helfer said. “We need him to get going and get into that lane. I was just thankful that he took the shot.”

The Blazers, who also feature former Patriots Marvin Dibble, now advance to face Arkansas Tech, the No. 1 seed and the team that eliminated Valdosta from the Gulf South Conference tournament. That game is set for 9:30 p.m. EST tonight in Russellville, Ark. Check out the entire DII bracket here.

Seminole 2, Central Florida 1; Seminole 10, Central Florida 0 (SOFT)

Central Florida opened its Mid-Florida Conference season in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday, dropping a 2-1, 12-inning decision at Seminole. The Patriots also fell in the second half of the doubleheader, a 10-0 loss in 5 innings.

Reigning FCCAA Pitcher of the Week Megan Still was masterful in defeat in the opener, pitching 11 1/3 innings, striking out 5 and allowing just 5 hits and a single earned run. Jessica McClellan and Megan David produced a hit apiece, with McClellan driving in David for the team's lone run.

CF (9-18, 0-2 MFC) has the opportunity to correct its MFC path with an eight-game homestand against four different conference foes. That starts Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against FSC-Jacksonville, continues Saturday at 1 p.m. against Lake-Sumter and wraps up March 23 and 25 versus St. Johns River and Daytona State, respectively. 

Central Florida 11, Seminole 1 (BASE)

Central Florida continued its early dominance of the Mid-Florida Conference on Saturday with an 11-1 mercy-rule victory at Seminole.

The Patriots (19-8, 4-0 MFC) rode a familiar combination of masterful pitching and prolific offense to the impressive victory. CF has scored at least 9 runs in each of its conference games, and has allowed more than 4 runs only once. Overall, the Patriots have won their four MFC games by a combined score of 39-12.

Saturday saw sophomore Shawn Kale produce his finest effort of the season on the mound, striking out 11 while lasting all 7 innings. Offensively, Dru Jones went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double, Paul Karmeris went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs and Bradley Goodson added a solo home run.

Early though it is, the Patriots have successfully built a cushion for themselves in the competitive MFC with one-sixth of the 24-game schedule in the books. CF is the conference's last unbeaten team, while 2-1 Daytona State is the only other MFC team with less than two losses. The Patriots have a quick turnaround for their next conference test, hosting St. Johns River on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a make-up of Friday's rainout.

Central Florida 9, St. Johns River 4 (BASE)

Central Florida prolonged its conference-opening win streak to three on Wednesday with a 9-4 victory at St. Johns River.

Kyle Bright picked up the win, striking out 6 over 6-plus innings, while Chris Labriola collected his second save of the year. Hunter Smith had 3 hits for the Patriots, Jordan Zech had a home run among his 2 hits and Bradley Goodson, Kenneth Stalls and Dru Jones added 2 hits apiece.

The Patriots (18-8, 3-0) wrap up the home-and-home with SJR on Friday, hosting the Vikings at Goodlett Field at 3 p.m.

Markeshia Grant Earns All-State Honors

Central Florida sophomore Markeshia Grant has been named to the FCCAA All-State team. Grant finished fourth in the state in scoring (17.7 ppg) and fifth in assists (5.2 apg).

Ricardo Ratliffe Named FCCAA Player of the Year

In a decision that surprised nobody, the FCCAA named Central Florida star Ricardo Ratliffe its Men's Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Ratliffe led the state in scoring (27.4 ppg)while finishing second in rebounding (11.3 rpg) and field goal percentage (63.4%).

CF's Megan Still Named FCCAA Pitcher of the Week

Central Florida freshman Megan Still has been named FCCAA Pitcher of the Week after a remarkable run that saw her collect wins in three consecutive Patriot games. From the press release:

Central Florida Community College’s Megan Still is this week’s FCCAA Softball Pitcher of the Week. Still, a freshman from Plant City, Fla., was 3-0 with a 0.88 ERA last week. She picked up wins in both games of a doubleheader against Oakland on March 4. She earned the win in relief in game one then tossed a complete game in the nightcap. She struck out 13 batters in nine total innings of work. Against ABAC on March 6, she hurled a two-hitter and struck out eight in a complete-game win over the Fillies. For the week, Still allowed only four earned runs and struck out 21 batters in 16 innings.

RELATED: Still and teammate Jessica Knight talk to CFPatriots.com here.

CF's Matt Gendron Named FCCAA Pitcher of the Week

Central Florida sophomore ace Matt Gendron has been named FCCAA Pitcher of the Week on the strength of his no-hit effort against Lake-Sumter on Saturday. From the press release: 

Central Florida Community College’s Matt Gendron is this week’s FCCAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week. Gendron, a sophomore from Lakeland, Fla., tossed a nine-inning no-hitter in the Patriots’ Mid-Florida Conference opener against Lake-Sumter on March 6. Gendron allowed only two base runners (BB, HBP) and struck out ten in the 8-0 victory.

RELATED: Gendron discusses his no-hitter with CFPatriots.com here.

Patriots Rise to Fifth in State Rankings

Central Florida moved up a spot in the latest FCCAA Coaches' Poll, now checking in at No. 5. The Patriots remain the Mid-Florida Conference's only representative in the top 10.

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1t. Miami Dade (7) 18-3 128 2

1t. Gulf Coast (5) 20-5 128 1

3. Northwest Florida State 17-6 93 4

4. State College of Florida (1) 14-6 89 3

5. Central Florida (1) 16-8 70 6

6. Pensacola 17-8-1 51 8

7. St. Petersburg 19-11 48 7

8t. Palm Beach State 16-7 40 10

8t. Chipola 13-12 40 9

10. Tallahassee 13-8 30 --

Also receiving votes: St. Johns River 24, Polk State 16, Brevard 6, South Florida 4, Daytona State 2, Santa Fe 1. Dropped out of rankings: No. 5 Polk State

St. Petersburg 9, Central Florida 0; St. Petersburg 6, Central Florida 2 (SOFT)

Central Florida fell to a tough state foe on Tuesday, dropping both halves of a doubleheader to St. Petersburg by scores of 9-0 and 6-2.

 

Jessica McClellan and Megan David notched hits in the early game, while the Patriots recorded their lone runs of the day on a 2-run Jordan Rambo home run in the nightcap.

 

The Patriots (9-16) open Mid-Florida Conference play on Thursday, hosting St. Johns River in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.  

Central Florida 16, Lincoln Land 1 (BASE)

Central Florida rolled in its final non-conference tune-up of the season, blasting Illinois school Lincoln Land 16-1.

 

Hunter Smith smashed 3 home runs, while Kenneth Stalls and Casey Smit also went deep for the Patriots. Cody Lewis picked up the victory, striking out 12 over 6 innings of work.

 

CF (17-8) resumes its Mid-Florida Conference schedule Wednesday with a visit to St. Johns River. The Patriots are 2-0 after a conference-opening home-and-home sweep of Lake Sumter.

Jessica Knight, Megan Still on CF Softball's Resurgence

The Central Florida softball team has won six of its last eight games entering Tuesday's doubleheader with state rival St. Petersburg, and pitchers Jessica Knight and Megan Still have been a big part of that success.

Knight struck out 10 over 6 innings and added a pair of home runs at the plate in the Patriots' 9-8 win over Oakland, Mich., on Thursday, while Still pitched a complete-game 2-hitter at Abraham-Baldwin on Saturday to pick up her third win in as many CF games.

In the video above, the freshmen standouts discuss the team's recent hot streak and the adjustment from high school to college softball.

Central Florida 11, Lake-Sumter 7 (BASE)

Central Florida completed a conference-opening home-and-home sweep of local rival Lake-Sumter on Monday with an 11-7 victory over the Lakers.

The Patriots moved to 16-8 overall and 2-0 in the young Mid-Florida Conference season behind a quality start from Michael Paulk and a pair of explosive innings at the plate. Paulk (3-2) allowed 6 hits and 3 earned runs over 7 innings while striking out four. The offense produced 4 runs in the fourth and again in the sixth, paced by 3-run shots by Paul Karmeris and Bradley Goodson. Jordan Zech initiated the offense out of the leadoff spot with a 3-hit effort.

The win was a fitting encore to Saturday's MFC opener, an 8-0 win at Lake-Sumter defined by sophomore ace Matt Gendron's no-hitter. CF plays its final non-conference game on Tuesday, hosting Illinois school Lincoln Land at 2:30 p.m., then resumes its 24-game MFC slate with a home-and-home against St. Johns River. The Patriots visit Palatka on Wednesday, then host the Vikings on Friday at 3 p.m. as Gendron returns to the mound.

Matt Gendron Discusses No-Hitter Versus Lake-Sumter

Central Florida sophomore ace Matt Gendron threw his first career no-hitter Saturday in the Patriots' 8-0 win over Lake-Sumter. The 6-3 righthander discusses the accomplishment in the video above.

Former Patriot Mike Musgrave Announces Retirement

The Star-Banner's Byron Saucer reports that former Central Florida star pitcher Mike Musgrave has decided to end his minor-league baseball career. Musgrave, a 25-year-old Ocala native, spent six injury-plagued seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization, most recently at Triple-A Fresno.

Miami, Texas, South Carolina in the Mix for CF Star Markeshia Grant

Central Florida sophomore Markeshia Grant will continue her esteemed basketball career at either Miami, Texas or South Carolina.

Grant, a 5-7 point guard, visited Miami prior to the FCCAA State Tournament, was scheduled to make her visit to Texas this weekend and will visit South Carolina at some point prior to the April 14 opening of the spring signing period. NCAA rules allow for official visits to up to five schools, but Grant indicated the three schools above are her clear finalists, and visits to additional schools would be unnecessary.

Grant led a struggling CF squad to the postseason upon her late-season return from injury, sparking the team to three consecutive road victories and a strong second-place finish in the Mid-Florida Conference.

Central Florida 3, Abraham-Baldwin 1; Abraham-Baldwin 2, Central Florida 0 (SOFT)

The Central Florida softball team continued its solid recent play Saturday at Tifton, Ga., earning a split with host Abraham-Baldwin. The Patriots won the opener 3-1 before dropping a 2-0 decision in the nightcap. CF, inching towards .500 at 9-14 overall, has won 6 of its last 8 games.

The early game saw Megan Still record her third pitching win in as many CF games. The freshman tossed a complete-game 2-hitter and struck out 8, moving her record into winning territory at 7-6. Kylie Ondriezek collected 3 hits, including 2 doubles, and scored twice, while Jennifer Hunter drove in 2 runs and scored another. Jessica McClellan went 2-for-3 with a double and drove in the other Patriot run.

Katie Hayes provided the highlights in the nightcap with a hit and a pair of walks, but CF could not make good on a solid pitching effort from Jordan Rambo.

After four consecutive games against out-of-state opponents, the Patriots return to more familiar rivals this week as they open a six-game homestand. Tuesday brings a 2 p.m. visit from St. Petersburg, while St. Johns River arrives Thursday at 2 p.m. to open the Patriots' Mid-Florida Conference schedule. 

Central Florida 8, Lake-Sumter 0 (BASE)

Now that's how you open a conference schedule.

Central Florida ace Matt Gendron put the rest of the Mid-Florida Conference on notice Saturday, hurling a no-hitter and striking out 10 as the Patriots routed Lake-Sumter 8-0 in CF's conference opener. Gendron, a sophomore righthander out of Lakeland, walked one Lakers batter and hit another with a pitch, the only two minor blemishes on an otherwise pristine pitching effort.

Though Gendron hardly needed it, the offense piled on in support of their dominant pitcher with an 8-run effort of their own. Paul Karmeris went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Hunter Smith went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the way.

The Patriots (15-8, 1-0 MFC), positioned as a favorite entering their 24-game MFC slate, wrap up their home-and-home with Lake-Sumter (9-11-1, 2-1 MFC) on Monday, hosting the Lakers at 2:30 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

Brian Buscher Homers in Indians Spring Training Debut

Former Patriot Brian Buscher strengthened his case for landing a major-league roster spot with the Cleveland Indians on Friday, hitting a pinch-hit solo home run in the squad's spring training opener. Click here for some background on Buscher.

St. Augustine Record: Riddick a Perfect Fit on Flagler Softball Team

Danny Klein of the St. Augustine Record profiles junior pitcher Kelly Riddick, the one-time ace of the Central Florida softball staff now starring for Flagler College.

Central Florida All-American Ricardo Ratliffe Sets His Five Official Visits

Central Florida sophomore Ricardo Ratliffe, a 6-9, 240-pound All-American power forward and the nation's No. 1 junior college prospect, will make official recruiting visits to Alabama, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Clemson and Missouri.

NCAA rules allow recruits to make one official visit apiece to no more than five schools of their choice. One important caveat regarding Ratliffe's situation: given his current proximity and multiple unofficial visits to Gainesville, he decided not to use one of his allotted visits on Florida, but the Gators remain a contender to earn his signature on or after April 14.

Ratliffe will visit Arkansas on Saturday for the Razorbacks' regular-season finale against Mississippi, then travel immediately to Alabama for a Sunday visit. Dates for his visits to Cincinnati, Clemson and Missouri are not yet scheduled.

Tampa Tribune: Speed's Recovery Boosts USF Women

Scott Carter of the Tampa Tribune details the late-season resurgence of Allyson Speed, a former Central Florida standout and current senior guard at the University of South Florida.

Palm Beach State 70, Central Florida 62 (WBB)

A second-half lull cost the Central Florida women's basketball team its season Thursday night as the Lady Patriots fell to Palm Beach State 70-62 in the quarterfinal round of the FCCAA State Tournament.

CF (19-11) played solid basketball over the first 20 minutes, gradually carving out a lead that reached 5 points at the break. But that slight advantage was flipped on its head immediately after halftime, forcing the Lady Patriots to play from a possession or two behind for the game's final 15 minutes.

The Panthers, avenging an early-season overtime loss to these Lady Patriots, emerged from the halftime locker room with a potent combination of offensive conversions and defensive stops. The abrupt 13-1 run to open the second half left CF reeling and trailing by seven. To its credit, CF managed to slow the Palm Beach momentum and keep the game within reach. First, Markeshia Grant found Canvis Scott with a slick no-look pass to cut the Panthers lead to seven; just over a minute later, Amber Powe stroked a 3-pointer and Tyeshia Battles converted a layup in transition to trim the lead to a single point.

But CF never managed to regain the lead it held in relative comfort at halftime, missing a string of opportunites to tie or move back ahead. Palm Beach wing Tyffani Fenwick unsheathed dagger after dagger in holding off the persistent Lady Patriots, scoring 18 of her game-high 28 in halftime and cashing in a dramatic 3-point play off a loose ball that put the Panthers up 62-56 with just over 3 minutes to play.

Lady Patriots star Grant, still battling a persistent injury that cost her much of the Mid-Florida Conference season, managed just 8 points on 2-for-11 shooting. Scott led CF with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Jamesha Willis scored 15 and Powe 11. Battles scored 8 points on 3-for-12 shooting, but did make both of her 3-point attempts. As a team, CF shot an impressive 6-for-13 from long range, though only 36 percent from the field overall.

Friday's women's state semifinals pit Palm Beach against Gulf Coast and Pensacola against Tallahassee. Click here for scores from Thursday's quarterfinals.

Central Florida 9, Oakland 8; Central Florida 8, Oakland 3 (SOFT)

Central Florida recorded an impressive softball sweep on its home field Thursday, beating Oakland, Mich., 9-8 in 8 innings in the early game and 8-3 in the nightcap. The pair of wins brought CF's record to 8-13 with a week to go before Mid-Florida Conference play begins.

Jessica Knight starred at the plate and on the mound in the opener. The freshman continued her brilliant recent play with a pair of home runs, 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs. She also did the heavy lifting on the mound, pitching 6 innings and striking out 10 while yielding 4 earned runs on 7 hits.

Megan Still picked up the win in relief, allowing a run on 2 hits over the final 2 innings. Jennifer Hunter drove in 2 runs with a pair of hits, Jessica McClellan and Megan David notched 2 hits each and Kylie Ondriezek scored twice.

The Patriots put away the visitors in regulation in the late game as Still earned her second win of the doubleheader. The sophomore ace evened her season record to 6-6 with a complete-game, 7-hit, 10-strikeout effort. McClellan had a 3-run home run among her 3 hits, Ondriezek drove in 2 runs, Belinda Rennes slapped 2 hits and scored a run and Knight and Jessica Chewning added an RBI apiece.

Next up for the Patriots: a Saturday visit to Tifton, Ga., to face Abraham-Baldwin. CF returns home Tuesday to host St. Petersburg.

State Tournament Notebook, Day 2

Click through for a few items of interest from the second night and day of the FCCAA State Tournament:

PREVIEW: Central Florida vs. Palm Beach State, FCCAA Quarterfinal (WBB)

TEAM CAPSULES  

  Head Coach

• Kris Ruffo (2nd season, 30-20) 

 Key Players (Roster, Stats)

• G Viviana Penate 5-4 sophomore...Feb. 9 FCCAA Player of the Week...averages 14.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.9 steals...45% field goal percentage, 42% 3-point percentage.
• F Schwanna Dunmore 5-8 freshman...averages 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.5 steals...51.5% field-goal percentage.
• G Tyffani Fenwick 5-7 sophomore...averages 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.3 steals...48% field goal percentage.
• G/F Krystal Delph 5-9 sophomore...averages 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals...51% field goal percentage.

Season Record Versus Tournament Teams: 3-4 (Schedule)

• Lost to Santa Fe 92-81, Nov. 6 @ Gainesville
• Lost to Central Florida 82-79 (OT), Nov. 7 @ Gainesville
• Defeated Daytona State 74-67, Nov. 11 @ Lake Worth
• Lost to Indian River State 80-72, Dec. 19 @ Fort Pierce
• Lost to Indian River State 77-63, Jan. 13 @ Lake Worth
• Defeated Santa Fe 78-75, Jan. 16 @ Lake Worth
• Defeated Indian River State 79-71, Feb. 6 @ Fort Pierce

FCCAA State Tournament History

• 
  
  Appearances: 14
• 
  
  Overall record: 14-12
• 
  
  State titles: 2 (1990, 1991)

Head Coach

• 
  
  Cheryl Rice (8th season, 169-84)

Key Players (Roster, Stats)

• G Markeshia Grant 5-7 sophomore...averages 17.7 points, 5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.5 steals...46% field-goal percentage, 32% 3-point percentage.
• G Tyeshia Battles 5-7 sophomore...averages 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals...30% 3-point percentage.
• G Jamesha Willis 5-7 freshman...averages 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.5 steals...41% field-goal percentage.
• F Canvis Scott 6-1 freshman...averages 7 points, 6.8 rebounds...54% field-goal percentage.
• G Shaunte Forward 5-7 freshman...averages 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals...32% 3-point percentage.
• G Amber Powe 5-7 sophomore...averages 7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals.

Season Record Versus Tournament Teams: 4-6 (Schedule)

• Defeated Palm Beach State 82-79 (OT), Nov. 7 @ Gainesville
• Lost to Indian River State 76-61, Dec. 12 @ Fort Pierce
• Lost to Tallahassee 89-76, Dec. 17 @ Tallahassee
• Lost to Gulf Coast 91-70, Dec. 18 @ Panama City
• Lost to Santa Fe 64-61, Jan. 6 @ Ocala
• Defeated Daytona State 77-75, Jan. 13 @ Daytona Beach
• Lost to Santa Fe 70-59, Jan. 27 @ Ocala 
• Lost to Daytona State 72-59, Jan. 30 @ Ocala
• Defeated Santa Fe 93-86 (OT), Feb. 13 @ Gainesville
• Defeated Daytona State 77-76 (OT), Feb. 17 @ Daytona Beach

FCCAA State Tournament History

• Appearances: 21
• Overall record: 19-19
• State titles: 2 (1992, 1997)

SERIES INFORMATION

Recent Regular-Season Meetings

• Nov. 7, 2009: Central Florida 82, Palm Beach 79, OT
• Dec. 17, 2008: Central Florida 71, Palm Beach 61
• Oct. 31, 2008: Central Florida 60, Palm Beach 43
• Nov. 18, 2007: Central Florida 67, Palm Beach 50
• Nov. 29, 2003: Palm Beach 68, Central Florida 61
• Jan. 6, 2001: Central Florida 50, Palm Beach 35

FCCAA State Tournament Meetings

• 2001 quarterfinal: Central Florida 62, Palm Beach 56
• 1992 final: Central Florida 68, Palm Beach 66
• 1991 semifinal: Palm Beach 89, Central Florida 81
• 1990 quarterfinal: Palm Beach 76, Central Florida 74

Former Patriot Ricardo Lewis Named to All-Gulf South Conference First Team

Marion County native and former Central Florida Patriots point guard Ricardo Lewis was named this week to the All-Gulf South Conference first team in recognition for an outstanding senior season at Valdosta State. From the press release:

Lewis, who earned second team All-GSC last season, was third on the VSU team at 11.0 points per game while dishing out a team-best 64 assists. He turned the ball over just 37 times and registered 27 steals while shooting 80.6 percent from the free throw line.

The Blazers, who also prominently feature former CF wing Marvin Dibble in their lineup, open the GSC Tournament on Friday. VSU is the East's No. 2 seed, opening against West No. 3 seed Arkansas-Monticello.

FCCAA State Tournament Semifinals Set

Four teams have advanced in the FCCAA State Tournament, and four have been eliminated. On one side of the bracket, St. Petersburg defeated Daytona State 78-69 and Tallahassee edged Indian River State 77-75, setting up a St. Pete-Tallahassee semifinal at 2 p.m. EST Friday. On the other, Northwest Florida State beat Central Florida 74-61 and Broward defeated Hillsborough 72-60, creating a 7 p.m. EST semifinal between Northwest and Broward. The final is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. EST.

Northwest Florida State 74, Central Florida 61 (MBB)

The Central Florida men's basketball team saw its season end Wednesday night, falling to Northwest Florida State 74-61 in the quarterfinal round of the FCCAA State Tournament.

The FCCAA No. 1 Raiders built a convincing 14-point halftime lead, taking advantage of the Patriots' 35 percent shooting and 1-for-8 effort from 3-point range. But CF (26-7) made a valiant second-half effort in turning the potential rout into a winnable game that spiraled out of its reach in the final minutes.

The Patriots emerged from the halftime locker room with renewed energy on offense and defense, unleashing a 23-6 run over the half's first 10 minutes and edging within a possession of the Panhandle Conference champs. Ricardo Ratliffe capped the rally with a basket in the post and an emphatic block on Raiders counterpart Tobias Veal, shifting the momentum completely to the Patriots' side.

But a composed NWFSC squad corrected itself, falling into a pattern of trading baskets with the Patriots and maintaining its slim lead as CF missed its opportunities to tie or move ahead. Raiders gunner Sherrard Brantley expanded the Northwest lead with a dagger 3-pointer with 7:20 to play, pushing his team ahead 58-50. Freshman Darius Nesmith responded with a transition three for the Patriots 30 seconds later, but the shot amounted to CF's last stand. The Raiders answered with an 11-1 run over the following three minutes, rebuilding the double-digit lead it enjoyed at the break and cruising to victory.

Aside from the early hole it dug itself, CF was doomed in large part by its misfires from the perimeter. The team shot 4-for-17 from 3-point range, with many of those misses coming at crucial moments in which a make might have changed the game. Northwest also held an advantage on the offensive boards - a Patriots point of emphasis in their preparations - with 20 second-chance points off of 23 offensive rebounds. That yielded 74 total field-goal attempts to CF's 65, offsetting Northwest's own 36 percent shooting for the game.

Ricardo Ratliffe led all scorers with 27 points, 11 more than the second-highest point producer. But the rugged NWF frontcourt held its own, forcing the sophomore All-American to take 21 attempts from the field to match his season average. Josh Proctor promised to have a larger impact on the game had he not been saddled with foul trouble, but he still contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes despite his own struggles from the field. No other Patriot scored more than Travis Johnson's 7 points.

The Patriots kept Raiders standout point guard Brian Bryant from dominating the game, holding him to 13 points on 4-for-21 shooting. But Bryant had ample help, as four Northwest teammates joined him in double figures, led by Veal's 16.

CF has now been eliminated by a Panhandle Conference school in each of the last five seasons, including last year's semifinal loss to Chipola.

Central Florida's attention now turns to the women's tournament. The Lady Patriots face Palm Beach State at 9 p.m. EST Thursday in the last of four FCCAA State Tournament women's quarterfinal games.

Central Florida 17, South Florida 2 (BASE)

Central Florida's explosive offense posted its second-highest run total of the season on Wednesday in a 17-2 victory at South Florida.

Dru Jones cleared the fences twice and Kenneth Stalls joined him in the home run column as the Patriots improved to 14-8. Kyle Bright picked up the win on the mound.

It was an opportune time to rediscover the mix of potent offense and dominant pitching that staked CF to an 8-0 season-opening streak. Saturday brings a visit to Lake-Sumter for the onset of Mid-Florida Conference play, the 24-game stretch that will determine participants in the FCCAA State Tournament in May.

MFC Champion Daytona State Ousted from FCCAA Tournament

A mild upset to open the men's basketball postseason: Central Florida nemesis and Mid-Florida Conference champion Daytona State became the first team eliminated from the FCCAA State Tournament on Wednesday, falling to St. Petersburg 78-69. The Suncoast Conference runner-up now advances to play the winner of the forthcoming Indian River-Tallahassee quarterfinal.

State Tournament Notebook, Day One

Click through for a few items of interest from the first night and day of the FCCAA State Tournament:

PREVIEW: Central Florida vs. Northwest Florida State, FCCAA Quarterfinal (MBB)

TEAM CAPSULES

Head Coach

• Bruce Stewart (13th season  -  310-80)

Key Players (Roster...Stats)

• G Brian Bryant 6-3 sophomore...three-time FCCAA Player of the Week in 2009-10...Mississippi State signee...averages 21.1 points, 1.8 steals, 8.4 rebounds, 5 assists...46% field-goal percentage, 34% 3-point percentage...FCCAA Player of the Year candidate.
• G Sherrard Brantley 6-2 freshman...averages 14.1 points...43% 3-point percentage.
• G Brandon Crawford 6-6 sophomore...averages 10.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1 steal.
• F Kahlil Owens 6-6 freshman...averages 7.1 points, 10.3 rebounds...64% field-goal percentage.
• F Toby Veal 6-7 sophomore...averages 11.6 points, 8.4 rebounds...52% field-goal percentage.

Season Record Versus Tournament Teams: 3-2 (Schedule)

• Defeated Central Florida 88-79, Dec. 4 @ Marianna
• Defeated St. Petersburg 91-70, Dec. 13 @ Gainesville
• Defeated Tallahassee 60-57, Jan. 13 @ Niceville.
• Lost to Tallahassee 76-73, Jan. 30 @ Tallahassee
• Lost to Tallahassee 69-64, Feb. 15 @ Niceville

FCCAA State Tournament History

• Appearances: 11
• Overall record: 19-8
• State titles: 3 (1995, 2001, 2003)

Head Coach

• Tim Ryan (7th season  -  148-74)

Key Players (Roster...Stats)

• F Ricardo Ratliffe 6-9 sophomore...NJCAA first-team All-American...Central Florida career scoring leader...2-time MFC Player of the Year...averages 27.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1 block...63% field goal percentage, 44% 3-point percentage.
• F Justin Cecil 6-8 sophomore...averages 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds...49% field-goal percentage, 46% 3-point percentage.
• F Josh Proctor 6-8 sophomore...averages 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds.
• G Travis Johnson 6-0 sophomore...averages 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1 steal...45% field goal percentage...47% 3-point percentage.
• G Kenny Williams 5-9 sophomore...averages 5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals...46% field goal percentage.
• G Rahshon Tabb 6-2 sophomore...averages 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds.

Season Record Versus Tournament Teams: 4-5 (Schedule)

• Defeated St. Petersburg 98-82, Nov. 3 @ St. Petersburg
• Defeated Hillsborough 77-73, Nov. 10 @ Ocala
• Lost to St. Petersburg 85-76, Nov. 17 @ Ocala
• Defeated Tallahassee 83-68, Nov. 21 @ Ocala
• Lost to Northwest Florida State 88-79, Dec. 4 @ Marianna
• Lost to Tallahassee 86-83, Dec. 17 @ Tallahassee
• Defeated Hillsborough 85-72, Jan. 2 @ Tampa
• Lost to Daytona State 81-75, Jan. 30 @ Ocala
• Lost to Daytona State 82-74, Feb. 17 @ Daytona Beach

FCCAA State Tournament History

• Appearances: 13
• Overall record: 13-12
• State titles: 1 (1996)

SERIES INFORMATION

 Recent Regular-Season Meetings

• Dec. 4, 2009: Northwest Florida State 88, Central Florida 79

FCCAA State Tournament Meetings

• 2004 semifinal: Northwest Florida State 90, Central Florida 75
• 2002 quarterfinal: Central Florida 71, Northwest Florida State 68

CF Slides in State Baseball Poll

The Central Florida baseball team dropped two spots in the latest FCCAA state coaches' poll, released Tuesday. The preseason No. 10 Patriots rank sixth in the final poll before the start of conference play.

Rank Team (1st-place votes) Record Pts Pvs

1. Gulf Coast (7) 14-5 112 2

2. Miami Dade (4) 11-2 107 6

3. State College of Florida (2) 12-5 101 2

4. Northwest Florida State 14-6 75 3

5. Polk State 12-5 71 8

6. Central Florida 13-8 70 4

7. St. Petersburg 15-11 53 7

8. Pensacola 13-8-1 42 10

9. Chipola 10-10 33 5

10. Palm Beach State 13-7 27 --

Also receiving votes: Tallahassee 12, Santa Fe 7, South Florida 4, Brevard 1. Dropped out of rankings: No. 9 Tallahassee.

NWF Daily News: Central Florida Won't Be a Pushover for Raiders

The Northwest Florida Daily News, hometown paper of Central Florida's FCCAA State Tournament quarterfinal opponent Northwest Florida State, offers an even-handed preview of Wednesday's game.

Softball Rained Out on the Road

Central Florida's scheduled softball game at Polk State was cancelled Tuesday due to inclement weather. No make-up date has yet been announced.

CF (6-13) hosts Michigan school Oakland CC on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Pasco-Hernando 9, Central Florida 3 (BASE)

Central Florida dropped its second straight game on Monday at Goodlett Field, falling to Pasco-Hernando 9-3. The game was a make-up of a rained-out game originally scheduled for Saturday.

CF falls to 13-8 with the loss, and now has just two non-conference games remaining ahead of its Mid-Florida Conference opener at Lake-Sumter on Saturday. As with basketball, the 24-game MFC slate is the heart of the spring baseball season: the teams with the two best conference records will claim the MFC's two berths in the FCCAA State Tournament, held in May at Tigertown in Lakeland.

The baseball version of the MFC includes seven teams: CF, Lake-Sumter, St. Johns River, FSC-Jacksonville, Seminole State, Santa Fe and Daytona State.