Ricardo Ratliffe Set to Play in NJCAA All-Star Games

Central Florida Patriots sophomore Ricardo Ratliffe will join his fellow All-Americans in Las Vegas this weekend for the NJCAA All-Star Games, hosted by the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association.

Ratliffe, the FCCAA Player of the Year and a first-team NJCAA All-American for the second consecutive season, is the lone player from a Florida school represented on the Division I roster. Ratliffe is joined on the DI squad, however, by fellow Missouri signee Matt Pressey of Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.

David Bullock Resigns as CF Women's Tennis Coach

David Bullock, head coach of the Central Florida Community College women's tennis team for the past eight years, has announced his resignation, effective immediately.

Bullock, a former tennis All-American at CF, led the Patriots to six NJCAA national tournaments and coached two NJCAA All-Americans in his tenure as coach. He is resigning to spend more time pursuing his local business interests.

The college is actively considering candidates to fill the part-time coaching position.

"We appreciate Mr. Bullock's time and efforts over the past eight years and wish him the best in his future endeavors," said Director of Athletics Bob Zelinski. "We look forward to the continued success of the Patriot women's tennis program."

Patriots Big Man Jeff Neal Signs with Florida A&M

Central Florida Patriots sophomore and local high school product Jeff Neal will continue his career at the Division I level, signing with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

A two-year contributor for the Patriots after a distinguished career at Ocala's Forest High School, Neal averaged 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds and shot 53 percent from the field in 2009-10 while adding a rugged physical edge to CF's high-scoring frontcourt. The 6-7, 235-pound power forward/center placed third on the team in both blocked shots and offensive rebounds.

The Rattlers, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, struggled to a 9-22 overall mark and 5-11 conference showing. FAMU is coached by Eugene Harris, who will enter his fourth season with the program in 2010-11.

Patriots Sign Tampa Baseball Standout Dane Moore

Central Florida baseball coach Marty Smith landed a prized in-state recruit on Thursday, signing Tampa outfielder Dane Moore to a scholarship.

Moore, a senior outfielder with the Patriots of Tampa Freedom High School, posted a .479 batting average and .530 on-base percentage as Freedom's leadoff hitter, setting a school record for hits. He also recorded 7 doubles, a pair of home runs and 12 stolen bases.

CF head coach Marty Smith expects Moore, a 5-10, 175-pound left-handed hitter, to contribute immediately at the top of the Patriots' order while manning an outfield spot in either left or center.

Ricardo Ratliffe, Markeshia Grant Named CF Athletes of the Year

NJCAA All-Americans Ricardo Ratliffe and Markeshia Grant received multiple awards apiece on Wednesday as Central Florida held its annual athletics awards luncheon.

Ratliffe was named Male Athlete of the Year, while fellow basketball standout Grant was named Female Athlete of the Year. Each was also named MVP of their respective team.

In the ceremony's other premier awards, softball's Ashlee Applewhite was named Female Academic Athlete of the Year, while baseball's Tim Luksha and Michael Paulk were named Male Academic Athletes of the Year. (Click here for a list of CF Athletes of the Year and Academic Athletes of the Year since 2000.)

Other highlights of the ceremony:

• Team MVP awards went to Ratliffe, Grant, Dru Jones (baseball), Megan Still (softball), and Bethania Laan (tennis).
• The Patriot Award is presented to a student-athlete from each team who best represents the ideals of teamwork, dedication, unselfishness and commitment. The honorees for 2009-2010 are Chris Labriola (baseball); Jessica Chewning (softball); Kelly Bush (tennis); Dominique Weems (women's basketball); and Travis Johnson (men's basketball).
• Twenty CF student-athletes were named to either the Director's List, Dean's List or President's List for academic achievement. On the Director's List, with a grade point average of at least 3.0, are Kyle Bright, Paul Karmeris, Nicholas Radomski, and Casey Smit (baseball);  Ashley Applewhite, Katie Hayes, Jennifer Hunter, and Jessica McClellan (softball); Julia Ferraz (tennis); Shaunte Forward, Grant, Catavia Jones and Amber Powe (women's basketball); and Victor Jackson (men's basketball). On the Dean's List, with a GPA of at least 3.50, are baseball's Chris Labriola and Tito Mendoza and men's basketball's Justin Cecil and Slobodan Miljanic. Luksha and Paulk made the President's List with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Megan Still Earns All-Conference Softball Honors

Freshman pitcher Megan Still has been named to the All-Mid-Florida Conference second team, capping a standout debut season for the Patriots' staff ace.

Teammates Katie Hayes, Jennifer Hunter, Jessica Chewning, Jessica McClellan and Kylie Ondriezek earned honorable mention.

Player of the Year Andrew Jones Leads Patriot All-Conference Honorees

Central Florida sophomore Dru Jones has been named Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year, headlining a list of six Patriots honored in the MFC awards season.

Sophomore first baseman Hunter Smith joined Jones as a first-team all-conference honoree, while catcher Paul Karmeris, pitcher Kyle Bright, shortsop Bradley Goodson and outfielder Jordan Zech earned second-team honors.

Jones, a sophomore outfielder/catcher and Kent State signee, hit .432 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. The Ohio native is bound for Division I Kent State University in the fall.

Santa Fe 18, Central Florida 8 (BASE)

Central Florida's baseball season came to a disappointing end Friday with an 18-8 loss at Santa Fe. The loss eliminated the Patriots from contention for the Mid-Florida Conference's second FCCAA State Tournament berth.

Needing a win and a St. Johns River loss to force a playoff for that coveted postseason berth, the Patriots came out ready to hold up their side of that equation with some early offensive fireworks. CF went up 5-3 through 3 innings behind Hunter Smith's 2-run home run and Jordan Zech's 2-run double, and a 2-run homer by Dru Jones padded the lead to 7-3 an inning later.

That was the last lead the Patriots would hold. The Saints, who entered the game already crowned as MFC champions, surged ahead with a 9-run fourth inning and tacked on a few insurance runs for the runaway victory.

CF must now reflect on a midseason six-game losing streak that sabotaged a 9-5 start to conference play and rendered a three-game winning streak entering Friday insufficient. The Patriots' season ends at 27-20 overall and an even 12-12 in conference play.

Friday's game was the last any Patriots team will play under the name of Central Florida Community College. The school becomes College of Central Florida on May 25.

Central Florida 8, FSC-Jacksonville 2 (BASE)

Central Florida's baseball playoff hopes live on. CF travelled to FSC-Jacksonville on Wednesday and handled the Stars 8-2, renewing its postseason possibilities and ensuring a meaningful season finale Friday at Santa Fe.

The Patriots (27-19, 12-11 Mid-Florida Conference) got 3-hit games from Hunter Smith and Casey Smit, a 2-for-3 effort from Tito Mendoza and a key double from Dru Jones, while Chris Labriola picked up his fourth win of the year on the mound.

The win, along with Seminole State's loss at Lake-Sumter, leaves CF and Seminole in a two-way tie for third place, a game behind second-place St. Johns River for the MFC's final FCCAA State Tournament berth. A win against Santa Fe on Friday keeps CF in play for the postseason, while a loss ends its season.

The Saints have won all three meetings with the Patriots this year, including two in Ocala, and a fourth loss to their I-75 rival would prove fatal. CF can draw confidence from the fact that two of those losses came by a single run, and that it has allowed just 4 runs in each of the three games. The Patriots' cause might also be aided by the fact that, on paper, the game is far less important to Santa Fe, which has already wrapped up the MFC title.

But even a season-ending conquest of its fiercest rival won't bring an end to CF's uncertainty. Regardless of how they fare against Santa Fe, the Patriots won't know their fate until late Friday night, as St. Johns River hosts FSC-Jacksonville at 6 p.m. If SJR wins, it gets the spot.

Should CF win and SJR lose to the last-place Stars, however, we have a tie for second place, and potentially a three-way tie should Seminole defeat Daytona State. Details on how such a deadlock would be broken will arrive if and when it becomes necessary.

Mid-Florida Conference Postseason Race

(through Wednesday's games)

(x-clinched conference title)

x-Santa Fe 16-7

St. Johns River 13-10

-----------------------

Central Florida 12-11

Seminole State 12-11

 Wednesday's Scores

Central Florida 8, FSC-Jacksonville 2

Santa Fe 23, Daytona State 11

Lake-Sumter 3, Seminole State 0

Friday's Games

Central Florida @ Santa Fe

Daytona State @ Seminole

FSC-Jacksonville @ St. Johns River

END REGULAR SEASON

Former Patriot Darryl Monroe Leads European Team into Playoffs

Former Central Florida All-American  Darryl Monroe has continued his basketball career overseas, playing for De Friesland Aris Leeuwarden in Holland. Monroe is averaging 16.3 points per game and shooting 56 percent from the field for De Friesland, which opens its postseason this week. You can follow the team and Monroe's progress right here.

Monroe played two standout seasons for the Patriots before transferring to George Mason University. The power forward started all 33 games as a senior for GMU in 2008-09, averaging 10.5 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds while shooting a team-best 57 percent from the field.

Central Florida 5, St. Johns River 1 (BASE)

Central Florida survived its first elimination game of the season on Monday, dodging mathematical obsolescence in the Mid-Florida Conference with a 5-1 win over second-place St. Johns River.

The Patriots overcame a first-inning Vikings score and burst onto the scoreboard with a 3-run third inning. Bradley Goodson plated a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single, and Paul Karmeris ushered Hunter Smith home from third with a deep sacrifice fly. A productive CF offense added a pair of insurance runs late to secure the victory.

Kyle Bright picked up the win and Tim Luksha the save in a brilliant CF team pitching performance.

The win keeps the Patriots' postseason hopes alive and halves the distance separating them from second-place SJR. CF (26-19, 11-11 MFC) still needs two wins, Wednesday at FSC-Jacksonville and Friday at Santa Fe, and cooperation from SJR and Seminole to force a tie and earn the right to play for the MFC's second and final FCCAA State Tournament berth. Santa Fe, which eliminated Lake-Sumter from the playoff race with a weather-shortened 8-6 win on Monday, has clinched the MFC championship.

Mid-Florida Conference Postseason Race

(through Monday's games)

(x-clinched conference title)

x-Santa Fe 15-7

St. Johns River 13-10

-----------------------

Seminole State College 12-10

Central Florida 11-11

South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley on Markeshia Grant

The University of South Carolina has officially announced the addition of Central Florida Lady Patriots point guard Markeshia Grant to the program. Here's legendary point guard and SC head coach Dawn Staley on Grant:

"Markeshia Grant is a communicator, a point guard who has the ability and intellect to help run our team," Staley said. "She's an unselfish player who can score in a variety of ways but loves getting others involved in the offense."

Central Florida Tennis Just Misses National Tournament Berth

The Central Florida women's tennis team finished fourth in this weekend's FCCAA State Tournament, just one spot out of qualifying for the NJCAA Tournament. Tournament host Hillsborough won the state title, followed by national qualifiers St. Petersburg and FSC-Jacksonville.

The Patriots did bring some accolades home from Tampa, however, as the team of Bethania Laan and Kelly Bush won the state championship at No. 2 doubles.

Season on the Line for CF Baseball

It appears the clouds have parted sufficiently to play baseball at Goodlett Field today. The Patriots host St. Johns River at 3 p.m. this afternoon in the final home game of their season, as well as the final home game in any sport under the Central Florida Community College moniker before the school officially becomes College of Central Florida next month.

More immediate issues are afoot, however, as CF needs a victory to salvage any hope of qualifying for the FCCAA State Tournament. St. Johns River has the inside track in that pursuit, having defeated Daytona State 5-4 on Saturday to maintain sole possession of second place in the Mid-Florida Conference. Here are the standings of those teams still in contention:

Santa Fe 14-7

St. Johns River 13-9

-----------------------

Seminole State 12-10

Lake-Sumter 11-11

Central Florida 10-11

Given that, the Patriots need several things to fall into place to swipe the MFC's second and final postseason berth.

1. CF must beat St. Johns River today.
2. CF must win its final two games on the road, Wednesday at FSC-Jacksonville and Friday at first-place Santa Fe.
3. SJR must lose its MFC finale Friday at home against last-place FSC-J.

The above three outcomes would force CF and SJR into a single-game playoff, as the teams would be tied at 2-2 in their season series. Of course, a couple of other teams have something to say on the topic as well. Even if all of the above should come to pass, Seminole State could clinch the berth with wins in its final two games (Wednesday vs. Lake-Sumter and Friday vs. Daytona, both at home), or Lake-Sumter could win its final two (Monday vs. Santa Fe at home and Wednesday at Seminole) to force a three- or four-way tie and necessitate a tournament-style playoff for the spot.

A lot of scenarios are still in the play for the final act of this MFC season. But for the Patriots, all of the good ones start with a victory today.

Daytona State 1, Central Florida 0; CF 9, Daytona 4 (SOFT)

Central Florida saw its hopes for a postseason berth dismissed on Saturday with a 1-0 loss at Daytona State. The Patriots recovered to end their Mid-Florida Conference season with an emphatic 9-4 victory in the second half of the doubleheader.

In a strange end to its season, CF started the first game with Daytona on Tuesday. It was suspended due to inclement weather, then resumed Saturday in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the meantime, the MFC standings fell into place, leaving the Patriots just a doubleheader sweep away from a tie with Lake-Sumter for the conference's fifth and final FCCAA State Tournament spot. Had they pulled even, the postseason slot would have been decided with a single-game playoff.

But fate had other plans for CF on Saturday, as Daytona scored the go-ahead run in the sixth, held serve in the top of the seventh and ended the Patriots' playoff hopes just minutes after the teams stepped on the field.
The CF loss clinched the fifth spot for Lake-Sumter, which will join Santa Fe, FSC-Jacksonville, Seminole State and Daytona in the postseason.

The dejected Patriots responded with a cathartic MFC finale, unleashing 7 first-inning runs in a second-game rout. Jessica Chewning delivered a run with a bases-loaded single, then Jennifer Hunter was hit by a pitch to drive home another. Heather Porter cleared the still-loaded bases with a grand slam, her first career home run. Megan Still, the team's ace pitcher, followed in a designated-hitter role and made it back-to-back with her own first career homer, a solo shot to left field. Kylie Ondriezek plated Chewning with a fifth-inning double, and Katie Hayes smashed a seventh-inning solo home run to complete the CF onslaught. Jessica Knight pitched all 7 innings to earn the win.

Mercer Coach Bob Hoffman on Justin Cecil

Mercer head basketball coach Bob Hoffman commented on new signee Justin Cecil, the sharp-shooting Central Florida Patriots forward bound for the Bears next season:

“Justin will give us a lot of options and can create problems for our opponents. He’s a quality perimeter shooter and has a high basketball IQ. He’s got great court awareness and can really stretch defenses because of the way he shoots...We are very glad to have him as a part of our program.”

Central Florida Signs Lake Weir Softball Standout Miranda Anderson

Central Florida softball coach Kerri Ryskamp added a premier local prep talent to the Patriots fold on Friday, signing Lake Weir High School senior Miranda Anderson to a letter of intent.

Ryskamp said Anderson should play a signifcant role right away, calling the versatile slugger an "immediate impact player." Anderson will serve primarily as a catcher while also competing for extended time around the infield.

The Patriots are currently battling for their second straight FCCAA State Tournament berth, travelling to Daytona State on Saturday for a crucial Mid-Florida Conference doubleheader.

Central Florida 8, Daytona State 7 (BASE)

Central Florida scratched out a desperately-needed Mid-Florida Conference win on Friday, travelling to Daytona State and returning with a hard-fought 8-7 victory.

Jordan Zech delivered the play that broke the Patriots' six-game losing streak, plating the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth. Paul Karmeris kept CF in striking distance with a pair of hits and a 2 RBIs, while freshman lefty Eric Green threw 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win on the mound.

The win keeps CF (25-19, 10-11 MFC) alive in the scrum for the MFC's second and final FCCAA State Tournament berth. St. Johns River, a 10-3 victor over Lake-Sumter on Saturday, currently holds that spot outright. Lake-Sumter and Seminole State each trail by a game, while the Patriots must make up two games over their final three games. CF can cut that distance by half on Monday at 3 p.m. as SJR visits Goodlett Field in the Patriots' final home game of the season.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Friday's games)

(top two finishers reach postseason)

Santa Fe 14-6

St. Johns River 12-9

Lake-Sumter 11-10

Seminole State 11-10

Central Florida 10-11

Daytona State 9-11

FSC-Jacksonville 5-15

Friday's Results

St. Johns River 10, Lake-Sumter 3

Seminole State 8, FSC-Jacksonville 6

Central Florida 8, Daytona State 7

Santa Fe 7, Central Florida 1; Santa Fe 9, CF 2 (SOFT)

Central Florida suffered a doubleheader sweep in its final home date of the season, falling to Mid-Florida Conference rival Santa Fe by scores of 7-1 and 9-2. Despite the setbacks, the Patriots remain alive in the race for an FCCAA State Tournament berth.

CF (14-33, 5-17 MFC) put up an epic fight in extending the opener to nine innings. Megan Still pitched a masterful game and the Patriots plated a run in the third as Jessica McClellan drove in Erin McMahan with a bases-loaded walk. The conference-leading Saints finally wore down the Patriots' staff ace in the ninth to pull off the road victory. Katie Hayes' solo home run provided the highlight in the late game.

The doubleheader brought an end to the Patriots' 2010 home schedule, but meaningful games remain to be played. Lake-Sumter was swept at FSC-Jacksonville on Thursday, ending its MFC schedule at 7-17. The 5-17 Patriots can match that record by sweeping Daytona State in its final doubleheader, suspended due to inclement weather in Daytona on Tuesday and scheduled to be completed Saturday. The teams will resume play at noon Saturday with Daytona batting in the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless first game.

A CF loss in either game means its season ends Saturday. But if the Patriots win twice, they live to see at least one more game. Should Lake-Sumter and CF finish tied for the MFC's fifth and final FCCAA State Tournament berth, the teams will enter a single-game playoff, to be played at a neutral site next week.

CF Tennis Ace Bethania Laan Signs with St. Leo

Central Florida women's tennis player Bethania Laan has signed with St. Leo University, an NCAA Division II school and Sunshine State Conference member in Pasco County.

While citing St. Leo's experienced coaching staff and renowned business program as reasons for signing with the Lions, Laan said she wasn't ready to leave her adopted home state.

"The main reason is that it's here in Florida," said Laan, a native of Brazil. "Florida feels like home."

Before she moves on, Laan will lead CF into the postseason as its No. 1 singles player and half of its top doubles team. The state tournament is set for Friday and Saturday at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.

Missouri Coach Mike Anderson on Ricardo Ratliffe

Now that Ricardo Ratliffe's letter of intent has safely arrived at the University of Missouri, Tigers head coach Mike Anderson can talk freely about his new low-post anchor. Here's Anderson on the Central Florida All-American, from KansasCity.com:

“He gives us a post presence with the ability to step out and knock down shots,” Anderson said. “He is a physical player that rebounds and plays the game with passion and energy. We have lost some tremendous players in our front court the last couple of years, but Ricardo fits in that mold.”

Lake-Sumter 10, Central Florida 6 (BASE)

Central Florida dug itself a game deeper into its Mid-Florida Conference rut on Wednesday, falling at Lake-Sumter 10-6.

The Patriots (24-19, 9-11 MFC) dropped their sixth straight game despite home runs by Hunter Smith, Dru Jones and Jordan Zech. The loss ended CF's bid for the MFC title, as Santa Fe now holds a five-game edge on the Patriots with four games to play, and it further endangers CF's hopes of claiming one of the MFC's two FCCAA State Tournament spots. The Patriots trail St. Johns River and Lake-Sumter (each 11-9) by two games, with Seminole State (10-10) and Daytona State (9-11) in between. CF visits Daytona on Friday.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings
(through Wednesday's games)
(top two teams reach postseason)

Santa Fe 14-6
St. Johns River 11-9
Lake-Sumter 11-9
Seminole State 10-10
Daytona State 9-10
Central Florida 9-11
FSC-Jacksonville 5-14

Wednesday's Results

Santa Fe 5, FSC-Jacksonville 2
St. Johns River 7, Seminole State 4
Lake-Sumter 10, Central Florida 6
Friday's Games
St. Johns River @ Lake-Sumter
FSC-Jacksonville @ Seminole State
Central Florida @ Daytona State

Ricardo Ratliffe, Markeshia Grant, and Justin Cecil Sign Letters of Intent

Central Florida Patriots sophomores Ricardo Ratliffe, Markeshia Grant and Justin Cecil signed their NCAA Division I letters of intent in an on-campus ceremony on Wednesday. Above, video of the event.

Ratliffe, a two-time All-American and CF's career scoring leader, signed with the University of Missouri, choosing the Tigers over finalists Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson and Cincinnati. Ratliffe became aware of the rumor connecting Mizzou head coach Mike Anderson to the head coaching job at Oregon before the start of the ceremony, and he elected to proceed with signing and submitting the paperwork.

Grant, a first-team All-State selection and third-team NJCAA All-American, signed to play for legendary point guard Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina, choosing the Gamecocks over offers from Miami and Texas, among others.

Cecil, a first-team all-conference selection and the Patriots' leading 3-point shooter, signed with Mercer University in Macon, Ga., choosing the Bears over fellow Atlantic Sun school Stetson. Cecil began his college career in the same conference with the University of North Florida before spending his sophomore season at CF.

Transfers Clear Playing Time at Missouri

Missouri announced on Monday that a pair of scholarship basketball players will transfer out of the program, an apparent reaction to the verbal commitments of Central Florida sophomore power forward Ricardo Ratliffe and fellow junior-college star Matt Pressey, a 6-2 guard. The transferring Tigers are freshman forward Tyler Stone and sophomore guard Miguel Paul.

Mizzou's coaches can't discuss the roles Ratliffe and Pressey will fill for the Tigers until they sign their letters of intent, likely to happen this week. But Ratliffe, Pressey and the other members of the program's elite recruiting class are expected to absorb a lot of the available minutes, prompting Stone and Paul to seek playing time elsewhere. From KansasCity.com:

The additions of the 6-foot-8 Ratliffe — rated the top junior college player in the nation — and 6-2 Matt Pressey boost a recruiting class that was already ranked No. 7 in the nation by Rivals.com. That was on the basis of early commits from Pressey’s younger brother, 5-10 point guard Phil Pressey, as well as 6-5 shooting guard Ricky Kreklow of Columbia, 6-8 forward Tony Mitchell and 6-8 forward Kadeem Green.

Seminole State 4, Central Florida 1 (BASE)

Central Florida's struggles on the diamond continued on Monday at Goodlett Field as visiting Seminole State handled the Patriots 4-1.

CF had the makings of a big inning in the eighth, as Bradley Goodson scored on a Dru Jones single and Paul Karmeris stepped to the plate as the potential tying run. But Karmeris' deep fly ball to left field was smothered by the swirling wind, and it settled into a Seminole glove on the warning track. The Patriots again brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth before the Raiders secured the victory.

The Patriots (24-18, 9-10 Mid-Florida Conference) slid further down the MFC standings with the loss. With Seminole's win and Lake-Sumter 13-3 defeat of Daytona State, CF and Daytona are now tied for fifth behind Santa Fe, St. Johns River, Seminole and Lake-Sumter. The top two finishers qualify for the FCCAA State Tournament.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Monday's games)

(top two finishers reach postseason)

Santa Fe 13-6

St. Johns River 10-9

Lake-Sumter 10-9
Seminole State 10-9

Daytona State 9-10

Central Florida 9-10

FSC- Jacksonville 5-13

Monday's Results

Santa Fe 11, St. Johns River 10

Lake-Sumter 13, Daytona State 3

Seminole State 4, Central Florida 1

Wednesday's Games

Seminole State @ St. Johns River
Central Florida @ Lake-Sumter

Santa Fe @ FSC-Jacksonville

Ricardo Ratliffe Chooses Missouri

Central Florida All-American Ricardo Ratliffe has finally made his long-awaited choice of a four-year college. Ratliffe on Sunday committed to play for the University of Missouri.

The two-time All-American and FCCAA Player of the Year, considered the top junior-college prospect in the country, chose coach Mike Anderson's Tigers program over finalists Alabama, Arkansas, Cincinnati and Clemson after a visit to UM's Columbia campus this weekend.

Ratliffe is among the most accomplished athletes in CF history. He set the school's single-season scoring record as a freshman in 2008-09, then beat that record in 2009-10 while shattering the school's 25-year-old career scoring record by over 300 points. As a sophomore, he averaged 26.7 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range.

Ratliffe is a welcome addition to a Tigers squad that set out to improve its interior scoring this offseason. In this in-depth post, the Mizzou blog Rock M Nation examines the impact Ratliffe and fellow prized recruit Matt Pressey might have on the program, going so far as to unearth case histories of other highly-touted junior-college power forwards and their production at the Division I level. Quoting from Rock M Nation:

You get the impression that his best skill is really just playing in control. He makes things look really easy, and as Mizzou fans, we should know just how hard putbacks and near-the-basket-in-traffic shots can be. If he shoots anywhere near the same efficient rates in the Big 12, makes smart passes, and blocks out, then ... well, to say he is exactly what Mizzou was missing in 2009-10 is an understatement.

Expectation are high for Ratliffe, but those of us who had the pleasure of watching him rewrite the CF record books over the last two years know he's capable of meeting them. And as the video above shows, confidence won't be an issue for Ratliffe.

Central Florida 3, Lake-Sumter 1; LS 3, CF 0 (SOFT)

Central Florida earned a split in a crucial Mid-Florida Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Lake-Sumter, winning the early game 3-1 and dropping the nightcap 3-0.

Megan Still pitched a complete game for the Patriots in the opener, allowing just 5 hits, striking out 3 and yielding an unearned run. Jessica Knight delivered a bases-loaded single to plate 2 runs in the fourth, and back-to-back doubles by Jessica McClellan and Katie Hayes in the fifth inning produced an insurance run. McClellan had 3 hits and Hayes 2 to lead a solid CF offensive effort in support of Still's pitching gem.

The Lakers salvaged their home date with a shutout win in the late game. Kylie Ondriezek provided the CF offensive highlight with a triple.

While CF (14-31, 5-15 MFC) didn't gain any ground in its pursuit of the MFC's fifth and final FCCAA State Tournament spot, currently the property of Lake-Sumter. The Patriots remain tied in the loss column with the 7-15 Lakers.

Santa Fe 4, Central Florida 3 (BASE)

The recently star-crossed Central Florida baseball season took another unfortunate twist of fate on Saturday as the Patriots squandered a ninth-inning lead in a 4-3 loss to rival Santa Fe.

CF manufactured a run in each of the first 2 innings and another in the sixth. Hunter Smith scored on a Kenneth Stalls single in the opening frame, and Paul Karmeris crossed home on a Jordan Zech sacrifice fly in the second. Smith opened the sixth with a solo home run to put the Patriots up 3-2 as Patriots starter Kyle Bright held the Saints in check.

But Santa Fe rallied in the ninth, putting its first 3 hitters on and plating 2 runs to pull ahead. CF answered in the bottom of the final inning and had its tying run rounding third, only to be gunned down in a close play at home.

The outcome gives Santa Fe the first substantial lead that any team has enjoyed in the race for the Mid-Florida Conference crown, as the 12-6 Saints now hold a 2-game lead with 6 games to play. In other MFC games, St. Johns River defeated FSC-Jacksonville and Seminole State beat Daytona State, leaving SJR in sole possession of second place and CF tied with Daytona, Seminole and Lake-Sumter for third.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Saturday's games)

Santa Fe 12-6

St. Johns River 10-8

Central Florida 9-9

Daytona State 9-9

Lake-Sumter 9-9

Seminole State 9-9

CF looks to end its season-high four-game losing streak on Monday, hosting Seminole State at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

FSC-Jacksonville 11, Central Florida 9 (BASE)

Central Florida dropped a crucial Mid-Florida Conference game on Friday at Goodlett Field, falling to last-place FSC-Jacksonville 11-9 in 10 innings.

Jordan Zech had 3 hits and Hunter Smith had a home run for the Patriots (24-16, 9-8 MFC), who tied their longest losing streak of the season with a third straight setback.

In other MFC action, Santa Fe beat Daytona State 5-3 and Seminole State beat Lake-Sumter 4-2. That leaves Santa Fe a full two games in front of the pack and CF tied with Daytona and St. Johns River for second place at 9-8. The top two finishers will advance to the FCCAA State Tournament next month in Lakeland.

CF hosts Santa Fe on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a chance to cut the Saints' lead in half.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Friday's games)

Santa Fe 11-6
Central Florida 9-8
Daytona State 9-8

St. Johns River 9-8

Lake-Sumter 9-9

Seminole State 8-9

FSC-Jacksonville 4-13

Saturday's Games

Santa Fe @ Central Florida

St. Johns River @ FSC-Jacksonville

Seminole State @ Daytona State

FSC-Jacksonville 3, Central Florida 0; FSC-J 11, CF 2 (SOFT)

Central Florida's softball postseason hopes were damaged on Thursday as the Patriots fell at FSC-Jacksonville by scores of 3-0 and 11-2.

Jessica McClellan hit a solo home run in the first inning of the late game, while Heather Porter scored on a fielder's choice for the other CF run. McClellan, Katie Hayes and Jessica Chewning each had 2 hits on the day.

CF (13-30, 4-14 Mid-Florida Conference) remains in sixth place in the MFC with just six games left in the conference season. The Patriots visit fifth-place Lake-Sumter on Saturday in one of their final chances to close the gap.

Patriots Basketball Recruiting Update

Lots of information to report on the many Central Florida sophomores pursuing basketball opportunities at the four-year level.

• PF Ricardo Ratliffe, the FCCAA Player of the Year and the nation's top junior college recruit, continues to narrow down his Division I options. The news that Clemson coach Oliver Purnell is leaving for DePaul has impacted Ratliffe's decision: he's no longer considering Clemson nor is he adding DePaul to his list at this late date in the process. That leaves Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Cincinnati in his final four. He's scheduled to visit Missouri this weekend and Cincinnati on April 17. And since he's already visited Alabama, Arkansas, and Clemson, that will bring him to his maximum of five visits. He should arrive at his long-awaited decision shortly thereafter.
• All-State G Markeshia Grant has committed to the University of South Carolina, where she'll play for legendary point guard Dawn Staley.
• F Justin Cecil has committed to Mercer University, a D-I Atlantic Sun Conference school in Macon, Ga.
• PG Kenny Williams has committed to DI Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.
• F/C Jeff Neal is scheduled to visit Florida A & M, a MEAC rival of Williams' new squad Bethune-Cookman.
• G Travis Johnson will visit DI Savannah State University, another MEAC school.
• PF Josh Proctor is set to visit a pair of DII schools - West Texas A & M on Friday and Valdosta State University next week.
• G Rahshon Tabb will soon visit Johnson C. Smith University, a DII school in Charlotte, N.C.

On another note, today is the first day high school seniors can sign at the junior-college level, and CF has hosted a number of men's and women's hoops recruits this week. When a new Patriot or Lady Patriot signs a letter of intent, you'll find that information right here at CFPatriots.com. Other ways to follow Central Florida athletics include our Twitter feed, our Facebook page and our YouTube channel. You can also sign up for an RSS or e-mail subscription.

St. Johns River 11, Central Florida 6 (BASE)

Central Florida continued its up-and-down journey through the Mid-Florida Conference on Wednesday, falling a game out of first place with an 11-6 setback at St. Johns River.

The Patriots never recovered from the Vikings' 5-run first inning, despite a 2-run home run by Tito Mendoza and a solo shot by Matt Jones.

The loss puts CF (24-15, 9-7 MFC) in a tie with Daytona State for the second of the conference's two postseason berths. Santa Fe, which entered Wednesday in a first place tie with the Patriots, seized sole possession of the MFC lead with a 12-2 defeat of Lake-Sumter. CF can set things right at home this weekend, hosting last-place FSC-Jacksonville on Friday ahead of a Saturday showdown with Santa Fe at Goodlett Field.

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Wednesday)

Santa Fe 10-6

Central Florida 9-7

Daytona State 9-7

Lake-Sumter 9-8

St. Johns River 9-8

Seminole 7-9

FSC-Jacksonville 4-12

Central Florida's Kenny Williams Commits to Bethune-Cookman

Central Florida Patriots sophomore Kenny Williams has decided to continue his basketball career at Bethune-Cookman University, a Division I school located in nearby Daytona Beach. Williams discusses the decision in the video above.

Williams, a 5-9 point guard out of Columbia High School in Lake City, averaged 4.6 points and a team-high 4.8 assists for the Patriots in 2009-10, his second year at CF.

The Wildcats posted a winning record of 17-16 last season, including a 7-9 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The team set a school record in earning the program's second consecutive winning season at the Division I level.

Central Florida's Justin Cecil Commits to Mercer

Central Florida Patriots sophomore Justin Cecil has verbally committed to play at Mercer University, a member of the Division I Atlantic Sun Conference located in Macon, Ga. He talks about the decision in the video above.

Cecil, a sharpshooting 6-8 forward, chose the Bears over Stetson University, another A-Sun member school located in nearby DeLand. His year at CF came after a year with yet another A-Sun program, the University of North Florida, and a standout prep career at Lakeland Christian School.

Cecil averaged 11.6 points per game for the Patriots in 2009-10, shooting 47 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line. Perhaps his finest moment came in the Mid-Florida Conference Tournament championship game on Feb. 23, when he scored 11 second-half points and a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute to help knock off Santa Fe and clinch CF's FCCAA State Tournament berth.

Mercer posted a 16-17 record overall and a 10-10 conference mark, but ended its season in memorable style with a surprise run to the Atlantic Sun Conference title game.

Idle Patriots Regain Share of First Place

Central Florida enjoyed a very productive day off on Monday. With losses by Santa Fe and Lake-Sumter, the Patriots moved back into a tie for first place in the Mid-Florida Conference, matching Santa Fe at 9-6 and inching ahead of 9-7 Lake-Sumter.

As with so many things in the annual MFC dogfight, this development came by the narrowest of margins. Santa Fe lost to Seminole 10-9 in 10 innings, falling victim to the same persistent Raiders team that shocked CF on Saturday. Lake-Sumter, meanwhile, lost to last-place FSC-Jacksonville 7-6 to fall a half-game off the pace.

A little further down the standings, Daytona State edged St. Johns River 3-2 in 10 innings to stay a game behind CF and Santa Fe. SJR and Seminole, at .500 and a game below, respectively, also continue to harbor legitimate playoff hopes.

With under three weeks to play, the battle for the MFC's two FCCAA State Tournament berths looks thusly:

Mid-Florida Conference Standings

(through Monday's games)

T1. Central Florida 9-6

T1. Santa Fe 9-6

3. Lake-Sumter 9-7

4. Daytona State 8-7

5. St. Johns River 8-8

6. Seminole State 7-9

7. FSC-Jacksonville 4-11

Former Patriot Had a Hand in Butler's Success

A man named Todd Lickliter once played a season of college basketball for the Central Florida Patriots, transferring in from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and earning his associate's degree in 1977.

But you might have heard of him for another reason.

Lickliter moved on from CF to play two seasons at Butler University, then entered coaching. After working his way up through the high school ranks, he spent the 1988-89 season at his alma mater as an assistant to Butler coach Joe Sexson. After adding to his resume with a few other stops, Lickliter finally landed the top job at BU in 2001, replacing Ohio State-bound Thad Matta.

It was under Lickliter that Butler became a familiar name to even the most casual of college basketball fans. He guided the Bulldogs to their first AP Top 25 ranking in over half a century, set school-record win totals and twice took the team to the NCAA's Sweet Sixteen, in the process establishing Butler as a rising national power. In 2007, he left for the University of Iowa, leaving the Bulldogs in the capable hands of assistant coach Brad Stevens.

On Monday night, Stevens will lead Butler against Duke in the program's first-ever national championship game. On Saturday, the same day Bulldogs earned that opportunity with a win over Michigan State, Lickliter addressed a room full of Butler supporters, armed with self-deprecating humor.

Lickliter said he made an important contribution to Butler basketball.
"I left," he said, "and turned it over to Brad Stevens."

Stevens, Lickliter and anyone else who has followed Butler's ascent knows the truth behind that quip. Lickliter deserves immense credit for starting the job that Stevens has finished, transforming the Bulldogs from small-conference upset artist to feared title contender.

Soon, Lickliter will start over with a new program. In March, he was fired as Iowa's head coach. But just as he's taught countless student-athletes over the course of his stellar coaching career, the one-time Central Florida Patriots is approaching the setback as a set-up to a triumphant next act.

"If it's the right situation, I want to coach," he said. "This experience will help me be a better coach. I'm so excited for the next opportunity."

Seminole 9, Central Florida 8 (BASE)

Central Florida took a heartbreaking loss and a ding to their postseason aspirations on Saturday, falling at Seminole State 9-8 after squandering a 4-run lead with 6 outs remaining.

CF entered the eighth up 8-4, much of it thanks to Kenneth Stalls' 5-for-5 performance highlighted by a 2-run home run. But the host Raiders rang up 5 runs over the final 2 frames to walk off with the upset victory.

The Patriots (24-14, 9-6 Mid-Florida Conferece) again were denied in their quest to achieve any level of comfort in the MFC standings. After moving into a first-place tie with a huge win Friday, CF is now back in a two-way tie with Lake-Sumter for the conference's second and last FCCAA State Tournament berth.

Nine games remain to be played for the Patriots to secure a postseason spot, starting with a Wednesday visit to St. Johns River.

Former Patriot Brian Buscher Squeezed Out of Indians Camp

Former Central Florida All-American Brian Buscher fell victim to a numbers game in his pursuit of a major-league roster spot with the Cleveland Indians. The CF and South Carolina product was reassigned to the club's minor-league camp on Friday.

Buscher has hit a solid .266 in 164 games with the Minnesota Twins over the past three seasons, but was stuck in a tough competition for a utility infield role. Those spots were awarded to middle-infielder Mark Grudzielanek and corner infielder Andy Marte.

Buscher should begin the season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

Central Florida 17, Daytona State 4 (BASE)

Central Florida muscled its way back into a share of first place on Friday at Goodlett Field, scoring an amazing 13 runs in the fourth inning alone en route to a 17-4, 7-inning rout of Daytona State.

CF prefaced its huge inning with a 4-run third inning, then batted around twice, rapped 10 hits and scored double digits in the emphatic fourth. Pitcher Michael Paulk kept the Falcons at bay while his teammates ran up the score, allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits over 6 innings.

All 9 starters had at least one hit and scored at least once as the Patriots did their considerable damage without the benefit of a home run. In fact, only 3 of CF's 19 hits were for extra bases, coming ondoubles by Casey Smit, Eric Green and Tito Mendoza.  Dru Jones led the offensive assault, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. (Visit the CF Patriots YouTube channel for a pair of highlights from today's game.)

The win puts CF (24-13, 9-5 Mid-Florida Conference) back into a tie for first place in the MFC with 10 games to play. Next up is a visit to Seminole on Saturday, a make-up of Monday's rain-out.

Seminole 5, Central Florida 0; Seminole 5, CF 4 (SOFT)

Central Florida suffered a poorly-timed doubleheader sweep on Thursday, falling to Seminole State by scores of 5-0 and 5-4.

After being blanked in the opener, the Patriots offense put together 2 multiple-run innings to push the nightcap to nine innings. Jessica McClellan and Katie Hayes drove in runs in the third inning to get the home team on the board, and Belinda Rennes delivered a bases-loaded single in the sixth to score Jennifer Hunter and Jessica Chewning and extend the game before Seminole plated the decisive run in the ninth.

The losses deliver a blow to the Patriots' fragile postseason hopes, as they entered the game in a tie for the conference's fifth and final FCCAA State Tournament berth. (Click here for full MFC and FCCAA standings.) CF (13-28, 4-12) has a week off before visiting FSC-Jacksonville on April 8.

Jessica McClellan and Katie Hayes Discuss CF Softball's Postseason Hopes

In the above video, Central Florida sophomores Jessica McClellan (left) and Katie Hayes discuss the Patriot softball team's postseason aspirations. The Patriots are 4-4 in their last 8 games since opening the Mid-Florida Conference schedule with six consecutive losses, and enjoyed their first conference doubleheader sweep of the season against St. Johns River on March 30.

Visit the CF Patriots YouTube channel for more video interviews and highlights.