CF Grad Ebert Caps College Baseball Career with NCAA Title

South Carolina senior Nick Ebert, an alumnus of the College of Central Florida and nearby Belleview High School, wrapped up an award-laden collegiate baseball career Tuesday night in the most epic fashion possible: storming the field at retiring Rosenblatt Field in Omaha, Neb., and celebrating the first major-sport championship in the Gamecocks' storied history.

South Carolina won the 2010 College World Series with a 2-1 victory over UCLA, walking off in the bottom of the 11th inning, sweeping the best-of-three final series from the Bruins and completing an unlikely comeback after dropping its CWS opener to Oklahoma. The Gamecocks (54-16) needed six consecutive wins to navigate the bracket and claim the title.

Ebert's senior season did not develop nearly as scripted despite its triumphant final act. A 2009 second-team All-SEC selection and a preseason All-American, the slugging first baseman missed a chunk of preseason activities and the season's first series due to a lingering academic issue. Though that situation was resolved, it opened an opportunity for freshman phenom Christian Walker to lay claim to Ebert's playing time.

Gamecocks head coach Ray Tanner juggled the two players for much of the season, ultimately siding with the hot hand and slotting Walker in as the everyday first baseman and middle-of-the-order run producer and relegating Ebert to pinch-hitting duties. But Ebert overcame his wounded pride to deliver when called upon - his pinch-hit single against Coastal Carolina on June 13 helped the Gamecocks earn a 10-9 super-regional win and a berth in the CWS.

CF Alum Jon Koenigsfeld Wins Gulf South Conference's Highest Honor

A remarkable collegiate career than began right here at the College of Central Florida came to a fitting conclusion on Thursday, as Valdosta State senior and former Patriots baseball star Jon Koenigsfeld was awarded the Gulf South Conference Commissioner’s Trophy as the conference’s top male student-athlete.

Koenigsfeld became just the fifth Valdosta State student-athlete, and the first since 1997, to earn the league’s highest honor, which is handed out to the top male and female student-athletes at the conclusion of each year...
Koenigsfeld earned the honor after batting .386 and leading the GSC with 90 hits, while helping VSU’s baseball team win the conference title in 2010. A first-team All-GSC honoree, Koenigsfeld was second on the team in doubles with 19, and third in batting average, runs scored (59) and RBIs (47).

At CF, Koenigsfeld complemented his remarkable on-field achievements with successes in the classroom, on campus and in the community. The honor he received Thursday proves that hasn't changed at the NCAA level.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude in December with a degree in Middle Grades Education. The New Port Richey, Fla. native carried a perfect 4.0 grade point average, and was named the 2010 Dewar College of Education Outstanding Student of the Year. His academic and athletic prowess also earned him a spot on the prestigious ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America first team, just the third VSU athlete to ever earn the honor, and the first since Chris Hatcher did it in 1994. Koenigsfeld also became just the 13th baseball player in GSC history to earn Academic All-GSC honors the maximum three times...Koenigsfeld also tallied 50 hours of community service during the past year, including 30 hours of mentoring at area schools. He ended the 2009-10 school year repeating as the winner of the VSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year honor.

Those who spent time around Koenigsfeld in his Patriot days knew he was destined for great things, and he has lived up to those expectations many times over. The College of Central Florida is proud to call Jon Koenigsfeld an alumnus.

Volleyball Added to CF Patriots Athletics Program

The College of Central Florida will add women’s volleyball to its intercollegiate athletics program after approval at Tuesday’s meeting of the CF District Board of Trustees. The Patriots volleyball team will make its debut in fall 2011.

“There is a thriving high school and community volleyball scene in our service area, and we think it’s time for the College of Central Florida to take an active role in it,” said CF Director of Athletics Bob Zelinski. “It’s a natural next step for our athletics program.”

The move furthers CF’s ongoing mission to encourage participation in sports among girls and provide athletic opportunities for female student-athletes in Marion, Citrus and Levy counties. By adding volleyball to its women’s basketball and fast-pitch softball teams, the college now offers scholarships in the three most widely played sports among girls in its service area.

“The college is committed to responding to the community, and this is one more way to broaden our reach,” said Dr. Charles Dassance, CF president. “We believe that student-athletes, parents and fans will welcome this decision.”

Women’s volleyball will replace women’s tennis among CF athletic offerings. The tennis program has enjoyed consistent success, highlighted by the 2001 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship.

“It’s unfortunate to fold any team, but we think the college’s resources are best served in focusing on the launch of the volleyball program and the continued successes of our basketball, baseball and softball teams,” Zelinski said. “We’d like to thank all of the student-athletes and coaches for their efforts in building and sustaining the college tennis program and assure them that their contributions will not be forgotten.”

CF becomes the 17th member of the Florida College System to field a women’s volleyball team sanctioned by the Florida Community College Activities Association and the NJCAA. The Patriots will become a member of the Mid-Florida Conference, joining Lake-Sumter Community College, St. Johns River Community College and State College of Florida at Jacksonville.

CF expects to begin the process of hiring a full-time volleyball coach in August and have the position filled by October. Under NJCAA rules, the college can begin signing student-athletes to its annual allotment of 14 scholarships on Nov. 1.

The Patriots will conduct spring practices and scrimmages in February 2011, start fall practice in August and open their inaugural season as early as Aug. 28. The NJCAA volleyball season is played entirely in the fall semester, concluding with the NJCAA Tournament in November.

Patriots Add FGCU Transfer Addison Smith

The Central Florida Patriots men's basketball team has signed Addison Smith, a transfer from Division I Florida Gulf Coast University and a former prep standout at Santaluces High School in Lantana.

Smith, a 6-2, 180-pound guard, brings high-level experience and a defensive mindset to CF, where he should immediately help offset the loss of departing sophomore guards Travis Johnson, Kenny Williams and Rahshon Tabb. Smith appeared in 30 games for FGCU in 2008-09, logging minutes against elite opponents like Kansas and Florida and earning six starts.

CF's 2010-11 roster now stands at nine. Smith joins area signees Hunter Williams and Steven Shipwash and returning sophomores Darius Nesmith and Slobodan Miljanic in the backcourt; the frontcourt features George Mason transfer Kevin Foster, prep prospects Juandrico Walker and Manny Dias and British import Alhaji Fullah.

Former Patriots Jones, Smith Honing Skills in Local Summer League

Though their careers in a Central Florida Patriots uniform may be completed, it's not too late for local baseball fans to see recent CF sluggers Andrew Jones and Hunter Smith knock a few balls around.

Jones and Smith, each an All-State selection as a sophomore and a signee at a Division I school, are playing for the DeLand Suns of the Florida Collegiate Summer League, a five-team wooden-bat outfit overflowing with future NCAA and professional talent. The Suns play their home games on the campus of Stetson University.

Jones, bound for Kent State in the fall, is hitting .294 for the Suns, while Smith, a Troy University signee, is hitting .250 over the early portion of the season.

CF Grad Nick Ebert Helps Gamecocks to CWS Berth

The University of South Carolina qualified for the College World Series on Sunday, and a former Patriot had a lot to do with it.

Former Central Florida standout Nick Ebert delivered a clutch pinch-hit single in the sixth inning of the Gamecocks' 10-9 win over Coastal Carolina, driving in a crucial run from second base and tying the score at 7. SC plated 3 runs in the eighth to secure the victory and the trip to Omaha.

Carolina joins Florida State and SEC foe Florida in the eight-team CWS field. The games begin on Saturday.

CF's Andrew Jones Earns NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention

Central Florida Patriots catcher/outfielder Andrew Jones is among the NJCAA's 2010 All-American selections, earning honorable mention for a sophomore season that saw him collect the Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year award and first-team All-State status from the FCCAA.

Jones, an Ohio native and Kent State signee, hit .432 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in his second year with CF.

Former Patriot Juan Perez Selected in MLB Draft

Former Central Florida Patriots RHP Juan Perez has been selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Colorado Rockies made the Bethune-Cookman University junior the 560th overall pick in Tuesday's 18th round.

Perez, a native of Orlando, posted a 5.40 ERA in 23 appearances for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Wildcats. He also produced at the plate, hitting .347 in 46 games at third base.

Patriots Sign North Carolina Prep Standout Manny Dias

The Central Florida men's basketball team has added another elite recruit to its promising 2010-2011 class, signing North Carolina prep standout Manny Dias.

A 6-5, 200-pound forward, Dias' career at Charlotte's Evelyn Mack Academy earned him national recognition and interest from a variety of four-year programs. In January, widely-respected recruiting service Scouts, Inc. wrote on ESPN.com that Dias "has the size and frame to become a very good SF at the mid-major level."

Dias should contribute immediately on a revamped Patriots front line that also features George Mason transfer Kevin Foster, Virginia prep prospect Juandrico Walker and British import Alhaji Fullah. Each of the three has the ability to play either forward position, giving CF head coach Tim Ryan a number of options in the frontcourt.

The signings of Dias and local point guard Hunter Williams this week bring CF's 2010-2011 roster to eight, including returning sophomore guards Darius Nesmith and Slobodan Miljanic and guard Steven Shipwash, a 2009-2010 practice player who has earned a scholarship for the coming season.

Central Florida Softball Adds West Port Pitcher Stefanie Mitchell

The Central Florida softball team continues to take advantage of the area's depth of softball talent, signing pitcher Stefanie Mitchell of Ocala's West Port High School.

The Patriots are adding an impressive athlete and competitor in Mitchell, who made headlines this spring on another field of play. The senior played quarterback as the Wolf Pack won the Marion County flag football championship.

Mitchell joins Lake Weir's Miranda Anderson and Brittany Baker as new in-county additions to the CF softball program.

Central Florida Signs Forest High School Star Hunter Williams

The Central Florida Patriots added a highly-regarded local prospect to their 2010-2011 men's basketball recruiting class on Thursday, signing Forest High School guard Hunter Williams.

The 6-0 point guard averaged 18.5 points and 3.8 assists and made 43 percent of his 3-point attempts in an all-area senior season while guiding the Wildcats to a district title and a berth in the regional semifinals.

Williams will help immediately in filling the void left by departing Patriot point guards Kenny Williams, bound for Division I Bethune-Cookman, and Travis Johnson, a signee with Division II West Virginia Wesleyan.