CF Patriots 2010-2011 Schedules Now Online

Schedules for all four of Central Florida's 2010-2011 athletics offerings are now online at www.cf.edu/patriots.

• Men's Basketball
• Women's Basketball
• Baseball
• Softball

All CF Patriots home games are free for CF students, staff and faculty. Baseball and softball games are free to the public; basketball tickets start at just $3.

Ricardo Ratliffe Named NJCAA Male Student Athlete of the Year

Ricardo Ratliffe has added one final honor to his historic two-year career at College of Central Florida. The NJCAA has announced that Ratliffe is the 2010 David Rowlands Male Student Athlete of the Year.

This latest award is Ratliffe's most prestigious to date, as he was chosen from among all male student-athletes in all sports from all of the NJCAA's 525 member schools across the United States. He is the first such honoree in College of Central Florida's history.

The NJCAA press release:

The NJCAA is pleased to announce Ricardo Ratliffe of College of Central Florida as the recipient of 2010 NJCAA David Rowlands Male Student Athlete of the Year Award. The David Rowlands Award is given annually to a male NJCAA student-athlete that displays hard work, discipline, ethics and excellence in community college athletics. Ratliffe, a 6'9" - 240 pound basketball talent from Hampton, Va., performed in exemplary fashion, breaking multiple school records and racking up accolades seldom earned in NJCAA basketball.

Throughout his two years in the NJCAA, Ratliffe established an impressive resume, averaging 27 points and 11 rebounds per game during his two seasons at Central Florida. As a freshman last year, Ratliffe set a new school record for total points scored in a season with 798 points, while earning All-Region 8 and First-Team NJCAA All-American honors. He led all scorers in NJCAA DI basketball (26.5 ppg) and ranked 10th in rebounding (11.0 rpg).

Ratliffe continued his dominance during the 2009-10 season, breaking his previous Central Florida record of 798 total points scored in a season by posting a total of 855 points during his sophomore campaign. Along with his season record, Ratliffe set a new school mark for most points scored in a career. His two-year total of 1653 points shattered the previous school record of 1346 points that stood for 25 years. For the 2009-10 season he ranked second in the NJCAA DI ranks in scoring (27.4 ppg) and 10th in rebounds (11.2 rpg).

Ratliffe again earned NJCAA First-Team All-American honors in 2009-10, receiving the honor for the second straight season - a feat only accomplished 13 times in NJCAA basketball history. The last two players to earn First-Team All-American honors in NJCAA DI men's basketball were Larry Johnson (1987-88, 1988-89 - Odessa College, Texas) and Cory Cooperwood (2006-07, 2007-08 - Wallace State CC-Hanceville, Ala.).

To no surprise, Ratliffe was tabbed as the top junior college basketball recruit in the nation this past season. He was heavily recruited by top NCAA Division I programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Missouri, and South Carolina.

The Virginia native recently made the decision to continue his education and basketball career at the University of Missouri.

CF Hoopsters Tabb, Nino Reach Next Level

Former Central Florida basketball standouts Rahshon Tabb and Olivia Nino have chosen their next-level programs. Tabb has signed with NAIA school West Virginia Tech, while Nino is bound for NCAA Division I University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

An all-conference selection in each of his two seasons with the Patriots, Tabb averaged 10.2 points as a sophomore while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. The Niagara Falls native told the Niagara Gazzette about his maturation at CF, both as a basketball player and student-athlete:

“The level of play in Florida was difficult and I think that helped me a lot,” Tabb said. “It helped me with my skills, my team play, my conditioning. It helped me become a man."

Nino missed the latter half of her sophomore season, but did produce a solid 12 points per game on 50 percent shooting in the games she logged for the Lady Patriots. The Daytona Beach native told the Advertiser about her game:

"I'm a good shooter in transition, and I bring a lot of energy to the team," Nino said. "I go hard every second I'm on the court and do whatever I need to do to help my team win."

Former Patriot Jordan Zech Signs with Villanova

Recent Central Florida baseball standout Jordan Zech is bound for the NCAA, signing with Division I Villanova.

An outfielder out of Naples High School, Zech was third on the team with a .350 batting average while scoring 47 runs and driving in 29. Zech told the Naples Daily News that his time at CF was an ideal training ground for his Division I future.

“Playing a lot of games against higher caliber teams at the community college level in Florida helped me play better,” Zech said. “I really focus on my hitting (at Central Florida). I wanted to get a lot better and I did.”

Rick Turner, Zech's high school coach, agreed. 

“I always thought Jordan was a Division I player,” Turner said. “I think he made the right decision going to Central Florida. It allowed him time to mature and also made him a better player.”

The Wildcats finished 29-23 last season, including a 9-18 mark in the Big East.

Annual Big Sun Golf Scramble Set for August 21

College of Central Florida and the Patriot Basketball Scholarship Organization invite you to the Wayne Childers Memorial Big Sun Golf Scramble. The tournament, a 4-man scramble, tees off at The Country Club of Silver Springs Shores on Saturday, Aug. 21 with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

Cost is $100 per player or $360 per team, including green fees, cart, on-course refreshments, continental breakfast, luncheon and awards banquet. Sponsorships are also available starting at $100. Proceeds are used to support academic/athletic scholarships at the College of Central Florida.

Contact Bobbi Moran at 352-854-2322 x. 1322 to register or for more information.

CF Alumni Perez, Mollica Garner Media Attention

Minor-league baseball prospects and former Central Florida standouts Juan Perez and Ryan Mollica have been the subjects of recent newspaper profiles.

The Star-Tribune of Casper, Wyo, turned its focus on Perez, a right-handed pitcher who sharpened his craft at CF and Bethune-Cookman before his selection by the Colorado Rockies in the 2010 MLB Draft. Perez has been an exceedingly quick study at the professional level, pitching 8.2 scoreless innings and notching 4 saves for the Casper Ghosts of the Rookie Pioneer League.

Mollica, meanwhile, spoke to the Stuart News about his role with the St. Lucie Mets, the Class A Florida State League team he cheered for in his South Florida youth. The 24-year-old infielder and designated hitter got his collegiate start at CF, moved on to Florida International and was selected by the New York Mets in the 2009 MLB Draft. Mollica is hitting .381 with St. Lucie in 2010.

Softball Adds Two In-State Stars to 2011 Class

The Central Florida Patriots softball program has added two Florida-bred players to its summer recruiting haul.

Christina Gaudy comes to the Patriots from in-town Forest High School. The former Wildcat adds a powerful left-handed bat to the CF lineup and a steady glove in the outfield.

Arika Fox is a versatile utility player out of Apopka High School. She should see early playing time at second base and in the outfield for the Patriots.

The new signees bring coach Kerri Ryskamp's 2011 roster to 14, with a handful of late signings still expected to round out the roster.

Star-Banner: Nick Ebert Ponders Future After CWS Victory

The Star-Banner has published an excellent profile of former Central Florida Patriots baseball star Nick Ebert, a member of newly-crowned College World Series champion South Carolina. Ebert's senior season did not go at all as planned despite its triumphant ending, but as the article details, the former New York Yankees draft selection still plans to make good on his dream of playing professional baseball.

CF's Michael Paulk, Tim Luksha Named NJCAA Academic All-Americans

Patriot baseball players Michael Paulk and Tim Luksha have been named 2009-2010 Academic All-Americans by the NJCAA.

Paulk, originally from Merritt Island, was named a Distinguished Academic All-American on the strength of a 3.88 grade point average. On the field, the right-handed pitcher posted a 5-3 record in 11 starts as a sophomore.

Jacksonville native Luksha produced a 3.79 GPA in earning Academic All-American status. The left-handed pitcher anchored the Patriots' bullpen as a sophomore, posting a 4.50 ERA in 17 appearances.

Paulk and Luksha were named the College's Male Academic Athletes of the Year at CF's athletics awards banquet in April.

CF Guard Amber Powe Signs with Delta State University

Central Florida women's basketball standout Amber Powe will continue her career back in her home state of Mississippi. The 5-7 guard and Ridgeland, Miss., native has signed a letter of intent with Division II Delta State University in nearby Cleveland.

"Amber is an athletic and gifted athlete," (DSU head coach Sandra) Rushing stated. "She is the type of student-athlete that can put the ball in the basket, but she can also keep her opponent from scoring and that's what sets her apart. She will be a great fit for the Lady Statesmen."

Powe, an All-Mid-Florida Conference selection, averaged 9.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game as a sophomore for the Lady Patriots.

Powe joins South Carolina signee Markeshia Grant as Lady Patriots bound for the NCAA level. 

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