CF Patriots 11, Hillsborough 11 (Baseball)

The Central Florida baseball team played Hillsborough to an 11-11 tie Monday at Tampa after overcoming a 10-0 deficit in the final two innings.

CF scored 8 runs in the eighth and 3 more in the ninth to salvage a hard-earned tie. Scott Schaub went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs, Bradley Goodson went 2-for-5 with a double and Danny Alimonti drove in 3 runs to lead the Patriot rally.

The Patriots (1-2-1) continue their first road trip of the season Wednesday at St. Petersburg.

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Patriots Bolster 2011-12 Softball Recruiting Class

Even as the 2011 spring season gets underway, the Central Florida softball program is busy stockpiling talent for the years to come.

Head coach Kerri Ryskamp has announced the signing of four new prospects to join the Patriots' 2011-12 recruiting class. The incoming Patriots are:

• OF/C Jamie Summers, a first-team all-area performer at Suwanee.
• UTIL Chandler Bridges, a skilled slap hitter out of Pensacola Navarre.
• IF Kirsten Burkey, a left-handed power hitter and second-team all-state selection at Martin County.
• UTIL Sommer Mims, a versatile prospect out of nearby Leesburg.

The new recruits join Groveland South Lake senior P/IF Shelby Mathews as Florida prep stars to sign early with the Patriots.

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CF Alum Breanna Fort Starring for Clayton State

Former Lady Patriots All-American Breanna Fort is rounding out her collegiate career in impressive fashion as a senior at Division II Clayton State.

Fort posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double as the No. 2 Lakers defeated Flagler College 85-67 on Saturday at St. Augustine. The win kept Clayton undefeated at 20-0, including a 9-0 mark in the Peach Belt Conference. Fort has started all 20 of those games, averaging 7.6 points and team-best 6.4 rebounds.

The Hawthorne native was a two-time All-Mid-Florida Conference selection at CF after a standout prep career at Hawthorne HS.

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Ocala.com Covers Five CF Events in One Day

CF kept the staff of the Ocala Star-Banner plenty busy on Saturday. Here's a roundup of the paper's excellent coverage.

• Splits for CF Softball, Baseball
• CF Men's, Women's Basketball Enjoy Big Wins
• West Port Girls Down Vanguard at College of Central Florida

CF Patriots 97, St. Johns River 67 (MBB)

The Central Florida men's basketball roared back into the win column Saturday night, blasting visiting St. Johns River 97-67 behind a remarkable long-range shooting exhibition.

CF Lady Patriots 64, Hillsborough 52 (WBB)

Central Florida solidified its grip on a women's basketball state tournament berth on Saturday as the Lady Patriots handled Hillsborough 64-52.

Abraham-Baldwin 7, CF Patriots 0; CF 6, AB 5 (Softball)

Central Florida earned a split in its season-opening doubleheader on Saturday, edging Abraham-Baldwin 6-5 in the opening-day nightcap. The visiting Fillies claimed the opener 7-0.

Pensacola 7, CF Patriots 6; CF 4, Pensacola 2 (Baseball)

Central Florida finally knocked off Pensacola on its third try of the weekend, beating the Pirates 4-2 in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader at Goodlett Field. Pensacola took the opener 7-6.

Ocala.com: Patriot Softball Has Local Flavor

Richard Burton of Ocala.com looks ahead at the Patriot softball season. First pitch is 1 p.m. today at the CF softball field.

Pensacola 8, CF Patriots 7 (BASEBALL)

Central Florida flashed a potent offense and a strong No. 1 starting pitcher in its spring baseball season opener Friday at Goodlett Field, but it wasn't enough to avoid an 8-7 defeat to visiting Pensacola State.

Starter Kyle Bright kept the Pirates off the board until the fifth inning, and the home team battled back from deficits repeatedly, loading the bases in the eighth and advancing the tying run to second base in the bottom of the ninth before falling short.

CF gets two more shots at Pensacola on Saturday. Chase Wissman and Nick Arscott will get the starts on the mound as the Patriots host a noon doubleheader.

• Photo by Thomas Gaines.
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Crisp, Clear Day Welcomes CF Spring Baseball

It's 63 degrees and clear skies. First pitch is 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Ocala.com: Patriots Open Season Today

Richard Burton of Ocala.com previews the Patriot baseball season. First pitch is 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field; admission is free.

CF Alum Kelly Riddick Named Preseason All-Conference

Former Central Florida pitching ace and Flagler College senior Kelly Riddick has been named to the preseason All-Peach Belt Conference team. From Flagler's press release:

Riddick posted an 18-13 overall record last year for Flagler. She recorded a 1.99 earned run average and collected 230 strikeouts. Riddick earned second-team all-conference honors and helped lead the Saints to a 28-24 overall record and a 10-10 mark in conference play. Flagler also made the conference’s post-season tournament in its inaugural year in the 11-team league.

Riddick finished seventh in the Peach Belt in ERA, third in wins and strikeouts, second in appearances (39), fourth in starts (27) and third in opponent’s batting average (.188). She holds the following single-season records at Flagler: lowest ERA, lowest opponent batting average, most strikeouts per seven innings (8.31), most wins, most appearances, most games started, most complete games, most shutouts (4), most innings pitched (193.2) and most strikeouts.

She also tossed the first no-hitter at Flagler, Feb. 13 vs. Ave Maria. She combined on a no-hitter later in the season. Riddick own the single game records in: innings pitched (10, twice), strikeouts (14, twice) and batters faced (50).

Among Riddick's teammates at Flagler is another former CF standout, senior catcher Katelyn Guinsler. The Saints open their season Feb. 5 in St. Augustine; their opponent, St. Leo, features another former Patriot in pitcher Megan Still.

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Patriots Enter 2011 Baseball Season with High Hopes

Returning sophomore Kyle Bright is the new ace of the Patriot pitching staff.

The Mid-Florida Conference baseball schedule is always a grind, with a half-dozen accomplished programs battling for just two precious postseason spots. Very good teams are left behind every year.

In 2010, CF found that out first-hand.

The Patriots opened conference play with an 8-0 rout of Lake-Sumter behind a Matt Gendron no-hitter, then won four of their next five to take command of the MFC standings. Halfway through, they were a comfortable 8-4 and apparently playoff-bound.

But the rugged daily competition caught up with the Patriots. They posted the bizarro version of that strong start over the last half of the conference season, a 4-8 swoon that included a six-game losing streak and cost the team the playoff berth that had once seemed inevitable.

Head coach Marty Smith, who enters the season just nine games away from an historic 500th victory, has assembled just the right mix in response - returning veterans anxious to erase those bad memories, and exuberant freshmen eager to launch their post-prep careers in winning fashion. The resulting solution, the thinking goes, is a Patriot return to the playoffs. That mission starts at 3 p.m. Friday at Goodlett Field, as the Patriots open the 2011 spring season against Panhandle rival Pensacola.

Returning sophomore SS Bradley Goodson will play a key role for the Patriots in the field and at the plate, manning the vital shortstop position while hitting second in the order on most occasions. He'll share the left side of the infield with 3B Scott Schaub, one of CF's most promising Marion County recruits in years. Schaub will have the chance to prove his collegiate mettle immediately, occupying both the hot corner and the run-producing cleanup spot on the lineup card.

If things go according to plan, Schaub will find a pair of talented freshmen outfielders on the bases when he steps to the plate. Projected leadoff man CF Christian Coburn and No. 3 hitter OF Yoenny Gonzalez impressed enough in fall play to earn featured spots in the batting order and starting roles in the outfield. Beyond that, returning sophomore South Carolina signee 2B Casey Smit and a promising collection of young prospects give Smith valuable options and flexibility on offense and defense.

With enough firepower to hold up the offense's side of the equation, the Patriots' success in 2011 will likely come down to pitching. Returning sophomore RHP Kyle Bright emerged as the team's most reliable big-game pitcher in 2010, posting a 5-4 record and a solid 4.09 ERA, and he's been rewarded with a promotion to the top of Patriot rotation.

Fellow returnee RHP Cody Lewis will be slowed early, but is slotted in as the team's No. 2 starter by the time conference play begins. Smith will look to freshmen RHP Chase Wissman and RHP Nick Arscott to provide quality starts in the third and fourth spots, while talented Belleview product RHP Charlie Neely is among a group of pitchers expected to vie for occasional starts and/or a prominent role out of the bullpen.

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YouTube: Behind the Scenes with Markeshia Grant

Former Lady Patriots All-American Markeshia Grant chronicles her game-day routine at the University of South Carolina.

Daytona State 79, CF Patriots 77, OT (MBB)

Central Florida suffered its first Mid-Florida Conference men's basketball loss of the season on Wednesday, falling at Daytona State 79-77 in overtime.

Kevin Foster forced the extra frame with a free throw with 5 seconds to play before the Falcons secured the win.

The loss spoils CF's perfect record, but the Patriots (19-5, 5-1 MFC) remain in sole possession of first place ahead of Saturday's opponent, St. Johns River. The visit from the Vikings is set for 7:30 p.m., the finale of a seven-game event at CF.

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Daytona State 55, CF Lady Patriots 54 (WBB)

The Central Florida women's basketball team slipped to .500 in the Mid-Florida Conference with a heartbreaking 55-54 loss at Daytona on Wednesday.

The setback keeps the Lady Patriots (13-11, 3-3 MFC) in third place in the conference standings, still in good position to earn one of the MFC's three playoff berths.

CF returns to action Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as it hosts Hillsborough.

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Patriot Softball Poised for Postseason Return



Returning sophomore Jessica Knight will be the Patriots' go-to pitcher in 2011.

 Last season did not go as planned for the Central Florida softball team.

A year after reaching the state tournament and posting an impressive 34-25 overall record, the Patriots slid a spot in the Mid-Florida Conference rankings, falling out of postseason contention in the final week of the season.

At the end of the spring, coach Kerri Ryskamp got to work immediately setting things right.

Ryskamp, one of the most accomplished players in CF softball history, stocked the roster with Florida talent for her fourth season at the head of the Patriot fast-pitch program, bringing in a strong recruiting class to complement a core group of returning sophomores. She brought in a new assistant coach in Mike Lingle, a noted instructor of the game coming off a successful tenure at nearby Forest High School, and his longtime associate, Joe Furce, as a volunteer assistant.

With those adjustments made, it's time to evaluate the results. The Patriots open their 2011 spring season on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m. against Georgia-based NJCAA opponent Abraham-Baldwin. Their mission to return to the postseason formally begins in March, when Mid-Florida Conference play begins.

The Patriots have assembled the talent necessary to make good on their playoff expectations.

Sophomore pitcher Jessica Knight returns for her second season on the mound, this time as the staff ace. The righthander out of Keystone Heights is also a formidable weapon in the Patriots' lineup, and should occupy a spot near the top of the CF batting order.

A trio of local prep alumni are set to surround Knight atop the lineup card. Forest product Megan David, an effective slap hitter with a knack for circling the bases, is slotted to hit leadoff. Former Lake Weir teammates Brittany Baker and Miranda Anderson will provide back-to-back power bats in the heart of the order. The rest of the projected lineup is packed with experienced hitters, including Samantha Sibley, Samantha Stewart, Jandrew Collins and Kasie Cheney.

The Patriots' strength is in their versatility in the field. Nearly every player on the team is competent at more than one defensive position, giving Ryskamp the freedom to shuffle players in response to matchups and hot streaks.

With a potent mix of strong coaching, valuable experience and versatile talent, the Patriots are poised for a successful state tournament run.

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Associated Press Profiles CF Alum Ricardo Ratliffe

Central Florida career leading scorer Ricardo Ratliffe is the subject of an in-depth feature by the Associated Press. The article has been picked up by prominent news outlets everywhere - including the Washington Post and our own fine local newspaper, the Ocala Star-Banner - and chronicles Ratliffe's rise from eight-grade novice to CF Patriots phenom to Division I star. Well worth a few minutes of your time.

Vanguard-West Port Girls Headline Action-Packed Saturday at CF

College of Central Florida will host a regular-season girls basketball game between two of Ocala's finest high school programs on Saturday as intracity rivals Vanguard and West Port face off in the CF gymnasium.

The game is part of a full day of action at CF, as all four of the Patriot sports teams are also in action on campus. The baseball team starts the festivities at noon, hosting Pensacola in a noon doubleheader at Goodlett Field. The softball team opens its spring season an hour later at the CF softball field with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Abraham-Baldwin.

Vanguard and West Port take the court at 4 p.m. to tip off a basketball tripleheader. The Lady Patriots host Hillsborough in a Mid-Florida Conference game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men facing MFC rival St. Johns River in the day's finale at 7:30 p.m.

CF students, faculty and staff can attend all five games free of charge; an all-day ticket is just $5.

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CF Baseball Ranked Ninth in Preseason State Poll

Central Florida ranks ninth in the preseason state baseball coaches' poll, released Tuesday by the FCCAA.

CF, which was also ranked ninth in the final poll of 2010, is joined in the top 10 by Mid-Florida Conference rivals Santa Fe (No. 4) and St. Johns River (No. 10). No. 1 on the list is State College of Florida, the former Manatee Community College.

CF received seven votes in the preseason softball poll, in which Miami-Dade ranks first.

Patriot baseball opens its spring schedule Friday at 3 p.m. as it hosts Pensacola at Goodlett Field.

Ocala.com: Patriots Continue Dominance of Santa Fe

Pictures, descriptions and accounts of last night's Patriot men's basketball win via Ocala.com.

CF Patriots 72, Santa Fe 68 (MBB)

Central Florida staged an epic second-half rally Monday night to knock off rival Santa Fe 72-68 and keep its men's basketball conference record unblemished.

The Patriots (19-4, 5-0 Mid-Florida Conference) endured a first half marked by poor shooting and porous defense, then corrected both in the second half to eliminate an eight-point Saints halftime lead. CF's shooting percentage improved from 34 to 46 percent, while Santa Fe's plummetted from 52 to 42 percent. The Patriots also dominated on the boards, claiming 38 rebounds, including 14 offensive, to the Saints' 30.

Kevin Foster capped CF's persistent second-half surge with a rugged post basket with under 3 minutes to go, collecting a deft entry pass from Mathiang Muo and depositing a contested layup to give CF its first lead of the second half. Slobodan Miljanic laced another go-ahead shot a minute later (see video above), lacing a three-pointer from the wing that put the Patriots up for good.

Muo posted a 25-point, 10-rebound double-double, both game highs, while Foster added 21 points and 8 boards.

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Santa Fe 67, CF Lady Patriots 62 (WBB)

The Central Florida women's basketball team saw its season series with archrival Santa Fe evened Monday night as the Lady Saints claimed a 67-62 victory on CF's home floor.

With the win, Santa Fe avenged the come-from-behind victory the Lady Patriots swiped Jan. 5 to open Mid-Florida Conference play. The Lady Saints retained first place in the MFC at 5-1, now a game and a half ahead of 3-2 CF.

Tiara Smith led three double-digit scorers for CF with 17 points, while Quinnecia Twine and Briana Gibson added 12 apiece. Gibson had a game-high 7 rebounds.

The loss damages CF's chances at a conference championship, though it should have a negligible impact on its pursuit of one of the MFC's three state tournament berths. The Lady Patriots remain a postseason near-lock as long as Hillsborough and FSC-Jacksonville, each of whom entered Monday with one win apiece, continue to struggle.

CF (13-10, 3-2 MFC) returns to the floor Wednesday with a trip to Daytona State.

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CF-Santa Fe Rivalry Continues Tonight

Central Florida hosts its biggest rival tonight as Santa Fe makes the short trip down I-75 from Gainesville for a crucial Mid-Florida Conference basketball doubleheader. The women's game starts at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m. Both games are also available online through Panhandle Broadcasting: click here for the women's game, and here for the men's (links open Windows Media Player).

Below, a look at what's at stake as CF approaches the midway point of its conference schedule:

WBB: It took a near-perfect second half for the Lady Patriots to escape Gainesville with a win Jan. 5. Knowing how difficult such comebacks are to achieve once, much less twice, No. 7 CF (13-9, 3-1 MFC) is determined to get off to a stronger start in front of its home crowd and prevent the need for such heroics. Both CF and No. 10 Santa Fe (12-10, 4-1 MFC) appear headed to the postseason as the conference's three traditional powers - CF, Santa Fe and Daytona - separate from one-win teams FSC-Jacksonville and Hillsborough and tighten their grasp on the conference's three state tournament berths. But conference titles are preferable to postseason appearances, and the remaining schedule is too long to coast to the end.

MBB: The No. 4 Patriots (18-4, 4-0 MFC) boast an attractive resume: they're in sole possession of first place with wins over each of their four MFC rivals, and have won in all manner of circumstances, at home, on the road, in close games and comfortable victories. But those facts don't reflect how difficult the path has been: CF watched Santa Fe erase a 17-point second-half deficit in a narrow win Jan. 5 at Gainesville, edged Daytona by a single basket and needed overtime to dispatch FSC-Jacksonville. And with FSC-J forced to forfeit its conference wins, second-place St. Johns River has jumped a game in the standings and now trails CF by just a half-game at 4-1. No. 8 Santa Fe (16-7, 3-2), meanwhile, remains very much in play for the postseason at 3-2; a Saints win tonight ruins CF's pristine run and muddies significantly the MFC playoff picture.

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Softball Prospect Shelby Mathews Chooses CF

Top regional softball prospect Shelby Mathews signed with the Central Florida Patriots this week, becoming the first member of coach Kerri Ryskamp's 2011-12 recruiting class. Read the Orlando Sentinel's coverage here.

Patriot Sophomores Earning NCAA Recruiting Interest

A year after experiencing the intense recruiting process surrounding NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year Ricardo Ratliffe, Central Florida is preparing a new batch of graduating sophomores for the NCAA level.

Patriots head coach Tim Ryan built his first roster after Ratliffe, now a standout junior at the University of Missouri, around a certain model of student-athlete: veteran college players who had spent their respective freshman seasons at a four-year school. While those players, by definition, will only be with the program for a year, their proven upper-level talent and experience playing with other elite players gave the new-look squad an opportunity to come together quickly.

With just one returning player on the roster, the Patriots have done just that, putting together an 18-4 record and a 4-0 start to Mid-Florida Conference play while emerging as a legitimate state title contender. At the same time, CF's sophomore leaders have garnered well-deserved attention from NCAA programs. Here's a look at where they may be headed for the 2011-12 season:

• Kevin Foster has capably filled the role of frontcourt anchor, leading the team in scoring and rebounding and creating shots for the team's wing players. After a promising freshman season at George Mason, Foster was always a lock to return to Division I, and he'll do just that after committing to play for Fresno State soon after his arrival at CF. 
• Slobodan Miljanic, the team's only returning player, has enjoyed the breakout season many predicted after a promising but challenging freshman season spent adjusting to American basketball. The 6-7 Montenegro native possesses a mix of size and shooting ability that makes him an ideal wing at the next level; he lists Rutgers among the schools that have taken notice, along with a host of small Division I and top Division II programs.
• Mathiang Muo saw limited opportunities in his freshman season at Division I Northeastern, but the wiry 6-7 swingman has blossomed in the expanded role he's earned at CF. An adept outside shooter, isolation scorer and wing defender, Muo has caught the attention of Division I schools including Robert Morris, Canisius and Gardner-Webb.
• Guards A.J. Holland and Addison Smith came to CF after freshman years at Rice and Florida Gulf Coast, respectively, and each will again choose from a number of NCAA offers when their seasons at CF are complete. Holland has heard from Albany, Western Michigan, Lousiana-Monroe, Lynn and Lander, while Smith is on the radar of North Florida, Florida A&M and Lander.

CF Adds to Pitching Depth with RHPs Neely, Cronin

Central Florida baseball coach Marty Smith added a pair of right-handed pitching prospects to the Patriot roster over the holiday break, signing Belleview product Charlie Neely and Ponte Vedra native Clint Cronin to the squad.

Neely (right), a 6-0, 175-pound right-hander, earned all-area honorable mention as a Rattler. He spent his freshman season with Polk State, posting a 3.38 ERA and striking out 11 in 13.1 innings of work.

Cronin (left), a 6-1, 170-pound right-hander, was a two-sport star at Ponte Vedra, also quarterbacking the school's football team. The two help shore up a promising pitching staff headlined by returning sophomore Kyle Bright and an impressive collection of new recruits.

CF's spring baseball season begins Friday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. as the Patriots welcome Pensacola to Goodlett Field.

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Ocala.com: Patriots Sweep Pair from FSC-Jacksonville

Richard Burton of Ocala.com rounds up Wednesday's Mid-Florida Conference hoops action.

CF Patriots 101, FSC-Jacksonville 90, OT (MBB)

The Central Florida men's basketball team withstood the toughest test of its Mid-Florida Conference season to date on Wednesday, emerging from an overtime battle with FSC-Jacksonville with a 101-90 victory.

CF trailed by as many as 6 points midway through the second half, but recaptured the lead on a furious rally highlighted by two Kevin Foster three-point plays and Addison Smith's putback layup with just under 5 minutes to play. The Stars regrouped, however, and CF needed a Mathiang Muo free throw with 6 seconds to play to force overtime.

A dominant Patriots team made for an anticlimactic extra frame. Foster and Slobodan Miljanic swished three-pointers on consecutive possessions to stake the home team to a 6-point lead that it would never relinquish.

Smith led CF with a season-high 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting from the field. Foster contributed a monster double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds, winning a stirring individual matchup with Stars big man Alex Smith. Hunter Williams and Muo added 12 apiece for the Patriots.

Click here to watch the Panhandle Broadcasting webcast of the game (link opens Windows Media Player), and watch highlights featuring Hunter Williams and Addison Smith at the CF Patriots YouTube channel.

The win keeps CF (18-4, 4-0 MFC) unbeaten in MFC play and gives the Patriots a win over each of its four conference foes. The round-robin continues next week as the Patriots host Santa Fe on Monday, visit Daytona on Wednesday and host St. Johns River on Saturday, Jan. 29.

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CF Lady Patriots 70, FSC-Jacksonville 47 (WBB)

The Central Florida women's basketball team earned its second consecutive Mid-Florida Conference victory in convincing fashion Wednesday, handling visiting FSC-Jacksonville 70-47.

Click here to watch the Panhandle Broadcasting webcast of the game (link opens Windows Media Player).

Freshman sharpshooter Quinnecia Twine hit 5 three-pointers as part of a game-high 18-point effort, while freshman Moniqua Darby posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. Tiara Smith joined Twine and Darby in double figures with 12 points, while Briana Gibson packed the stat sheet with 8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

The victory keeps the Lady Patriots (13-9, 3-1 MFC) squarely in contention for the MFC crown and gives them the inside track for one of the MFC's three posteason berths. FSC-Jacksonville fell two games behind CF with the loss, with Hillsborough in the basement of the five-team division.

CF has a three-game week next week, starting with Monday's visit from rival Santa Fe. The Lady Patriots travel to Daytona on Wednesday, then host Hillsborough on Saturday, Jan. 29.

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CF Hosts FSC-Jacksonville in Key MFC Doubleheader

Central Florida welcomes Mid-Florida Conference rival FSC-Jacksonville to Ocala tonight for a women's and men's basketball doubleheader with major ramifications for the Patriots' and Lady Patriots' postseason hopes. The women tip at 6 p.m., followed by the men at approximately 8 p.m. Panhandle Broadcasting will stream both games live online: click here for the women's game, and here for the men's (links open Windows Media Player).

MBB: The No. 4 Patriots (17-4, 3-0 MFC) look to remain perfect in conference play against an upstart Stars squad. Usually relegated to the outskirts of the MFC playoff picture, FSC-J (10-10, 2-1) has notched wins over St. Johns River and defending conference champ Daytona State, and currently sits deadlocked with Santa Fe for second place in the MFC. Freshman guard Patrick Hendley is averaging 27.5 points in the Stars' two conference wins, so slowing him will be a point of emphasis for the Patriots.

WBB: After a win at Hillsborough on Saturday, the No. 7 Lady Patriots (12-9, 2-1 MFC) are back on the right side of .500 in conference play and in line for one of the conference's three state tournament berths. That would all change tonight with a loss against a dangerous Lady Stars team. With a victory, FSC-J (8-12, 1-2 MFC) would move into a third-place tie with CF at 2-2, adding a wild card to the usual scrum between CF, Santa Fe and Daytona and making the battle for the postseason an interesting four-team affair.

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CF to Hold Women's Volleyball Tryouts

The College of Central Florida will hold open tryouts in Ocala for its new women’s volleyball team. The tryouts will take place Friday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at the facilities of Ocala Power Volleyball, 1501 S.W. 44th Ave.

Tryouts are open to high school graduates and high school seniors who will be graduating in the spring or summer of 2011, as well as college students transferring from four-year or two-year colleges and universities. Any student planning to transfer from a two-year program must have a release agreement from her previous college.

Registration will be held from 5 to 5:45 p.m. The session is scheduled for two hours. Registrants must provide a copy of high school or college transcripts and must have had a physical exam within the past year. Appropriate athletic apparel is required to participate.

Participants will be evaluated on overall skill and technique, strength and physical conditioning, and understanding of the sport.

“I’m looking forward to getting an extended look at the talent produced by the area’s outstanding youth and high school volleyball programs,” said head coach Flavia Siqueira. “I expect a spirited, healthy competition to earn a spot on the inaugural Patriots volleyball team.”

Women’s volleyball was added to CF’s intercollegiate athletics offerings in June 2010 after approval by the CF District Board of Trustees. Siqueira became the school’s first volleyball coach in January; the team’s inaugural season will begin in fall 2011.

Contact Siqueira at 352-854-2322, ext. 1456, or siqueirf@cf.edu for additional information.

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CF Lady Patriots 61, Hillsborough 42 (WBB)

Central Florida moved back above .500 in Mid-Florida Conference play Saturday with a 61-42 win at Hillsborough.

Charo Fowler scored 17 points and Quinnecia Twine 16 to pace the Lady Patriots (12-9, 2-1 MFC). CF hosts FSC-Jacksonville on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

CF Patriots 78, St. Johns River 59 (MBB)

Central Florida emerged from perhaps the Mid-Florida Conference's toughest road gym with a solid victory Saturday night, besting St. Johns River 78-59 in Palatka.

The win kept CF (17-4, 3-0 MFC) perfect in conference play at the quarter mark of the 12-game schedule. The Patriots will look to continue that trend Wednesday night at 8 p.m. as they host FSC-Jacksonville.

Slobodan Miljanic led the victors with 20 points, including 4 three-pointers. Kevin Foster scored 17, Hunter Williams added 13 and Alhaji Fullah contributed 10 to join Miljanic in double figures.

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CF Alum Ratliffe, Mizzou Set to Become ESPN Fixture

Central Florida career leading scorer Ricardo Ratliffe and his new team, the Missouri Tigers, will play no less than three times over the next seven days in games broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

The media blitz begins Saturday at 1 p.m. as Mizzou faces Texas A & M on ESPN2, continues Monday at 5:30 p.m. as the Tigers face Kansas State on ESPN, and concludes Saturday, Jan. 22 at 9 p.m. as ESPNU offers Missouri versus Iowa State.

Ratliffe, the reigning NJCAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year, has adapted nicely to the NCAA level, securing a spot in coach Mike Anderson's starting lineup. The 12th-ranked Tigers are 15-2 and 1-1 in Big 12 play entering the weekend.

Refer to the Alumni Watch calendar in the sidebar of this site for more opportunities to see Ratliffe and other former Patriots on TV and in person. 

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CF Alum Cecil Returns to Area as Mercer Visits Stetson

Former Patriots sharpshooter Justin Cecil returns to the region tonight, leading his Mercer Bears into nearby Deland for an Atlantic Sun Conference matchup with Stetson. The game tips at 7 p.m. at Stetson's on-campus J. Ollie Edmunds Center.

The 6-8 forward spent his freshman season at A-Sun school North Florida before transferring to CF for an all-conference sophomore season. He has appeared in 14 games for the Bears, averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13 minutes of action per game.

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Ocala.com: Patriots Win Mid-Florida Home Opener

Richard Burton of Ocala.com wraps up CF's win over Daytona State on Wednesday.

CF Patriots 62, Daytona State 60 (MBB)

The Central Florida men's basketball team earned a hard-fought win over a major Mid-Florida Conference rival Wednesday with a 62-60 home victory over Daytona State.

The win keeps the Patriots (16-4, 2-0 MFC) perfect in conference play early in its MFC schedule. It also exacted a measure of revenge against the Falcons (9-11, 0-3 MFC), who handed CF both of its 2009-10 conference losses and ran away with the MFC title.

CF used a remarkably balanced offensive attack to knock off the persistent Falcons. Of the seven players in the CF scoring column, all scored at least 5 and none totalled more than the 10 points each posted by Hunter Williams and Mathiang Muo. Slobodan Miljanic, the only Patriot to experience last year's Daytona disappointments first-hand, scored all 9 of his points on well-timed, game-swinging 3-pointers, while center Alhaji Fullah served as the centerpiece of an active Patriot defense that forced the Falcons into a 38 percent shooting effort. (Watch Fullah deposit a jump hook at the CF Patriots YouTube channel.)

A late Daytona rally cut a 58-49 lead to two with 4 seconds remaining, but Muo broke free from backcourt pressure, took the inbound pass and dribbled out the clock to keep the Falcons from extending the game wtih a foul.

The Patriots visit St. Johns River on Saturday, then host FSC-Jacksonville on Jan. 19.

Click here for the Panhandle Broadcasting webcast (link opens Windows Media Player).

Daytona State 68, CF Lady Patriots 45 (WBB)

The Central Florida women's basketball team fell to an even 1-1 in Mid-Florida Conference play Wednesday after a frustrating 68-45 loss to visiting Daytona State.

CF (11-9, 1-1 MFC) got 13 points from Moniqua Darby and 10 from Tiara Smith, but struggled to produce any sustained offense in its first home game of the eight-game MFC schedule.

The Lady Patriots return to action Saturday night at last-place Hillsborough, then host FSC-Jacksonville on Jan. 19.

Click here to watch the Panhandle Broadcasting webcast of the game (link opens Windows Media Player), and here and here for a pair of Lady Patriots highlights.

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CF Opens Home Conference Slate Versus Rival Daytona

Central Florida hosts its first Mid-Florida Conference doubleheader of the season tonight as rival Daytona State visits Ocala. The women play at 6 p.m., followed by the men at approximately 8 p.m.

Patriot fans unable to attend can catch the games live via Panhandle Broadcasting. Click here to watch the women's webcast, and here for the men's. (Links open Windows Media Player.)

Here's a look at the major storylines entering tonight's games:

WBB: The Lady Falcons and Lady Patriots staged an epic battle for the runner-up spot in the MFC last year, culminating in CF’s 77-76 overtime victory Feb. 17 at Daytona. The teams finished with identical 5-4 MFC records; the Lady Patriots took second place on the strength of a 2-1 head-to-head advantage.

This season figures to hold more of the same, as both Daytona (11-8, 1-1) and CF (11-8, 1-0) expect to secure one of the MFC's three state tournament berths and make a run at the conference title. The Lady Patriots could stay undefeated and knock their rivals below .500 with a win tonight, a huge step towards accomplishing both of those goals.

MBB: Only one player remains from the Patriot team that came up short against Daytona last year, but CF followers would relish a measure of payback against the Falcons (9-10, 0-2 MFC). Daytona handed the Patriots their only two conference losses in 2009-10, one apiece on each team's home court, en route to a perfect 8-0 run to the MFC title. The Falcons' unexpected onslaught robbed CF of what would have been a second consecutive conference championship.

Most of that Daytona squad has moved on as well, but the Falcons return a pair of stars in PF Will Neighbour and G Marquise Glaze. Daytona is winless in two conference games this season, so the opportunity is there for CF (15-4, 1-0) to return to MFC preeminence.

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Ocala.com: Patriots Off to Hot Start in Conference

Richard Burton of Ocala.com wraps up CF's men's and women's basketball sweep at Santa Fe and looks ahead at the teams' Mid-Florida Conference schedule.

CF Softball Signs Local Prospect Kasie Cheney

Former Belleview High School two-sport star Kasie Cheney is changing the focus of her collegiate athletic career and transferring to her hometown college. The Central Florida Patriots softball program is the beneficiary of both decisions.

Cheney, a Rattlers prep star in softball and soccer who played the latter at South Georgia College, has become the newest member of CF coach Kerri Ryskamp's burgeoning collection of homegrown softball talent.

In addition to piling up accolades on the soccer pitch, the versatile utility player set the school record for career stolen bases at Belleview. Cheney earned 10 varsity letters at BHS before committing to play soccer at NJCAA school South Georgia, where she totalled 2 goals and 2 assists in 8 games in the fall 2010 season.

The signing will help offset the loss of two fellow Marion County prep products, as Forest graduate Christina Gaudy and West Port alum Stefanie Mitchell will redshirt this spring. Cheney will join forces with a number of former Marion County rivals at CF, including Lake Weir's Miranda Anderson and Brittany Baker and Forest's Megan David, Jandrew Collins and Sammi Stewart.

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CF Alum Markeshia Grant Stars as Gamecocks Upset LSU

Central Florida alumna Markeshia Grant enjoyed both a breakout game individually and a landmark win for her team Thursday night, scoring a team-high 12 points and leading South Carolina to a 63-61 win over SEC rival LSU.

Grant played 26 minutes and was on the floor for most of the Gamecocks' best stretches as the team overcame an early 18-point deficit to defeat the favored Tigers. The former Lady Patriot All-American made 4 of 6 shots, including 3 of 4 three-pointers, and filled up the stat sheet with 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot.

The junior guard received plenty of attention from the Sun Sports broadcast team televising the game, as she was singled out repeatedly for her game-changing play and figured prominently in the post-game highlight package.

Grant entered Thursday's game averaging 4.4 points and shooting a team-high 32 percent from 3-point range in 15 minutes per game. She has seen her role steadily increase under the tutelage of legendary point guard and SC head coach Dawn Staley, culminating with a second-half start and a healthy amount of crunch-time minutes in the team's biggest game of its season Thursday. 

Here are some quotes from the post-game press conference:

Coach Staley on the spark Grant brought off the bench: "It was huge. At that point you're just searching for combinations that can give you a little something different. Markeshia was practicing extremely well for the past couple of days. I thought she'd be ready to play and give us a lift, mainly from an offensive standpoint. She's quick and athletic. I thought we could put her on the ball to speed up the play. She came in and got a steal right away. She set the tone for us from a defensive standpoint."

Grant on her confidence coming into the game, especially starting the second half: I had a lot of confidence coming off the bench in the first half. Coach [Staley] started me in the second half, and I kept up the aggression. I had a Coach [Lisa] Boyer attitude. She's very passionate, and that's how I was.

CF Patriots 82, Santa Fe 78 (MBB)

The Central Florida men completed a Patriots basketball sweep of archrival Santa Fe on Wednesday, defeating Santa Fe 82-78 to open its Mid-Florida Conference schedule with a victory.

CF (15-4, 1-0 MFC) led throughout the game and took a 17-point advantage before the Saints rallied to set up the traditional CF-Santa Fe nailbiter. Hunter Williams hit a runner in the lane to give the Patriots a five-point lead with 30 seconds to play, and Slobodan Miljanic and Kevin Foster hit a pair of free throws apiece in the final seconds to secure the victory.

Miljanic hit 5 first-half three-pointers in the first half, scoring 17 of his 26 points before halftime to stake CF to an early lead. Kevin Foster did the heavy lifting in the second half, pouring in 16 of his 22 points in the final 20 minutes. Mathiang Muo contributed 20 points for the victors.

CF hosts Daytona State on Jan. 12 in its MFC home opener.

Click here to watch the PBSLive broadcast of the game (link opens Windows Media Player).

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CF Lady Patriots 84, Santa Fe 78 (WBB)

Central Florida got its Mid-Florida Conference women's basketball season underway in impressive fashion Wednesday, erasing a double-digit second-half deficit en route to an 84-78 win over Santa Fe.

The Lady Patriots (11-8, 1-0 MFC) trailed by 8 at halftime and as much as 14 in the second half before piecing together a game-winning rally.

Charo Fowler led CF with 20 points and added 7 rebounds in a breakout effort for the freshman wing out of Winter Park. Four teammates joined Fowler in double figures as Tiara Smith scored 15, Janay Borum and Briana Gibson totalled 12 apiece and Moniqua Darby chipped in 11. Gibson led the team in rebounding with 8, while point guard Borum collected 6 assists and 5 steals.

CF enjoys a week of rest before its next game, the MFC home opener against Daytona State on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Click here to watch the PBSLive broadcast of the game (link opens Windows Media Player).

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CF Hoops Set for Mid-Florida Conference Season

Central Florida opens the its 2011 Mid-Florida Conference season on Wednesday with a visit to I-75 archrival Santa Fe for a women's and men's basketball doubleheader.

The 12-game MFC schedule runs through Feb. 19, with each team playing its four conference opponents three times apiece in both men's and women's action. CF's first home doubleheader is Wednesday. Jan. 12, versus Daytona State. The women play at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m.

On the men's side, the team with the best conference record at the end of the regular season is crowned MFC champion and earns the conference's top seed in the FCCAA State Tournament in March. The remaining four teams enter a single-elimination tournament, played Feb. 21 and 22, to determine the MFC's other state tournament representative.

The Lady Patriots, meanwhile, will contend for one of three FCCAA State Tournament berths allotted the MFC this year. The teams with the three best records at the end of the 12-game MFC slate will earn those postseason slots.

Here's a look at the men's teams:  

• Central Florida (14-4) The rebuilt Patriots have looked like state contenders in wins over Miami-Dade and Tallahassee. Can they do the same against the school's familiar rivals? 
• Santa Fe (13-5) The Saints boast impressive size and experience, and are out for revenge after narrowly losing a state tournament berth to CF last season.
• Daytona State (9-8) The defending conference champion Falcons return their two leading scorers in 6-10 power forward Will Neighbour and guard Marquise Glaze, but the rest of the roster is new.
• St. Johns River (12-5) The Vikings are always stocked with tough, rangy wing players, and their Palatka gym is a notoriously difficult place to escape with a victory.
• FSC-Jacksonville (7-9) The Stars are determined to make the leap into MFC contention after years of looking up at perennial powers CF, Santa Fe and Daytona.

And the women's contenders:

• Central Florida (10-8): As always, the Lady Patriots have already played the state's premier teams in one of the FCCAA's toughest non-conference schedules, so the heightened intensity of conference play shouldn't bother them.
• Santa Fe (8-9): The defending conference champion Lady Saints have always been CF's nemesis, and this season sets up as a compelling new chapter in the ongoing rivalry.
• Daytona State (10-7): The Lady Falcons return four sophomore standouts from a squad that made a long-awaited return to the state tournament last season.
• Hillsborough (5-9): The conference's new addition has the talent and pedigree to shake up the traditional MFC heirarchy.
• FSC-Jacksonville (7-9): With three spots up for grabs in a five-team conference, the Lady Stars are just a couple of close wins away from defying the odds and reaching the playoffs.

CF Patriots 104, TAAG Academy 55 (MBB)

Central Florida kicked off the new year on Sunday with a dominant 104-55 victory over non-NJCAA opponent TAAG Academy.

Sophomore Mathiang Muo hit 6 three-pointers as part of a 23-point effort. Slobodan Miljanic matched Muo's 23 points, while Kevin Foster scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half.

CF (14-4) opens Mid-Florida Conference play on Wednesday at Santa Fe.

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Gulf Coast 84, CF Lady Patriots 64 (WBB)

Central Florida rounded out its rugged non-conference schedule on Sunday with an 84-64 home loss to Gulf Coast.

The Lady Patriots enter Mid-Florida Conference play with a 10-8 overall record. They visit Santa Fe on Wednesday in their MFC opener.

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Northwest Florida State 76, CF Lady Patriots 53 (WBB)

Central Florida fell to a solid nationally-ranked opponent on its home court Saturday, dropping a 76-53 decision to FCCAA No. 2 Northwest Florida State.

The sixth-ranked Lady Patriots fell to 10-7 with the loss. Moniqua Darby led the Lady Patriots with a game-high 26 points. CF wraps up its non-conference slate Sunday at 2 pm versus Gulf Coast.

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