SCF-Manatee 5, CF Patriots 0 (Baseball)

The Central Florida baseball team took a 9-0 loss at SCF-Manatee on Wednesday.

The Patriots (13-8) now turn their attention to Mid-Florida Conference play and the pursuit of an FCSAA State Tournament berth. They host Seminole on Friday at 3 p.m.

CF Alum Grant Earns All-SEC Honors

Former Central Florida All-American Markeshia Grant has been named to the All-SEC second team, a fitting reward for an historic senior season at South Carolina.

Details from SC's official site:

Grant is the team's top scorer on the season, ranking 23rd in the league with 10.8 points per game. A hot shooting streak midway through the SEC schedule catapulted her up the 3-point shooting chart to her current position of seventh in the league in both 3-point percentage (.357) and 3-pointers made per game (1.8). In SEC games only, she is second in the conference in both those categories, making 2.1 3s per league game shooting 38.2 percent. Grant earned USBWA National Player of the Week honors on Feb. 6 after her 27-point outing included seven 3s and led the Gamecocks past Tennessee for the first time since 1980.

CF Patriots 2, SCF-Manatee 1; SCF 3, CF 0 (Softball)

Stefanie Mitchell's fifth-inning
home run put the Patriots ahead
to stay in Tuesday's opener.

Central Florida turned to the long ball Tuesday to pull out a 2-1 victory over visiting SCF-Manatee. The Patriots dropped the second half of the softball doubleheader 3-0.

In the opener, Marion County natives Miranda Anderson and Stefanie Mitchell hit solo home runs in consecutive innings to provide all the offense the Patriots would need. Anderson's 2-out shot came in the fourth, and Mitchell's eventual game-winner followed in the fifth.

That was plenty of support for starter Tori Stamper, who yielded 6 hits and an unearned run while striking out 5 in a complete-game victory.

The Patriots (12-13) continue their non-conference slate at home Saturday against South Florida. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. Mid-Florida Conference play begins March 8 at Jacksonville.

Mitchell, Twine, Gibson on All-MFC First Team

Three Central Florida Lady Patriots are among the 12 first-team All-Mid-Florida Conference selections.

Returning sophomores Quinnecia Twine and Briana Gibson and freshman TiChina Mitchell represent CF on the list. The trio of selections matches the Patriot men's first-team contingent.

Guards Nikarre Sesler and Taylor Broadnax earned second-team honors.

Sophomore Simone High and freshman Najah Chambers garnered honorable mention.

CF's Siqueira to Host Summer Volleyball Camps

Central Florida volleyball coach Flavia Siqueira will host a series of instructional volleyball camps this summer. For more information on the camps, click here; for secure registration online, click here.

Youth Camp

• Ages 5-10
• June 14-15
• 9 am -12 pm daily
• $50 per camper
• Free camp shirt

Junior High Camp

• Grades 5-8
• June 11-13
• 9 am - 12 pm / 1:30 pm - 5 pm / last day 10 am - noon
• $145 per camper
• Free camp shirt

High School Camp

• Grades 9-12
• July 30 - August 1
• 9 am - 12 pm / 1:30 pm - 5 pm / last day 10 am - noon
• $150 per camper
• Free camp shirt

South Florida 5, CF Patriots 2 (Baseball)

Driving rain washed out any hopes of a comeback win for the Central Florida baseball team Monday as host South Florida took a 5-2 victory in 5 innings, just enough for an official decision.

CF Men to Face Host Chipola in State Opener

Central Florida has drawn Panhandle Conference runner-up and tournament host Chipola in the opening round of the FCSAA State Tournament.

The Patriots will face the Indians at 7 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 7 at the Milton H. Johnson Health Center in Marianna. The winner of the eight-team, single-elimination tournament is crowned state champion and advances to the NJCAA Tournament.

CF will travel to Marianna with plenty of unfinished business to address. The Indians ousted the Patriots three consecutive years from 2006 to 2009, including the 2006-07 state championship game, and went on to win the state title each time.

Visit Chipola's state tournament site for more details.

Williams, Jacobo, Martinez Make All-MFC First Team

Central Florida sophomores Hunter Williams, Luis Jacobo and Christian Martinez have been named to the 12-player All-Mid-Florida Conference first team.

Four Patriots made the 12-player All-MFC second team: sophomores Alhaji Fullah and Brian Pace and freshmen Eugene McCrory and Jeremiah Eason.

Freshmen Jordan Parks, Jernell Hughes and Will Saunders earned honorable mention.

In total, head coach Tim Ryan's team had 10 student-athletes recognized among the All-MFC selections, more than any other program.

CF Hoops Alumni Prep for Postseason

Central Florida's esteemed basketball alumni will look to add to their legacies over the next two weeks as NCAA conference tournaments begin and NCAA Tournament bids are awarded. Here's a look at where your favorite Patriot and Lady Patriot alumni stand as March draws near:

• Ricardo Ratliffe's magnificently efficient senior season has the Missouri Tigers in line for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless of how they fare in next week's Big 12 Tournament. With four dynamic guards surrounding Ratliffe's ruthless post game, Missouri is a legitimate national championship contender.
• Markeshia Grant's breakout senior campaign has boosted South Carolina in one of the nation's toughest conferences. After closing out the regular season with a win over Arkansas, the Gamecocks enter the SEC Tournament as the No. 6 seed, with an opening-round matchup Thursday against 11-seed Alabama. SC is capable of winning the conference tournament, but even a strong showing should strengthen its case for an at-large bid.
• A resurgent senior season from Justin Cecil, the team's lone senior, has Mercer ideally positioned for a successful run through the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that comes with it. Mercer enjoys the No. 2 seed and home-court advantage as the tournament host. First up: No. 7 Lipscomb in quarterfinal action Wednesday.
• Hot-shooting junior Mathiang Muo has helped position Charleston Southern for a run at the Big South championship when the conference tournament tips off this week. Fourth-seeded CSU, coming off a strong 11-7 showing in conference play, faces fifth-seed Liberty in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday. Three wins over four days will lock up the Big South's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
• Kevin Foster's 3-9 Fresno State Bulldogs face tough odds in next week's WAC Tournament.
• Jeff Neal's Florida A&M squad enters next week's MEAC Tournament an underdog.
• Slobodan Miljanic and No. 8 seed Lynn draw top seed Florida Tech in the opener of the DII Sunshine State Conference tournament Wednesday.
• Senior Travis Johnson leads third-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan into the 14-team DII WVIAC tournament on Tuesday.

Visit CFPatriots.com and the CF Patriots Facebook page frequently over the next few days for regular updates.

CF Patriots 77, FSC-Jacksonville 65 (MBB)

Central Florida earned its second consecutive men's basketball Mid-Florida Conference championship and seventh straight state tournament berth Saturday with a 77-65 victory at FSC-Jacksonville.

Watch the game again via PSBLive.com.

The win tied the Patriots (23-7, 10-2 MFC) with Santa Fe atop the conference standings. CF is the conference champ by virtue of its 2-1 head-to-head advantage over the Saints this season. The first-place tie eliminates the need for a conference playoff and sends both CF and SFC straight to the FCSAA State Tournament.

The Patriots, a state semifinalist a year ago, will face the runner-up of the Panhandle Conference when the eight-team FCSAA Tournament opens Wednesday, March 7 in Marianna. That opponent is likely to be either Pensacola or tournament host Chipola.

The MFC title is the third in the last four seasons for CF and fifth in the nine-year tenure of head coach Tim Ryan. The Patriots have missed the postseason just once under Ryan, in 2004-05. Under MFC rules, Ryan will be named conference coach of the year.

The win also marks the first time the program has won back-to-back conference titles, making returning sophomores Alhaji Fullah, Brian Pace, Steven Shipwash and Hunter Williams the program's first two-time MFC champions.

The Patriots tipped off against the Stars just minutes after Santa Fe finished off a 77-62 win at St. Johns River. The win clinched a postseason berth for the 10-2 Saints, putting pressure on CF to win its game and join them in the postseason.

CF did just that behind an early barrage that built its lead as high as 14 in the first half and some clutch plays down the stretch.

The Stars took their first lead at 59-58 with 8 minutes to play, and the teams exchanged baskets for the following few minutes until Christian Martinez nailed a deep 3-pointer to give CF a 65-63 lead with 5 minutes remaining.

Luis Jacobo's long bomb restored a two-possession game 90 seconds later at 69-65, and his driving bank shot on the next CF trip pushed the lead to 6 points. The resurgent Patriots enjoyed a double-digit lead again soon after and prepared to celebrate their achievement.

Martinez led the Patriots in scoring with 19 points, while Williams added 14 points and Jacobo scored 13.

CF Lady Patriots 68, FSC-Jacksonville 61 (WBB)

Central Florida concluded its 2011-12 women's basketball season in winning fashion Saturday, taking a 68-61 victory at FSC-Jacksonville.

CF Patriots 6, Brevard 2; Brevard 4, CF 2 (Baseball)

Central Florida earned a solid split of a baseball doubleheader Saturday at Goodlett Field, taking a 6-2 victory and a 4-2 loss against Brevard.

Darren Fischer (pictured) threw all 7 innings of the opener and kept the Titans scoreless through six, ultimately allowing 3 hits and 2 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. Sean Plunkett had 2 hits and 2 RBI to pace the offense, while Kevin Games led off the fifth inning with his third home run of the season.

Scott Schaub had 2 hits and an RBI in the late game.

The game was a final home-field tune-up before Mid-Florida Conference play begins next week. The Patriots (13-7), ranked fifth in the state and targeting a return to the FCSAA State Tournament, open a two-day home-and-home series with MFC rival Seminole on Friday at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

First, they'll swing by South Florida and SCF-Manatee for a pair of non-conference road games Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

MFC Race to be Settled on Season's Final Day

Santa Fe and Central Florida's running duel for the Mid-Florida Conference men's basketball crown will finally be settled on Saturday, the final day of the regular season. The outcome of these two Saturday games will decide the conference champion:

• CF Patriots (9-2 MFC) @ FSC-Jacksonville (4-7 MFC), 6 pm
• Santa Fe (9-2 MFC) @ St. Johns River (1-10 MFC), 4 pm

The Patriots can clinch their second consecutive MFC title with a win over the Stars. Watch the game live online via PSBLive.com.

Despite the teams' records, the win is far from a given: FSC-J handed CF the first of its two conference losses, a 64-62 decision Jan. 21 at Jacksonville. On paper, the Santa Fe Saints have the more favorable matchup, having beaten the last-place Vikings handily in each of their previous two meetings this season.

Here are the four scenarios in play: 

1. Patriots win, Saints lose: CF claims the conference title and advances straight to the FCSAA State Tournament in Marianna, where it  plays the runner-up of the Panhandle Conference on March 7. Santa Fe plays a conference playoff game Tuesday against either Jacksonville or Daytona State for the MFC's other postseason spot.

2. Patriots win, Saints win: Both teams advance to the FCSAA State Tournament, and there is no conference playoff. CF is the conference champ based on its 2-1 head-to-head advantage this season. CF plays the runner-up of the Panhandle Conference in the state quarterfinal round March 7 in Marianna, while Santa Fe draws Suncoast Conference champion St. Petersburg. 

3. Patriots lose, Saints lose: Both teams advance to the FCSAA State Tournament, and there is no conference playoff. CF is the conference champ based on its 2-1 head-to-head advantage this season. CF plays the runner-up of the Panhandle Conference in the state quarterfinal round March 7 in Marianna, while Santa Fe draws Suncoast Conference champion St. Petersburg. 

4. Patriots lose, Saints win: Santa Fe claims the conference title and advances straight to the FCSAA State Tournament. CF plays a conference playoff game Tuesday against either Jacksonville or Daytona State for the MFC's other postseason spot.

Miljanic Featured in West Palm Beach TV Segment

West Palm Beach TV outlet WPTV featured Lynn University junior and former CF Patriots star Slobodan Miljanic on Thursday. Here's the video:

Pasco-Hernando 4, CF Patriots 3; CF 9, Pasco 1 (Softball)

Central Florida sent 11 hitters to the plate in a 6-run seventh-inning outburst Thursday at Pasco-Hernando, earning a 9-1 victory and a doubleheader split. 

The host Conquistadors won the opener 4-3. 

Jessica Lopez went 4-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs, Shelby Mathews went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and Kayla Carroll went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the late-game outburst. Pitcher Hawley Ill yielded 5 hits and an unearned run in a complete-game victory.

Ill added a double and an RBI in the early game, and sophomore Arika Fox drove in a run in each game.

The Patriots (11-12) host SCF-Manatee on Monday at 2 p.m.

CF Patriots 85, St. Johns River 69 (MBB)

Central Florida continued its late-season push for a second consecutive Mid-Florida Conference title Wednesday, celebrating its home-court finale with an 85-69 win over St. Johns River.

The CF bench exploded for 51 points as the Patriots won their sixth straight game. Freshman forward Jordan Parks poured in a career high 18 points on 9-for-12 shooting, leading four double-figure scorers. Luis Jacobo scored 14 and reserves Jernell Hughes and Eugene McCrory scored 12 apiece.

Facing an unexpectedly stiff challenge from the last-place Vikings, it took all of the first half for the Patriots to gain some separation and build a 35-28 halftime edge. SJR closed in again soon after halftime before a deep CF squad pulled away for good.

Now tied at 9-2 with Santa Fe, CF (22-7, 9-2 MFC) is in the enviable position of controlling its own postseason destiny. Though a Santa Fe loss Saturday at St. Johns River will give the Patriots the conference title, CF can punch its own ticket with a victory Saturday at FSC-Jacksonville.

Should the Saints win and the Patriots lose Saturday, the Patriots will be forced into a single-elimination playoff for the MFC's second FCSAA State Tournament berth. That game would be at CF on Tuesday against either FSC-Jacksonville or Daytona State.

The eventual conference champion will face the runner-up of the Panhandle Conference in a state quarterfinal game March 7 in Marianna; the MFC runner-up will take on St. Petersburg, which has clinched the Suncoast Conference crown.

CF Recognizes Departing Basketball Sophomores

Central Florida honored its departing sophomore women's and men's basketball student-athletes on Wednesday, the final home games of the 2011-12 season. CF president Dr. James Henningsen, Director of Athletics Bob Zelinski, women's head coach Cheryl Rice and men's head coach Tim Ryan were on hand for the between-games ceremony.

CF Lady Patriots sophomores (holding jerseys from left to right):
Simone High, Quinnecia Twine, Briana Gibson, Nikarre Sesler.

CF Patriots sophomores (holding jerseys from left to right):
Hunter Williams, Brian Pace, Alhaji Fullah,
Christian Martinez, Luis Jacobo, Steven Shipwash.

Hillsborough 52, CF Lady Patriots 48 (WBB)

Central Florida held its Play4Kay game Wednesday night at CF, using the occasion of the season's home finale to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Visiting Hillsborough won 52-48. Quinnecia Twine had 11 points and 12 rebounds, while TiChina Mitchell scored a team-high 12 points and Briana Gibson added 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Having been eliminated from contention for an FCSAA State Tournament berth, the Lady Patriots (13-16, 4-7 MFC) wrap up the 2011-12 season Saturday at FSC-Jacksonville.

CF-Hillsborough Baseball Rained Out

Central Florida reached the precipice of an official 5-inning victory Wednesday at Goodlett Field before inclement weather intervened. The Patriots led Hillsborough 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning when officials called the game.

CF (12-6) hosts Brevard on Saturday for a noon doubleheader.

Patriots Closing in on Repeat MFC Crown

Central Florida jumped this week to No. 3 in the FCSAA men's basketball coaches' poll. If things break the right way over the next four days, the team will claim an even more prestigious prize.

The Patriots host St. Johns River on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in their home finale and second-to-last game of the regular season. The game is the second half of a doubleheader, starting with the Lady Patriots against Hillsborough at 6 p.m. Watch both games live online via PSBLive.com.

While the CF women have unfortunately been eliminated from postseason contention, the men are locked in a spirited duel for the MFC title with archrival Santa Fe. The Patriots (8-2) can lock up a second consecutive conference title with a win Wednesday and another Saturday at FSC-Jacksonville. The Saints (9-2) are off Wednesday, then visit St. Johns River to wrap up the regular season Saturday.

Should one team finish in first place outright, that team will claim the conference title and advance directly to the FCSAA State Tournament, while the other will be forced into a single-elimination playoff to decide the conference's other state tournament berth.

A first-place tie would send both teams to the state tournament, with CF as the conference champ due to its 2-1 advantage in the teams' head-to-head season series.

The MFC champions will play the runner-up of the Panhandle Conference to open the state tournament March 7 in Marianna; the MFC runner-up will play St. Petersburg, which as clinched the Suncoast Conference crown.

St. Petersburg 2, CF Patriots 1; St. Pete 1, CF 0 (Softball)

Central Florida got a pair of standout pitching performances in a softball doubleheader Tuesday at St. Petersburg, and emerged with a narrow 2-1 loss and a 5-2 victory. UPDATE: CF has forfeited the second game of the doubleheader due to a coaching staff violation.

CF Patriots 13, CCBC-Dundalk 5 (Baseball)

Central Florida stretched its baseball win streak to four on Monday with a 13-5 rout of visiting CCBC-Dundalk.

Josh Whitchurch and Yoenny Gonzalez had 3 RBI apiece in the onslaught. Click here for the full box score.

The Patriots (12-6) continue their seven-game homestand on Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Hillsborough and a Saturday noon doubleheader against Brevard.

CF Patriots 68, Daytona State 66 (MBB)

Central Florida kept pace in the men's basketball Mid-Florida Conference race Saturday with a 68-66 win at Daytona State.

The victory keeps the Patriots (21-7, 8-2 MFC) on track to defend their MFC championship; should CF finished tied with Santa Fe in the conference standings, CF will claim the title and advance to the postseason by virtue of its head-to-head series edge over the Saints.

Eugene McCrory scored 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting and added 8 rebounds, while point guard Hunter Williams scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Will Saunders scored 10 points off the bench and Jeremiah Eason contributed 8 points and 11 rebounds.

The Patriots host St. Johns River on Wednesday at 8 pm in their home finale, then travel to FSC-Jacksonville on Saturday, Feb. 25 to wrap up the regular season.

CF Patriots 5, South Georgia 4; CF 4, South Georgia 3 (Baseball)

Central Florida swept a baseball doubleheader from South Georgia on Saturday at Goodlett Field with a pair of riveting late-inning rallies, claiming 5-4 and 4-3 victories.

Daytona State 47, CF Lady Patriots 43 (WBB)

Central Florida fell out of contention for a women's basketball FCSAA State Tournament berth Saturday with a 47-43 loss at Daytona State.

The defeat leaves the Lady Patriots (13-15, 4-6 MFC) three games behind 7-3 Hillsborough with two games to play. Daytona, now 9-2, and Hillsborough will fill the MFC's two state tournament berths. CF head coach Cheryl Rice was in pursuit of her 10th consecutive state tournament bid with the Lady Patriots.

Quinnecia Twine led the Lady Patriots with 14 points.

CF returns to Ocala for its final home game on Wednesday, a 6 pm tip against Hillsborough. The contest is CF's Kay Yow Cancer Fund Game; fans are asked to wear pink and donate $1.

CF Hoops Squads Set for Final Postseason Push

Central Florida opens the final week of Mid-Florida Conference women's and men's basketball play Saturday with a visit to Daytona State. Watch the games live online via PSBLive, starting with the Lady Patriots at 2 p.m.

Here's a look at the ever-heightening stakes:

LADY PATRIOTS: It's not an overstatement to say that this game will define the CF women's basketball season. A loss will end the 4-5 Lady Patriots' hopes of catching 7-3 Hillsborough for second place in the conference standings, putting the MFC's second and final state tournament berth out of reach and spoiling head coach Cheryl Rice's bid for a 10th consecutive postseason trip with CF. At 8-2, first-place Daytona State has already clinched its return trip to Marianna and might be prone to a home-court letdown. While the playoff math is growing very problematic for the Lady Patriots, the only reasonable approach is to string together 3 wins and hope for the best.

PATRIOTS: Fully recovered from their late-January swoon, the defending MFC champions ride a 4-game win streak and a wave of confidence into Daytona. Though 8-2 Santa Fe leads 7-2 CF by a half-game for first place in the conference standings, the Patriots are tied in the loss column and possess the luxury of owning the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Saints. In short, CF can clinch a repeat conference title with 3 wins to finish the season. Should the Patriots falter and finish behind Santa Fe, however, they'll have to navigate a dangerous single-elimination tournament to reach the postseason. 

CF Patriots 17, CCBC-Catonsville 4 (Baseball)

The Central Florida baseball team ran up the highest run total of its season on Friday with a rout of CCBC-Catonsville at Goodlett Field.

Kevin Games picked up the victory on the mound; check out the full box score and play-by-play for the long list of offensive contributors.

The Patriots (9-6) continue the weekend homestand Saturday with a noon doubleheader against South Georgia.

HIllsborough 3, CF Patriots 0; CF 9, Hillsborough 0 (Softball)

Central Florida swapped softball shutouts at Hillsborough on Thursday, erasing the sting of an opening 3-0 loss with a forceful 9-0 rout in a 5-inning nightcap.

Hawley Ill at the Forefront of CF Softball Resurgence

There are a number of catalysts to Central Florida's encouraging start to the spring softball season. But Patriot fans who have closely followed the team's 2012 resurgence know the impact of freshman transfer Hawley Ill cannot be overstated.

A freshman from Longwood Lyman High School in the Orlando area, Ill transferred to CF at the holiday break after starting her collegiate career with FCSAA rival Chipola. Early returns suggest that her addition to the roster may have put the team over the top in its quest for a winning campaign.

"Hawley has been a huge pick-up for us far this season," said head coach Kerri Ryskamp, herself a former CF star. "She is what every coach looks for in a player. She comes out to the field, whether in practice or games, and gives 110 percent day in and day out and does it with a positive attitude.

"And she flat out gets the job done and does it well."

The numbers - starting with the Patriots' winning record - back that up.

Even as her workload increases, now reaching 51.1 innings through the season's first three weeks, Ill's earned run average remains microscopic. Her 0.95 ERA ranks eighth in the state, and she's recorded more innings than any of the pitchers ahead of her, predicting that she'll further climb the leaderboard as her competition's sample sizes grow.

The combination of Ill and Tori Stamper, who leads the team with 5 pitching victories, gives the CF offense a chance to win every game.

Remarkably, Ill has played a major role in that aspect, too. Her .385 batting average is first on a team that features three .300 hitters (Kayla Carroll and Jessica Lopez are the others), and her 6 extra-base hits are another team-high.

As March approaches, bringing with it Mid-Florida Conference play and the hunt for an FCSAA State Tournament berth, the CF softball team can feel confident with Ill at the heart of both the Patriot pitching rotation and batting order.

St. Petersburg 2, CF Patriots 1 (Baseball)

The Central Florida baseball team took a 2-1 home-field loss to St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

Kevin Games scored Melvin Mercedes with a sixth-inning single for the home team's lone run. The loss squandered a strong effort from pitcher Joe Marotta, who yielded 4 hits and an earned run and struck out 9 Titans over 7.2 innings.

The Patriots (8-6) stay home for the weekend, with a 3 p.m. Friday game against CCBC-Catonsville and a noon Saturday doubleheader versus South Georgia.

14 CF Alumni Active on the Diamond this Spring

No less than 14 recent Patriot baseball and softball standouts are active at the higher levels this season, including two former CF pitchers in the organizations of Major League Baseball teams. Here's the list, with links to their profiles: 

MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL

• Nicholas Avila, Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
• Juan Perez, Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies)

NCAA BASEBALL

• Bradley Goodson, College of Charleston
• Andrew Jones, University of Tampa
• Shawn Kale, Lynn
• Paul Karmeris, North Florida
• Cody Lewis, Florida Tech
• Charles Neely, St. Leo
• Nick Radomski, Flagler
• Hunter Smith, Shorter
• Jordan Zech, Villanova

NCAA SOFTBALL

• Jessica Chewning, Georgia Southwestern
• Megan David, North Florida
• Megan Still, St. Leo

Stay tuned to CFPatriots.com and the CF Patriots Facebook page for updates on these players' accomplishments throughout the season.

CF Alumni Jones, Kale on Tino Martinez Watch List

A pair of former Central Florida baseball stars are on the radar for NCAA Division II Player of the Year honors.

Andrew Jones (above), a senior outfielder at the University of Tampa, and Shawn Kale (left), a senior pitcher at Lynn University, are included on the initial watch list for the Tino Martinez Award.

The award, named after the esteemed UT, Olympic and Major League Baseball star, annually recognizes the outstanding baseball student-athlete at the NCAA Division II level.

Jones, the 2010 Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year with the Patriots, was a first-team All-Sunshine State Conference selection and second-team All-South Region selection as a junior. He posted a .385 batting average and .603 slugging percentage with 6 home runs, 15 doubles, 43 RBI as a Spartans junior last season. Tampa is currently ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II poll.

Kale, who recovered from a major injury to post 56 strikeouts for CF in 2010, led the Fighting Knights with a 2.32 ERA in 2010. He threw 50.1 innings, posting a 4-2 record with 3 saves while striking out 57 opposing batters.

Local Standout Nelson Signs with CF Softball

Continuing to add to the program's growing talent base, Central Florida softball coach Kerri Ryskamp has added local prep star Jamie Nelson to the Patriots' 2012-13 recruiting class.

Nelson, a 5-11 pitcher entering her senior season at nearby Belleview High School, headlined the Rattlers' district-championship team as a junior in 2011.

Brevard 4, CF Patriots 3 (Baseball)

The Central Florida baseball team came up short on the road Monday, falling to host Brevard 4-3.

The Patriots (8-5) scored all of their runs in the seventh inning, with RBIs coming from Kevin Games and Scott Schaub. Mario Urdaneta and Schaub led the team with 3 hits each on the afternoon.

CF hosts St. Petersburg on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

Powell Inks CF's First 2012-13 Volleyball Scholarship

Central Florida volleyball head coach Flavia Siqueira is putting together the roster that will follow the program's majestic debut season.

The first member of the 2012-13 Patriot volleyball recruiting class is setter Lauren Powell, a two-time All-Hernando County selection at nearby Nature Coast High School. Powell recorded a county-best 828 assists as a senior to go with 217 digs and 57 service aces.

Powell expects to team with returning sophomore setter Jordyn Wright to orchestrate the Patriots' proficient offense next season. Siqueira's first-year squad set the standard remarkably high in 2011, sweeping through the Mid-Florida Conference en route to a seventh-place national finish.

Muo Hits Eight 3-Pointers in Charleston Southern Win

Fellow Patriot basketball alumni Ricardo Ratliffe and Markeshia Grant get most of the headlines, but former CF sharpshooter and Charleston Southern junior Mathiang Muo is quietly putting together a remarkable season of his own.

Muo on Saturday scored 26 points, including 8 three-pointers and the game's final 2 free throws, as CSU defeated High Point 70-67 to improve to 9-6 in Big South Conference play.

The 6-5 swingman tied the school's record with his outside-shooting display; for the season, he's made 58 three-pointers at a 42 percent clip while averaging a solid 10.3 points per game.

CF Patriots 78, Santa Fe 61 (MBB)

Central Florida earned the most meaningful win of its Mid-Florida Conference men's basketball season on Saturday with a 78-61 victory over visiting Santa Fe.

With a homecoming crowd in attendance and the nemesis Saints on the other bench, the Patriots turned in a spirited performance that left them tied with Santa Fe atop the MFC standings and clinched the season series over their I-75 archrivals.

The Patriots went up by 10 at halftime, saw their lead all but erased early in the second half and restored a double-digit edge with 13 minutes to play. Eugene McCrory's vicious fast-break dunk and Brian Pace's 3-pointer stretched the lead to 63-46 midway through the half.

Hunter Williams scored 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, to lead the Patriots. Pace scored 13, Christian Martinez added 12 and Jeremiah Eason and Eugene McCrory posted 10 apiece to give CF five double-figure scorers.

With the win, CF (20-7, 7-2 MFC) takes over the inside track for the conference title and the automatic FCSAA State Tournament that comes with it. If the Patriots and Saints finished tied, both teams will advance to Marianna, with CF as the MFC's champion and top seed thanks to its 2-1 head-to-head season advantage. Should one team finish in first place outright, that team will advance directly and the other will be relegated to a single-elimination play-in tournament for the conference's other postseason spot.

The FCSAA No. 6 Patriots have handed the No. 2 Saints their only two conference losses.

Now in control of its own fate, CF enjoys a week off before a Saturday visit to Daytona State. Its final home game is Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. against St. Johns River. The season concludes Feb. 25 at FSC-Jacksonville.

CF Lady Patriots 78, Santa Fe 67, 2OT (WBB)

Archrivals Central Florida and Santa Fe staged an instant classic women's basketball game on Saturday night at CF. The epic struggle ended with the host Lady Patriots, celebrating homecoming and clinging to its playoff hopes, outlasting the Lady Saints 78-67 in double overtime. (Watch the game in its entirety at PSBLive.)

The Lady Patriots opened a 5-0 lead before falling behind and entering the halftime locker room trailing 26-23. The Lady Saints applied more pressure in the second half, pushing their advantage as high as 49-37.

Quinnecia Twine's transition 3-pointer with 5:30 to play completed CF's methodical comeback and tied the game at 49. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Nikarre Sesler and Taylor Broadnax each hitting clutch jumpers to tie the game in the final 2 minutes and TiChina Mitchell's driving bucket with 21 seconds to play forcing overtime at 57-57.

Briana Gibson put the Lady Patriots in front in overtime with a three-point play off a nifty jump hook in the lane, putting CF ahead 62-61 with 3 minutes to play. Gibson gave CF the lead again with 20 seconds remaining, dropping in a layup off Twine's fast-break dish.

Santa Fe drew a foul with 6.4 seconds to play, converted the first to tie the game at 64 and missed the second free throw. CF's urgent drive for a game-winner off the rebound failed to yield a shot attempt before the buzzer, and the marathon game proceeded to a second overtime.

Breaking the pattern of scraping back from deficits, CF scored the first 8 points of the second overtime session, holding the Lady Saints scoreless until the 2:17 mark. The Lady Patriots secured the win with a productive parade to the free-throw line. CF outscored Santa Fe in the second overtime 14-3.

Five Lady Patriots scored in double figures, led by Twine's game-high 19. Gibson and Mitchell scored 17 apiece, Broadnax had 13 and Sesler added 12.

The game was a matchup of two of the MFC's three FCSAA State Tournament representatives from a season ago. Both are in danger of missing the postseason this year, as the MFC will send just two squads to Marianna, and Daytona State and upstart Hillsborough have pulled ahead in the conference standings. Saturday's victory keeps CF mathematically in the running to extend its season.

The Lady Patriots (13-14, 4-5 MFC) have Wednesday off, then travel to front-running Daytona State on Saturday, Feb. 18. Their next and final home game is Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. against Hillsborough.

That Feb. 22 game is CF's Kay Yow Cancer Fund Game; fans are asked to wear pink and donate $1 each to benefit the worthy cause.

Polk 9, CF Patriots 6; Polk 5, CF 3 (Softball)

Central Florida saw a series of comebacks go for naught Saturday as visiting Polk completed a doubleheader softball sweep by scores of 9-6 and 5-3.

Indian River 6, CF Patriots 5; CF 2, Indian River 1 (Baseball)

Central Florida earned a split in a noon showdown with fellow top-10 team Indian River on Saturday, winning the day's late game 2-1 behind a furious sixth-inning rally. The Pioneers took the opener 6-5.

CF Patriots 5, South Florida 4 (Baseball)

Central Florida picked up an exciting walk-off victory Friday at Goodlett Field, edging South Florida 5-4 on Mario Urdaneta's ninth-inning RBI ground ball.

CF Gears Up for Four-Sport Saturday

Each February, the seasons of four of Central Florida's five sports overlap. CF's men's and women's basketball teams enter the stretch run of Mid-Florida Conference play, while Patriot baseball and softball get their spring seasons off the ground. This convergence occasionally yields events like the approaching Saturday, when all four active CF squads are in action at home on the same day.

Saturday represents 2012's only opportunity to see four Patriot teams in action, at home, on the same day, with the added benefit of CF's basketball homecoming festivities. Here's a look at the action:

Baseball: CF v. Indian River, Noon

The Patriot baseball teams continues to tune up for the fast-approaching conference season with a face-off against fellow ranked opponent Indian River. No. 5 CF tests its revamped pitching staff and sophomore-heavy batting order against the No. 6 Pioneers in a pair of 7-inning games.

Softball: CF v. Polk, 1 pm

A rejuvenated CF softball program looks to continue its winning ways as Polk visits for a doubleheader of 7-inning showdowns. The Patriots split a doubleheader at Polk last week, and will look to continue the momentum of their 9-6 start as they look ahead to conference play and a run at the state tournament.

Women's Basketball: CF v. Santa Fe, 5:30 pm

The traditional power struggle between the I-75 women's basketball rivals has been muted this year with the emergence of upstarts Hillsborough and FSC-Jacksonville. Hillsborough and Daytona State, at 6-2 each, occupy the inside lanes in the race for the MFC's two state tournament spots, with FSC-J on the outside at 4-4. That leaves 3-5 CF in full-on chase mode, and 1-7 Santa Fe reduced to a pure spoiler. With a win over the dangerous Lady Saints, the Lady Patriots can again fight off the mathematics that threaten head coach Cheryl Rice's nine-year postseason streak.

Men's Basketball: CF vs. Santa Fe, 7:30 pm

A suitable main event to Saturday's impressive card. The Saints have recovered from their conference-opening loss at CF with a 7-game win streak, including a Gainesville victory over the Patriots, and ascension to No. 2 in the state rankings. The sixth-ranked Patriots, meanwhile, are just a game behind at 6-2 and harbor the memory of their January win over the Saints.

The stakes could scarcely be higher: an outright winner of the MFC goes directly to the state tournament, relegating the also-rans to a single-elimination for the conference's other spot. Should CF and Santa Fe end the season tied, both will advance to Marianna, but the conference crown will go to the winner of the three-game head-to-head season series, which will be decided by Saturday's game.

In short, a win puts the Patriots in first place with a tiebreaker in their pocket; a loss all but dooms them to at least one play-in game. Again, a deserving main event for an epic day of CF athletics.

CF Patriots 71, FSC-Jacksonville 57 (MBB)

Central Florida made quick work of visiting FSC-Jacksonville on Wednesday, picking up a valuable 71-57 Mid-Florida Conference win and setting up a homecoming showdown with archrival Santa Fe.

CF cruised to an 8-2 lead in the opening 2 minutes and led at halftime. A chippy second half saw the Stars scratch their way to within 7 in the final minutes before a poised CF team closed out.

Point guard Hunter Williams scored a game-high 24 points, making 3 of 5 attempts from 3-point range and 7 of 8 free throws. Eugene McCrory scored 18 points and Jeremiah Eason added 10 to join Williams in double figures.

The Patriots (19-7, 6-2 MFC) can make up ground on conference-leading Santa Fe on Saturday when the Saints visit for CF's homecoming festivities. The critical MFC face-off tips at 7:30 p.m.

CF Lady Patriots 62, FSC-Jacksonville 60 (WBB)

Central Florida pulled off a dramatic comeback victory Wednesday, boosting its women's basketball postseason hopes with a 62-60 win over visiting Mid-Florida Conference rival FSC-Jacksonville. (Watch the broadcast of the game via PSBLive.)

The visitors built their lead as high as seven in the second half. But Quinnecia Twine's 3-pointer with 6:10 to play cut the Lady Stars' lead to two at 54-52, and her pull-up transition jumper 3 minutes later cut it to 58-57. Backcourt mate Taylor Broadnax finally put the home team on top with a baseline jumper with 2:13 to play.

After a Lady Stars bucket reclaimed the lead for the visitors, sophomore forward Briana Gibson tied the score at 60 with a free throw and Nikarre Sesler grabbed the crucial offensive rebound off of Gibson's errant second attempt. TiChina Mitchell beat the shot-clock buzzer on the possession with an urgent drive to the basket and the game-winning hoop with 20 seconds to play.

Late-game hero Mitchell posted a game-high 19 points alongside 7 rebounds, while Twine added 15 and Gibson 11 points and 8 rebounds.

The Lady Patriots (12-14, 3-5 MFC) revived their flagging postseason aspirations with the victory. They host last-place Santa Fe on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as part of CF's homecoming festivities.

CF Patriots 4, St. Petersburg 1; St. Pete 10, CF 1 (Softball)

Central Florida continued its early-season softball success Wednesday with a 4-1 defeat of visiting St. Petersburg. The Titans claimed the second half of the doubleheader 10-1.

CF Patriots 4, SCF-Manatee 1; SCF 3, CF 2 (Softball)

Central Florida split a softball doubleheader at SCF-Manatee on Tuesday, winning the opener 4-1 with a dramatic eighth-inning rally before dropping the second game  3-2.

Grant Named USBWA National Player of the Week

Markeshia Grant's star-making performance against Tennessee last week continues to yield well-deserved rewards.

The former Lady Patriots All-American and South Carolina senior on Tuesday was named National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. The prestigious national honor arrived a day after Grant collected the SEC Player of the Week award.

Grant joins former Patriot All-American Ricardo Ratliffe as CF alumni to be recognized as NCAA national player of the week this season. The Mizzou senior earned that honor on Jan. 24.

CF Baseball Debuts at No. 5 in State Poll

The first in-season FCSAA baseball coaches' poll has arrived, and 6-3 Central Florida checks in at No. 5 after being overlooked in the preseason rankings.

The Patriot softball team, despite a 7-4 start to the season, fell just short of inclusion in the top 10. The squad earned 22 votes, five shy of No. 10 Santa Fe.

SCF-Manatee 4, CF Patriots 2 (Baseball)

Visiting SCF-Manatee handed Central Florida a 4-2 loss Monday at Goodlett Field.

CF Alum Grant Named SEC Player of the Week

Former Lady Patriots All-American and South Carolina senior Markeshia Grant has been named SEC Player of the Week. From the SC press release:

The Gamecocks' top scorer poured in a career-high 27 points in South Carolina's first win over Tennessee in Knoxville Thursday night. Grant's seven 3-pointers in the outing were two shy of the school record.

"I'm so happy for Markeshia, who has been shooting the ball extremely well," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. "She ignited our offense and helped put us in a great position to beat Tennessee."

Grant hit the first of her career-best seven 3s in the game's first minute and piled up 15 of the team's 29 first-half points. She capped her scoring with a 3-pointer in transition that brought the Gamecocks within two points with 3:59 to play. Grant finished the game shooting 7-of-12 from behind the arc and 10-of-21 overall.

Over the last four games, Grant has shot 44.4 percent from 3-point range to move into 11th in the SEC in 3-point percentage in league games and second in 3-pointers made per conference contest (2.1). She has made 4.0 3-pointers per game during that stretch as well to average 18.0 points per game.

CF Softball Signs Palm Beach Star Bellach

Even in the midst of an unprecedented start to its current season, the Central Florida softball program is adding talent for the future.

CF head coach Kerri Ryskamp this week signed Royal Palm Beach High School standout Jenna Bellach. The hard-hitting righthanded slugger splits time at the crucial positions of catcher and third base, and is also an all-county prep weightlifter.

Indian River 3, CF Patriots 1; IR 7, CF 3 (Softball)

The state's top-ranked team spoiled Central Florida's spring softball home opener Saturday, claiming both halves of an afternoon doubleheader by scores of 3-1 and 7-3. 

Kayla Carroll's bases-loaded single in the third drove in CF's only run of the opener, and the hard-hitting freshman brought home 2 more runs in the nightcap with a 2-out double in the fifth. Hawley Ill and Haley Holmes each added a hit and a run scored in the late game.

The Pioneers successfully avenged their opening-weekend loss to CF, a 4-2 Patriot victory Jan. 28 at Clearwater.

The Patriots (7-4) visit SCF-Manatee on Tuesday and host St. Petersburg on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

CF Patriots 90, St. Johns River 78 (MBB)

Central Florida strengthened its Mid-Florida Conference men's basketball position Saturday with a convincing 90-78 win at St. Johns River.

Four Patriots scored in double figures in a diverse CF offensive attack, led by Eugene McCrory and Hunter Williams with 19 points apiece. Luis Jacobo added 15 and Christian Martinez chipped in 13.

The CF bench produced two standout performers in support, as freshman guard Jernell Hughes scored 9 and returning sophomore Brian Pace had 8 points and 8 rebounds.

The Patriots made half of their 28 attempts from 3-point range, led by Williams' 5-for-9 effort.

CF (18-7, 5-2 MFC) continue to pursue Santa Fe for first place in the conference standings. The first-place team at the end of the 12-game schedule advances directly to the FCSAA State Tournament; the others will fight it out in a single-elimination tournament for the MFC's other postseason berth. The Patriots host FSC-Jacksonville on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Gulf Coast 6, CF Patriots 1 (Baseball)

Central Florida finished its three-game visit to Gulf Coast on Saturday with a 6-1 loss to the host Commodores.

CF manufactured its only run in the second inning as Mario Urdaneta singled, advanced on a fielding error and a wild pitch and scored from third on a double-play ball.

The loss followed a dramatic two-victory Friday for CF, highlighted by Yoenny Gonzalez's walk-off home run against Andrew College. The Patriots (6-2) host SCF-Manatee on Monday at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

Hillsborough 53, CF Lady Patriots 49 (WBB)

Central Florida took a Mid-Florida Conference women's basketball loss on Saturday, falling 53-49 at Hillsborough.

TiChina Mitchell scored 12 and Taylor Broadnax and Briana Gibson scored 11 apiece for CF.

With five games to play, the Lady Patriots (11-14, 2-5 MFC) remain in play for one of the conference's two allotted FCSAA State Tournament berths. Daytona State and Hillsborough retain the inside track in the MFC standings. CF hosts FSC-Jacksonville on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

CF Patriots 8, Chattahoochee 2; CF 2, Andrew 1 (Baseball)

Central Florida finished off a perfect two-game day in Panama City on Friday with a dramatic walk-off home run by Yoenny Gonzalez.

Preview: CF Spring Softball

The dawn of each spring brings possibility and the promise of new beginnings. Nowhere is that more true than on the College of Central Florida softball diamond.

After a winning season and a state tournament appearance in 2009, the program has struggled to find steady footing as a Mid-Florida Conference contender. This year's roster has the potential to recapture that momentum.

The 2012 edition of the Patriots features one of head coach Kerri Ryskamp's finest recruiting classes, an influx of Florida-bred talent sprinkled with some valuable returning sophomore experience. A number of Patriots will contribute a variety of positions, a valuable facet for a team hoping to emerge from the marathon season

And Ryskamp, a record-sitting hitter in her time as a CF slugger, has constructed a top-notch coaching staff featuring two of the biggest coaching names on the Marion County softball scene. Kevin Fagan, a state champion at Dunnellon High School, joins the program as a volunteer assistant alongside second-year staff assistant Mike Lingle, a proven winner at Forest high School.

Here's a guide to what could be a breakout season for a Patriot squad determined to return to the postseason:

PITCHING: Like their baseball counterparts, CF will field a largely revamped pitching staff for 2012. Tori Stamper, a freshman out of nearby Williston High School, enters the spring as the team's new ace. Her all-state status and big-game experience at the prep level should make for a smooth transition to the college level.

Late signee Hawley Ill, a transfer from Chipola, gives CF a second top-flight option on the mound, a necessity for a schedule composed almost entirely of doubleheaders.

Ocala native Stefanie Mitchell, meanwhile, gets her first shot at college batters after a redshirt season in 2011, and sophomore Taylor Skipper returns after a promising freshman season. Both will see regular innings of relief and occasional starts as key parts of CF's deep and versatile staff.

HITTING: Two Patriots hit better than .300 last season, and each returns in 2012 for an encore performance.

Outfielder Arika Fox and catcher Jessica Lopez gave CF two consistent threats to spark a rally in 2011, and they'll be counted on for more of the same as part of a new Patriot lineup. Top recruit Chandler Bridges will also occupy  a top spot in the order, giving the heart of CF's order plenty of opportunities for RBI.

Ill, particularly on days she's not pitching, will join hard hitters Sarah Hayes, Morgan Stinnett, Kayla Carroll and Shelby Mathews in the midst of that run-producing lineup. Returning sophomore slugger Miranda Anderson should join that core group later in the season as she returns from injury.

DEFENSE: Versatility is huge in fast-pitch softball, and this CF roster is stocked with players who can capably fill a variety of defensive roles. Utility players Jillian Morrow and Caylee Underwood and outfielders Jamie Summers, Haley Holmes and Megan McDermott give Ryskamp options to respond to any situation that might arise over the long spring season. The Patriots even feature a valuable second catcher in Marion County product Gabby Valentin.

A conventional CF starting defense will see Lopez at the plate, Mitchell or Ill at first and Stinnett, Carroll and Mathews around the infield at second, short and third, respectively. Leftfielder Fox and centerfielder Bridges will anchor the outfield while a rotating platoon mans rightfield.

CF Alum Grant Leads South Carolina Over No. 8 Tennessee

Former Lady Patriots All-American Markeshia Grant gave a career-making performance Thursday night, scoring a game-high 27 points to lead South Carolina to a comeback 64-60 victory over No. 8 Tennessee.

Grant made 10 of 21 field-goal attempts, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range, to lead the Gamecocks to their first win over the vaunted Lady Volunteers since 1980.

Polk 8, CF Patriots 2; CF 3, Polk 2 (Softball)

Central Florida continued its impressive early-season softball play with a doubleheader split at Polk on Thursday. The Patriots took a 3-2 decision in the nightcap after dropping the opener 8-2.

Pitcher Hawley Ill improved to 4-0 on the season with a complete-game performance in the late game, yielding 6 hits and an earned run. She also added a hit and an RBI in each game, while Chandler Bridges collected 2 hits and 3 runs scored on the day.

With a lengthy season-opening road trip behind them, the Patriots can now finally look forward to their home opener, set for Saturday at 1 p.m. They'll put their historic 7-2 start up against preseason FCSAA No. 1 Indian River, a team they've already defeated once this season.

CF Patriots 70, Daytona State 55 (MBB)

Central Florida returned to the men's basketball win column Wednesday night, snapping a 2-game losing streak with a 70-55 win over Mid-Florida Conference rival Daytona State.

CF took a 32-29 lead into the second half and steadily added to it, finally pushing it to double figures on Eugene McCrory's up-and-under move with 13:15 to play. The Falcons, who claimed the conference crown two seasons ago and joined CF in the postseason a year ago, never threatened again.

Luis Jacobo, a sophomore transfer from Division I Stetson, scored a game-high 24 points while shooting 7-for-12 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free-throw line. Jeremiah Eason added 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Eugene McCrory added 11 points and 5 boards.

CF (17-7, 4-2 MFC) had drifted into a brief slump after a 3-0 start to its conference title defense, falling behind Santa Fe for first place in the MFC standings. The team that finishes in first will advance directly to the FCSAA State Tournament, while the others will be placed into a dangerous single-elimination tournament to determine the MFC's other state representative.

The Patriots visit St. Johns River on Saturday, then return home to host FSC-Jacksonville on Feb. 8 at 8 p.m.

Daytona State 61, CF Lady Patriots 52 (WBB)

Central Florida narrowly missed out on an urgently-needed Mid-Florida Conference women's basketball victory Wednesday, falling to visiting Daytona State 61-52.

CF Patriots 3, St. Petersburg 0 (Baseball)

Central Florida won its fourth straight baseball game Wednesday, shutting out host St. Petersburg 3-0.