Ellerts & Holiday Lead 13 Bucs On Suncoast All-Conference Squads
The Suncoast Conference Champion Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were scattered all over the league’s All-Conference teams released on Monday as a conference high 13 Bucs earned honors led by Magnus Ellerts who was named the Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year and Brian Holiday who was tabbed the conference’s Fireman of the Year.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- The Suncoast Conference Champion Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were scattered all over the league's All-Conference teams released on Monday as a conference high 13 Bucs earned honors led by Magnus Ellerts who was named the Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year and Brian Holiday who was tabbed the conference's Fireman of the Year.
Magnus Ellerts dominated in nine Suncoast Conference starts this season to earn the conference's Pitcher of the Year honors. He was a perfect 7-0 in conference play, racking up 28 more strikeouts than any other starter in the league with 73 while notching a 2.53 ERA in 46 1/3 innings pitched.
Freshman Brian Holiday exemplified what the Suncoast Conference Fireman of the Year award was created for, bringing home the honors during his rookie campaign with the Bucs. Holiday was absolutely electric out of the Bucs bullpen in conference action, going 4-0 with 4 saves in 10 appearances, posting a 1.50 ERA with 49 strikeouts in just 30 innings pitched.
Jose Izarra was named a 1st Team All-Conference selection on the infield for FSW after joining the Bucs at the break from Miami. Izarra was a thorn in opposing Suncoast Conference team's side this season, hitting .398 with 16 doubles, three triples, and four home runs, while driving in 33 runs.
Slugging first baseman Hunter Fitz-Gerald joined Izarra as a 1st Team All-Conference pick on the infield. A force in the middle of the Bucs lineup, Fitz-Gerald hit .375 with 13 extra base hits, including six homers during Suncoast Conference play, driving in 29 runs in 28 games played.
Satchell Norman earned the 1st Team All-Conference nod behind the dish and rightfully so after leading the Bucs run to a Suncoast Conference title, hitting .380 with 11 doubles and six home runs in conference play, accounting for 60 runs with 28 RBIs and 32 runs scored in 28 contests.
Kendry Noriega was also a 1st Team All-Conference pick after playing a Gold Glove center field for the Bucs while hitting .265 with eight doubles, five home runs, and 22 RBIs during Suncoast Conference action.
The third Buc pitcher named to the 1st Team was southpaw Grant Besser. Besser worked in nine Suncoast Conference games out of the FSW bullpen, notching three saves and posting a 2.79 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings pitched.
Matching his accolades from a season ago, Ronny Medina was tabbed 2nd Team All-Conference for the second straight year. Medina hit .362 in Suncoast Conference play for the Bucs, driving in 15 and going a perfect 13 for 13 in stolen base attempts.
A pair of FSW arms made the 2nd Team list as Chase Chatman earned the honors as a starter and Ben Petschke as a relief pitcher. Chatman made six starts in Suncoast Conference play, going a perfect 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings pitched. Petschke was solid out of the Bucs bullpen in Suncoast Conference action, posting a 1.93 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched across nine outings.
Bucs super utility man Paxton Tomaini was named a 2nd Team All-Conference pick. Tomaini played all over the diamond in 26 games for the Bucs during Suncoast Conference play, hitting .379 with six doubles, three homers, and 23 RBIs while tying for the team lead with 33 runs scored.
In the outfield Yadiel Santana was a 2nd Team All-Conference choice. Santana hit .364 in Suncoast Conference play, ripping nine doubles, scoring 16 runs, and driving in 12 for the Bucs.
Earning the 2nd Team All-Conference spot at designated hitter was Paul Winland who came up big for the Bucs down the stretch in Suncoast Conference play, clubbing three home runs and driving in 14 in just 41 at bats.
Orchestrating the bunch was Head Coach Ben Bizier who was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year for the third straight season. Bizier led the Bucs to a runaway Suncoast Conference Championship with a 24-4 league record, the best record for any Suncoast Conference team in over 15 seasons.
Along with the All-Conference honors dished out to the 13 Bucs, four players picked up Suncoast Conference Gold Gloves at their positions as Noriega was tabbed the league's top center fielder, Santana the best in left field, Medina at third base, and Axel Melendez behind the plate.
The Bucs wrapped up the regular season at 40-14 and won the Suncoast Conference Championship by five full games.
FSW will begin their postseason run on Friday and Saturday when they host the Fort Myers Regional of the FCSAA State Tournament. The Bucs will square off in a best two out of three against Indian River at City of Palms Park with the winner moving on to the final four in Lakeland next weekend.