February 5, 2023
Williams' Monster Game Leads Bucs in Blowout of #8 Wabash
In the ever developing technological statistics analysis called Sabermetrics in Baseball, there is a stat called 'WAR', standing for Wins Above Replacement. Sunday, Florida SouthWestern sophomore Derek Williams added a nice big +1 in that category next to his name as the slugging first baseman finished 3-3 with a double, two home runs, and nine RBIs in just three innings of work to lead the Buccaneers to a 16-1 blowout win of perennial NJCAA power and #8 National ranked Wabash Valley to wrap up the Bucs stay at the Perfect Game Juco Classic in Panama City Beach.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.- In the ever developing technological statistics analysis called Sabermetrics in Baseball, there is a stat called 'WAR', standing for Wins Above Replacement. Sunday, Florida SouthWestern sophomore Derek Williams added a nice big +1 in that category next to his name as the slugging first baseman finished 3-3 with a double, two home runs, and nine RBIs in just three innings of work to lead the Buccaneers to a 16-1 blowout win of perennial NJCAA power and #8 National ranked Wabash Valley to wrap up the Bucs stay at the Perfect Game Juco Classic in Panama City Beach.
Less than 24 hours after being no hit, it didn't take long for the Bucs to get going on Sunday as with two outs in the top of the 1st, Derek Williams unloaded on the first pitch that he saw for a two run home run to left to put FSW in front of #8 Wabash 2-0.
Wabash threatened to answer in the bottom of the 2nd as they loaded the bases with two outs, but FSW starter Issac Upole induced a ground ball to get out of the jam and keep the Bucs in front 2-0.
With momentum on their side, the Bucs first three hitters of the 3rd reached base safely in front of Williams who worked his way ahead in the count 2-0 before destroying a pitch deep and out to left for a grand slam to extend the Bucs lead to 6-0. They weren't done though as the next two FSW hitters reached via free passes before Nate Early drove home a run with a single to right to make it 7-0. Later in the inning Joel Gardner walked with the bases loaded to force home a run and reload the bases in front of Williams, who stayed in the yard, but cleared the bases with a double to the wall in center to blow it open to a 12-0 game.
The Warriors broke up the shutout with a solo home run in the 3rd, but the Bucs got the run back in the top of the 4th with an RBI double from AJ Shaver to make it 13-1 FSW.
The Bucs added three more for good measure in the 5th on an RBI groundout from Albert Serrano and a two run double from Early to make it 16-1.
Colin Brodeur finished things off in the 5th for the Bucs as the run rule kicked in with FSW taking it 16-1.
Williams was the story, finishing 3-3 with a double, two home runs, and nine RBIs in the win while Early added two hits and three RBIs for FSW. As a team the Bucs finished with 12 hits, eight of those going for extra bases.
Upole was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, earning the win on the mound, going three innings and allowing just one run before handing the ball to Brodeur who spun a pair of hitless innings to close things out.
The Bucs bring home 7th place in the tournament with the win while improving to 4-4 on the year while Wabash drops their third straight after winning their opener to fall to 1-3.
FSW will get a well deserved rest before returning to the field on Friday in Palatka where they will take on East Georgia.