May 13, 2025
JUNCTION BOUND! FSW Wins First FCSAA Championship, Punches Ticket to Juco World Series
For the first time in program history, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers area headed to the Juco World Series! FSW punched their ticket to Grand Junction on Tuesday, holding on to defeat Central Florida 6-5 in the 2025 FCSAA Championship Game at Charlotte Sports Park. Michael McAloose had two big hits and three RBIs including a go ahead, two run home run in the 6th inning that proved to be the difference while three Bucs relievers combined for 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball to lock the win down and start the celebration.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- For the first time in program history, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers area headed to the Juco World Series! FSW punched their ticket to Grand Junction on Tuesday, holding on to defeat Central Florida 6-5 in the 2025 FCSAA Championship Game at Charlotte Sports Park. Michael McAloose had two big hits and three RBIs including a go ahead, two run home run in the 6th inning that proved to be the difference while three Bucs relievers combined for 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball to lock the win down and start the celebration.
After waiting around for 36 hours after a rain out on Monday, things got off on the wrong foot for the Bucs in the top of the 1st as Central Florida got a solo home run from the second batter of the game to jump in front quickly 1-0.
The Bucs answered in the 2nd as Carlos Sanchez singled to lead off the frame and stole second before scoring on a two out RBI single from Michael McAloose to tie the game at 1-1.
The game didn't stay tied long as the Bucs hit back to back Patriot batters to start the 3rd and an errant pick off attempt followed by another error on the play allowed a run to score and later in the inning another unearned run crossed the plate to put Central Florida back in front 3-1.
Sanchez was in the middle of things for the Bucs again in the 4th , singling and stealing a base before coming home on a wild pitch to make it a 3-2 game. A pair of walks by the Patriots set the table again for the Bucs and with two outs Devin Parks came through with a double to left center to score them both and put FSW in front 4-3.
Five pitches into the 5th the lead was gone for the Bucs as Central Florida banged three consecutive hits to start the inning including a run scoring triple followed by an RBI double to give the Patriots the lead back at 5-4.
An error by the Patriots put the tying run on with one out in the 6th for FSW and McAloose made the mistake hurt, crushing a 3-2 pitch deep and out to left after a long at bat to put the Bucs back ahead 6-5.
For the first time all game, the Bucs put up a zero after scoring as Logan O'Leary worked a 1-2-3 top of the 7th to send the game to stretch time with FSW ahead 6-5.
Central Florida looked primed to even things up again in the 8th as they put two on with one out after a pair of singles, but Nicholas Lorenz came in out of the FSW bullpen to extinguish the fire and keep it a one run game in favor of the Bucs after 7 1/2.
The Bucs had a chance to add some insurance in the bottom of the 8th as they put two in scoring position with just one out, but a strikeout and a pop out ended the threat and kept it a 6-5 game as the game went to the 9th.
Less than 48 hours prior, the Bucs went into the 9th inning with a one run lead against the Patriots with a chance to clinch their first FCSAA Championship, but were unable to do so, allowing five runs and eventually falling 18-14.
Tuesday was a different story. Lorenz stayed in the game and was intent on finishing it. The Bucs righthander got a groundout and then a fly out to the outfield to put the Bucs within one out of a win, but between them and the trophy was the state's top hitter, Dawson Harman. Lorenz wasn't fazed, pumping in strike one and then strike two before spinning a slider in the dirt and getting a swing and a miss to close things out and give the Bucs the 6-5 win.
From there it was celebration time for the Bucs, who dogpiled on the mound at Charlotte Sports Complex as FCSAA Champions for the first time in program history.
It was the bottom of the order that got the job done for the Bucs as McAloose finished 2-3 with a homer and three RBIs while Parks was 2-4 with a pair of runs driven in. Sanchez had two hits, stole two bases, and scored twice in the middle of the FSW order. Beau Brailey earned the win in relief for the Bucs, improving to 3-0 on the year while O'Leary notched a hold with 1 1/3 scoreless frames and Lorenz earned his fourth save of the year with 1 2/3 clean innings.
After the celebration subsided a handful of Bucs were named to the All-Tournament Team including Luke Orfi, Nik Pereira, and Devin Parks while Nicholas Lorenz earned Most Outstanding Pitcher honors and Carlos Sanchez was named the Tournament MVP.
The Bucs clinch the FCSAA Title with a 44-15 record while Central Florida sees their season come to an end at 39-18.
The win means a ticket to the mountains for the Bucs who qualify for the Juco World Series for the first time in program history. The Bucs will head to Grand Junction next week with action beginning on the field on Saturday, May 24th . The Bucs will learn their draw for the event on Tuesday, May 20th at 5:00 PM during the NJCAA Selection Show.
