June 3, 2023
Bucs Trio Named NFCA First Team All-Americans
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released their 2023 Division I All-American Teams on Friday with three freshly crowned National Champion Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers included on their First Team.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The National Fastpitch Coaches Association released their 2023 Division I All-American Teams on Friday with three freshly crowned National Champion Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers included on their First Team.
Leading the way for the Bucs was three time All-American Feline Poot who had yet another monster season for the Purple and Aqua in 2023. Poot hit .403 and led FSW with an .889 slugging percentage while smacking 10 doubles and a program single season record 18 home runs, while driving in 62. Poot came up big when the Bucs needed her most, homering and driving in three in their National Semifinal win over #1 Odessa before crushing three home runs and driving in six in FSW's National Championship victory over Northwest Florida to earn Tournament MVP honors. Poot earns the First Team nod this season after being named a Second Team NFCA All-American in 2021 and 2022.
Joining Poot on the First Team was Bucs ace Belle Sardja. Sardja was outstanding in the circle for FSW this season, going 25-2 in 29 starts while also notching five saves out of the bullpen. Her 0.88 ERA set a new FSW single season record and was third best of all NJCAA Division I pitchers in 2023. Maybe her most impressive stat though was logging 175 innings on the season and allowing just 153 baserunners, good for a WHIP of just 0.87. She adds All-American honors to a growing trophy case that already included Southern Conference and FCSAA State Pitcher of the Year honors as well as NJCAA Division I World Series Most Outstanding Pitcher in 2023.
The third and final Buc named a First Team All-American was speedster Shenita Tucker. Tucker had her second straight All-American campaign for FSW in 2023, adding NFCA honors to her NJCAA accolades as a freshman a year ago. She was the engine that made the Bucs go at the top of the lineup, hitting .409 and scoring 59 runs for one of the Nation's top offenses. A menace on the bases, Tucker stole 53 bags this season which ranked second in the state of Florida and the top 10 Nationally. Also an elite defender, Tucker covered gap to gap for FSW in center field, posting a .953 fielding percentage this season.
The Bucs three First Team selections was second to only Odessa who had four following their 3rd place finish at the World Series.