FSCJ Baseball concludes season with third place finish in NJCAA Div II World Series

ENID, Okla. - Florida State College at Jacksonville's incredible 2022 season came to an end on Wednesday at the NJCAA Div II World Series. FSCJ went 3-2 at the national tournament en route to a third place finish in the country, along the way beating Phoenix College (AZ) twice and Lansing Community College (MI) and losing to the eventual national champion Pearl River Community College (MS) twice. The final record for the 2022 campaign was 33-21, in the most successful season since 2000, claiming the Region 8 Champnship, the South Atlantic District Championship, and advancing to the program's fourth World Series.

Game One - FSCJ 4, Phoenix 0

In the opening game of the World Series on Saturday, the Blue Wave rode the hot hand of ace lefty Daniel Gaviria (8-2) as he threw a complete game shutout against Phoenix, going all nine innings, allowing no runs on five hits, no walks, and three strikeouts on just 93 pitches. On the early end of the pitching dual, FSCJ struck first on a Cam Wademan RBI single in the third inning, plating Hunter Bradshaw who led off the inning with a single. Bradshaw drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning to make it 2-0 FSCJ. Bradshaw scored the Wave's third run of the game in the seventh inning on a Xavier Cintron RBI single. The final run of the contest came in the eighth inning via a Jack Gidcumb RBI single. Evan Wickeri led FSCJ at the plate with two hits. 

Game Two - Pearl River 10, FSCJ 2

In Sunday's winner's bracket matchup, Pearl River jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. PRCC scored three runs in the bottom of the first courtesy of two home runs. FSCJ responded with a run in the top of the second inning on an RBI groundout by Mason McLeod to cut the lead to 3-1. That score held until the fourth inning when Pearl River tacked on four more runs. After FSCJ scored one in the sixth on a Garrett Chun sacrifice fly, the Wildcats used a three run home run to put the game away. FSCJ starter Brian Veniard (6-3) took the loss, throwing 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks. Tyler Green came on in relief to throw the final 2.2 innings, allowing three runs. Evan Wickeri continued his hot start to the tournament, recording another multi-hit game.

Game Three - FSCJ 5, Phoenix 3

FSCJ took on Phoenix College for the second time in three days in Monday's 1-1 elimination game. FSCJ struck early and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an Evan Wickeri RBI single that scored leadoff batter Cam Wademan. Phoenix responded in the bottom half of the opening frame with their only three runs of the contest. The Blue Wave would take the lead for good in the third inning, scoring three runs on a Wickeri RBI walk, Garrett Chun sacrifice fly, and Blake Wood RBI double. The final run for the blue and gold came in the ninth inning on a Xavier Cintron RBI groundout. True Freshman righty Dylan Dudones (5-2) shook off some early nerves that resulted in the three runs for PC in the first inning to turn in a gritty performance on the mound, going 5.2 innings, only allowing the three early runs on seven hits, five walks, and two strikeouts. Manny Reyes came in relief to throw 1.2 scoreless innings before closer Patrick Groark recorded his 11th save by shutting down the final 1.2 innings. 

Game Four - FSCJ 7, Lansing 0

FSCJ took the field for the fourth time in four days on Tuesday on the back of True Freshman lefty Colby Lipovsky (3-7), who turned in his best outing of the season at 7.1 shutout innings, allowing only six hits and four walks, striking out six. Manny Reyes closed out the rest of the shutout with his second performance of 1.2 scoreless innings in as many days. The Blue Wave struck early to take a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings thanks to five RBI singles by Barry Eiseman, Jack Gidcumb, Cam Wademan, Evan Wickeri, and Garrett Chun. The final two runs scored on a balk in the fourth and a Blake Wood RBI single in the sixth. In total, FSCJ pounded out 13 hits, with Wickeri and Chun having three apiece and Hunter Bradshaw contributing a pair. 

Game Five - Pearl River 13, FSCJ 11

As the calender turned to June, FSCJ's fifth game in five days came in the form of a semifinal matchup rematch with Pearl River. The back and forth affair saw five lead changes and a total of nine pitchers. PRCC struck first in the bottom of the first with one run before FSCJ answered with a run of their own in the second inning on Jack Gidcumb's first career home run. Xavier Cintron joined the longball party in the third inning with his first career homer as well, a two-run shot to give FSCJ a 3-1 lead. The Blue Wave tacked on two more to the lead in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch and a Barry Eiseman bases-loaded walk. PRCC tied the game in the bottom of the fifth and took the lead in the sixth 6-5. FSCJ came back once again in the seventh to take the lead 8-6 on a two-RBI Eiseman double and a Garrett Chun RBI single. Pearl River responded with a seven-spot in the seventh to reclaim the lead 13-8. Down but not out, FSCJ came roaring back once again, using a Jayme Villafane RBI double, wild pitch, and Eiseman RBI single to cut the deficit to 13-11. After a scoreless bottom half of the eighth, the Blue Wave clawed to the very end, getting Chun and Hunter Bradshaw in scoring position to have a chance to tie the game, but were unable to bring them in. Blue Wave ace Daniel Gaviria came back on short rest to start against the number one seed, going 4.2 innings and allowing five runs. Manny Reyes came on for the third day in a row to limit damage in the fifth. Patrick Groark (3-3) took the loss for the Wave, allowing seven runs in 1.1 innings. Evan Wickeri threw the final 1.1 innings with zero runs allowed. 

Recap

This team left it's mark in it's first trip Enid, earning the team sportsmanship award and becoming the "fan favorite", as donned by the local media. 17 sophomores off of this year's team will be moving on to four-year schools to continue their careers. A core group of freshmen, including five starters, will return next year looking to repeat a World Series appearance and more.