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Santa Fe College’s baseball and softball teams will suit up for their season openers this weekend. Baseball will take on Hillsborough Community College in Tampa Friday at 2 pm, while softball opens with a triple header at the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater on Saturday.
It will be a new look for the Santa Fe baseball team as only five players return from last season. The team consists of 16 freshmen and 10 sophomores, including six transfers from four-year schools.
“That help[s] sometimes ease that new team look,” says head coach Johnny Wiggs of his transfers, “so we’re really excited about getting started and seeing where this team goes.”
The Saints defense should certainly be a high point with four returning infielders, including Jarred Shouppe who has been nagged by injuries the past two seasons. In the few moments he’s had to shine, Shouppe has shown nothing but ability and is expected to be an SEC/ACC caliber player at seasons end.
Wiggs is also excited about his depth at pitcher. Redshirt sophomore Austin Goss, sophomore Tom Watson, and freshman Trent Johnson are just a few who could contribute on the mound.
“We’ve got six guys that can start for us in those three or four starting [pitching] spots,” says Wiggs. “Finding that guy who can really close games for us will probably be one of our biggest issues on the mound early on.”
The baseball team will open up at home on Saturday in a double header against South Georgia State College starting at noon.
The Saints Softball team also has a lot to look forward to this season. They return four players from last year’s Mid-Florida Conference championship team, including 2014 Conference Pitcher of the Year Maddy Peres.
A lot of new faces, 15 in all, will join Santa Fe in its quest to capture their 10th Mid Florida Conference title in 11 years. Head coach Chris Ahern talks very highly of her freshmen.
“We have a handful of kids who are very powerful,” says Ahern of her freshmen. “Caitlan Fuller, who’s the younger sister of Taylore Fuller at the University of Florida, she has quite a bit of pop in her bat. We have an outfielder from central Florida area named Kiesha Gordan who runs really fast but hits for power. And we have a pair of twins, they’re both fast, one of whom is a short gamer and the other is a power hitter.”
With such a young, talented roster, Ahern says her team has a lot of potential.
“We have some good power, we have some speed, we have some kids who hit for average, [and] good defensive possibilities,” says Ahern. “Putting it together and getting the chemistry is always key to making a good team.”
The Saints games on Saturday will begin at 11 am, 3:20 pm, and 5:40 pm.
For sound from Wiggs and Ahern, click below.
