January 31, 2014
SF BASEBALL
Gainesville, FL – The Santa Fe Saints and Head Coach Johnny Wiggs open their season on Saturday, February 1 on the road against South Georgia College in a double header scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM. SF’s first home game will take place the next day on Sunday, February 2 at 1:00 PM against Indian River State College. Santa Fe College President Dr. Jackson Sasser will be in attendance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Saints will look to bounce back from an injury riddled 2013 when they take the field on Saturday. They return eight players, including 2013 Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year Casey Scoggins. Scoggins led the conference in batting average (.390), runs scored (51), and stolen bases (16). He also had five doubles, a .490 on base percentage and drove in 21 runs from the leadoff spot.
Other returners include RHP Derek Vail, who is expected to begin the season as the Saints closer; LHP Kevin Martin, a MFC First Team selection who went 6-0 with a 1.99 ERA in 2013; RHP Jose Batatino; INF Colby Lusignan; OF Jonathan Camp; OF Andrew Fears; and C Evan Leyva.
Joining the returners are nine freshman and five NCAA Division I transfers: C Roger Gonzalez (University of Miami), RHP Jimmy Moore (Indiana University), SS George Ragsdale (University of Virginia), Brady Roberson (University of Florida), Payson Smith (University of Georgia).
Coach Wiggs says the team is ready to go and is looking forward to getting started on Saturday and making their home debut Sunday.
“We are all excited to get started,” said Wiggs. “We have an experienced team, especially our position players, and hope to play good solid, fundamental baseball on a daily basis. I think we should be offensively sound with some power in the middle of the lineup. Our beginning rotation of Martin, [Brady] Price, and [Connor] Rooney should give us a chance to get deep into games and turn the ball over to [Jeremy] Graf and Vail who can really be good late in games.”
For complete schedules and more information on Saints Baseball, please visit www.sfcollege.edu/athletics. To see game photos and other updates, follow Santa Fe College Athletics on Facebook.
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