Softball team opens championship Wednesday against Northwest Florida

The Eastern Florida State College softball team is back in the FCSAA Division I Softball Championship for the second straight season.

The Titans have a different look this season as only five players from last year's team are back in Clearwater this week. Pitchers Luci Walters and Alana O'Brien were on the mound at Eddie C. Moore Complex a year ago when Northwest Florida State College ended the Titans season. Walters got the start and O'Brien came in relief in the 9-2 loss in the South Atlantic B Championship Game.

On Wednesday morning the teams will meet once again, this time to open the tournament as the Titans come in as the No. 7 seed once again this season.  

The five sophomores are all big pieces in this year's team that comes into the postseason with a regular-season record 38 wins and is ranked 17^th in the NJCAA Division I National Poll.

Ashley Grieser has been among the team's leading hitters all season, hitting .314 with a team high four triples. Teammate Ashley Corazzini has been the second baseman and comes in hitting .310 with 15 doubles and has scored 46 runs for the Titans. Left fielder Kayla Fanning has made some stellar plays in the outfield and has 12 stolen bases.

The lead a talented freshmen group to the postseason that includes a couple of all-state players in Avery Velazquez and Aracelis Jimenez.

Velazquez was named to the first team All-FCSAA team and is the Citrus Conference North Player of the Year after hitting .414 with 22 doubles and 65 RBI while being the team's ace on the mound. The freshman has 23 wins with a 1.14 ERA and has struck out 173 hitters in 208 1/3 innings.

Jimenez is the centerfielder and leadoff hitter and is hitting .379 this season with a team-leading 23 stolen bases. Jimenez and teammate Jessica Merk were both first team all-conference players as freshmen. Merk comes into the postseason hitting .370 with 16 doubles and three home runs.

Northwest Florida State College comes into the postseason as the No. 2 seed after going unbeaten in the Panhandle Conference and the Raiders are 54-2 this season.

Sister Arnold was named the FCSAA Player of the Year hitting .437 in 55 games with 12 home runs and drove in 50 runs for the Raiders. Teammate Cailyn Heyl is 28-1 this season with a 0.83 ERA in 143 innings of work and was named first team All-FCSAA Team along with teammate Lulu Luedtke who is hitting .435 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI.

Wednesday's first round game will be at 10 a.m. in Clearwater and fans can watch the game live online at the FCSAA Digital Network. Click here to watch all of the games.

Tickets for the game must be purchased in advance for the tournament by clicking here. Admission is $12 per day and children under the age of five are free with a paid adult.