Softball program to honor sophomores before doubleheader on Saturday

The Eastern Florida State College softball team will be at home for the final time of the season on Saturday afternoon.

The Titans will honor the 13 sophomores around noon and then face the College of Central Florida in a Citrus Conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Titan Softball Complex.

Eastern Florida State College comes into the contest 24-12 in the conference and has already locked up aa spot in the FCSAA Division I Softball Championships in Clearwater beginning May 12.

The 13 sophomores have helped the program to 38 wins this season and on the cusp of winning 40 games for just the second time in program history. Among them are three who are leaving their mark on the program as either single season or career leaders.

Avery Velazquez is the career leader in runs batted in with 137 in her two seasons and now has 19 home runs which is also a program best. Velazquez has a career .419 batting average in 113 games with 36 doubles.

On the mound, the sophomore has started 40 games and been in 58 with a 32-15 record and a 1.20 ERA. Velazquez has struck out 246 hitters in 298 2/3 innings and she also has six saves.

Aracelis Jimenez has played in every game during her two seasons at Eastern Florida State College. The centerfielder is having a big sophomore season, hitting .466 with 70 runs scored and 36 stolen bases. In two seasons she has scored 127 runs and stole 59 bases, hitting .422. She will leave as the all-time leader in runs scored and hits with 165.

Annalyn Duncan is the first Titan to drive in 80 runs in a season and is hitting .436 in 51 games for the Titans. Duncan has 18 doubles and 11 home runs this season and has also scored 54 times.

Isabel Otero is closing in on 100 games played as a Titan and has hit .342 with 11 doubles and a couple of home runs in her Titan career. The shortstop has scored 96 runs and stole 24 bases and has an .889 percent fielding percentage.

Emma George has played in 105 games in her two seasons and is hitting .280 in 304 abs. The catcher has 23 doubles and driven in 49 runs over two seasons. She has played 44 of the team's 52 games this season. She is throwing out 26 percent of the runners stealing this season and has thrown out 30 base runners in her two seasons.

Jessica Merk has played in 101 games in two seasons with the Titans and has a career .341 batting average with 29 doubles and 93 RBI. Merk is the most versatile player on the roster and has played shortstop, third and right field this season.

Madison Velazquez has played in 48 games at first base this season and is hitting .397 with six home runs and has 46 RBI. In her two seasons, she has played in 77 games and has hit .402 in 219 at-bats. She has 66 runs batted in and scored 40 times.

Zoey Mills made her return to the mound this season for the Titans and made 16 starts with a 2.36 ERA and is 6-5 on the season. She has 47 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings.

Kerissa Howell has started 51 games this season in left field for the Titans and has put together a productive season, hitting .338 with four home runs and 27 RBI and 40 runs scored.

Martha Jones has been a solid outfielder the past two seasons, hitting .346 in 66 games with 19 RBI and 34 runs scored. This season she is hitting .529 in 16 games.

Keyleigh Flaherty has been a weapon off the bench for the Titans, coming in to pinch hit and pinch run with 15 runs scored in 49 games in her two seasons.

Jessica Camacho has played in 34 games in her two seasons with the Titans, hitting .348 with a home run and has 19 RBI as a first baseman and designated player.

Brooklyn Scott has joined the team this season and has become a strong addition off the bench, hitting .311 in 39 games with 19 RBI and 19 runs scored with seven stolen bases.

The College of Central Florida comes into the doubleheader 5-29 in the conference and has lost three in a row. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. and admission is free. Fans can also watch the games live online at the EFSC Titans YouTube page.

The Titans will wrap up the regular season on Tuesday at No. 6 Santa Fe College for a conference doubleheader.