OCALA, FL (352today.com) — The College of Central Florida (CF) Patriots (34-16) were just three outs away from clinching a weekend series victory over Indian River State College (34-14) before a late rally by the Pioneers turned the tide. The ninth-inning comeback sealed the win for Indian River during the final weekend of conference play.
Now, the Patriots will look to regroup as they head to Fort Pierce this weekend for the FCSAA regional playoffs. CF enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed and will face off once again against the No. 3 seeded Pioneers. The teams will battle in a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to the FCSAA State Final Four, scheduled for May 9-12 in Port Charlotte.
College of Central Florida Head Coach Marty Smith and Head Coach of Indian River State College Frank Torre. Courtesy: Thomas Gaines/College of Central FloridaCollege of Central Florida Assistant Coach Jon Koenigsfeld. Courtesy: Thomas Gaines/College of Central Florida
The Patriots are no strangers to postseason success. In 2023, they captured their second consecutive state title before going on to dominate the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, earning the program’s second national championship. Indian River State College is also a recent contender, having reached the state final four last season but falling short of a trip to the World Series.
First pitch for this weekend’s playoff series is set for Friday, with all games hosted at Indian River’s home field.
The Marion County Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved a request for rezoning for a development that would allow for 329 detached single-family homes. The rezoning request will now go before the Marion County Board of County Commissioners at a public hearing next month.
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on SE 17th Street in Ocala around noon, but she has been transported to the hospital and Ocala police say traffic has returned to normal.
If you haven’t firmed up your New Year’s Eve plans, here are some of the most interesting events going down to ring in 2026 in Ocala, Marion County and beyond.
