PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (352today.com) — The College of Central Florida (CF) Patriots baseball team is back in the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 final four after missing the cut last season. The program, which claimed back-to-back state titles in 2022 and 2023, is looking to add another banner — and potentially return to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, where they won their first national championship just last year.
This year’s tournament takes place May 9–12 at the Tampa Bay Rays’ spring training complex in Port Charlotte. The double-elimination format features four teams, each advancing after winning a regional best-of-three series last weekend:
- #1 seed Florida Southwestern State College (41-14)
- #2 seed Gulf Coast State College (35-14)
- #5 seed State College of Florida, Manatee (37-19)
- #6 seed College of Central Florida (36-16)
CF enters the tournament on a hot streak, having eliminated #3 seed Indian River State College by decisive scores of 13-4 and 12-1 last weekend in Fort Pierce. “We’re excited to get back to the final four. We have a good bunch of players that seem to be peaking at the right time,” said Head Coach Jon Koenigsfeld.
Among this year’s final four, Central Florida is the only team to reach the JUCO World Series in the last 15 years. SCF-Manatee last appeared in 2010, Gulf Coast in 1973, and FSW has yet to make it to Grand Junction.
The Patriots will open tournament play against Gulf Coast State College on Friday, May 9, at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at www.raysbaseball.com/FCSAA, and games will be streamed live on the FCSAA website.