Lady Indians start FCSAA Tournament with #1 Florida SouthWestern
Two of the top teams in the nation square off Friday night at 6 PM CDT
A season ago, the Lady Indians defeated Florida SouthWestern in the semifinals of the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament then defeated Indian River to win their sixth State Championship and receive a bid to the NJCAA National Tournament. Florida SouthWestern battled back through the loser's bracket to also claim a spot in the National Tournament. The Bucs took advantage of the opportunity and went on to win the 2021 National Championship in Yuma, Arizona.
A look back at the regular season
The Lady Indians began Kelly Brookins' inaugural season as head coach at 16th in the Preseason NJCAA Rankings. A hot 18-2 start over the first month of the season landed the Lady Indians at #8 in first regular season rankings. After peaking at #7, Chipola finished the regular season at #14 following the rigorous Panhandle Conference schedule which consisted of four opponents that spent time in the NJCAA's Top 20.
At 39-9 overall and 12-7 in conference, the Lady Indians earned the Panhandle's runner-up spot to the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament. In 48 games, Chipola batted .342 and finished the regular season on a three-game win streak.
Nationally, Chipola finished in the top 20 in mulitiple categories. Chipola pitchers combined in the circle for a 2.34 ERA (14th in the NJCAA) and an opponents' batting average of .235 (14th in the NJCAA). They also shutout their opponents 13 times, good enough for tenth in the nation. On the base paths, the Lady Indians swiped 134 bases, the 16th best in the nation.
Marley Sims led the Lady Indians in multiple offensive categories this season. Her team-leading .430 batting average was 9th in the FCSAA and second in the Panhandle. Sims also led Chipola in runs (48), hits (67), doubles (16), stolen bases (34), and on-base percentage (.491).
Zayla McBurrows, the 2021 FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament MVP, put up strong numbers for the Lady Indians and carried much of the load in the circle. In 20 starts and 89 innings pitched, McBurrows was 15-4 in the circle and carried an ERA of 1.81. She finished the regular season with 97 strikeouts, 13th in the FCSAA.
The Lady Indians placed nine members on the All-Panhandle Conference teams and three members on the All-State/All-Region VIII teams.
First round opponent
Florida SouthWestern (45-4) opened the 2022 season as the preseason #1 ranked team and held the spot for the first three polls of the year.
After bouncing between the #2 and #3 slots much of the regular season, the Bucs reappeared at the top spot in the last poll of the season. The Bucs won their final 22 games of the season to regain the #1 position and carry that win-streak into the postseason.
The Bucs has 13 members on the All-Suncoast Conference teams including Feline Poot who was named the Player of the Year and Baylee Haggard who was named the Pitcher of the Year. Seven members were named to the All-State/Region VIII teams including Haggard who was named Pitcher of the Year.
FSW is 5th in the nation at the plate with a team batting average of .417. The Bucs' pitchers are also strong in the circle with a combined ERA of 1.57, the second-best in the nation.
Florida SouthWestern and Chipola met earlier in the season with the Bucs defeating the Lady Indians, 13-0.
Game Information
Location: Boombah Soldiers Creek Park, Longwood, Florida
Game day & time: Friday, May 6 @ 6 PM CDT