PANAMA CITY, Fla.- Paul Winland crushed two home runs and Holden Wade locked down the final six outs as the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers held on for an 8-7 win over the Northwest Florida State Raiders to claim the inaugural championship trophy in the Perfect Game Juco Classic Tournament in Panama City Sunday afternoon. 

 

The Bucs wasted no time in the championship game of the 16 team tournament as Hunter Fitz-Gerald got them on the board with an RBI single to right in the top of the 1^st and Paul Winland followed that with a long two run home run on the first pitch he saw to quickly put FSW in front 3-0.  

 

FSW starter Alejandro Valiente kept the high powered Raider offense in check through the first three innings, holding the 3-0 lead for the Bucs as the teams went to the 4^th.

 

The Bucs added to their lead in the 4^th as Jose Izarra doubled with two outs to keep the inning alive and Winland scored on a dropped third strike to extend the FSW advantage to 4-0.  

 

Northwest Florida finally cracked the scoreboard with two outs in the 4^th, but the Bucs limited the damage to one and continued to lead it 4-1 after four. 

 

Winland was back at it in the 5^th, launching a 2-2 pitch deep and out to center for his second two run home run of the game to extend the Bucs lead to 6-1. 

 

The Bucs went to the bullpen in the 5^th and the Raiders took advantage, torching the Bucs pen for five to tie the game up at 6 in the blink of an eye. 

 

The game didn't stay tied long as the Bucs drew back to back walks to start the 6^th and Kendry Noriega singled to drive home a run and put FSW back in front 7-6.  Later in the inning the Bucs used a double steal and a Northwest error to plate another to up the lead to 8-6.  

 

The back and forth battle continued in the bottom of the 6^th as the Raiders loaded the bases with nobody out, but the Bucs were able to retire the next three hitters, allowing just one run in the process to preserve an 8-7 lead to the 7^th and final inning.  

 

The Bucs couldn't add any insurance runs in the 7^th, but they didn't need them as Holden Wade blew through the Northwest lineup in order in the final frame to close out an 8-7 win and start the celebration for FSW.  

 

Winland led the Bucs with a monster 3-4 game, hitting a pair of home runs and driving home four in the win.  Noriega finished 2-3 with two stolen bases and an RBI at the top of the order.  Valiente gave the Bucs 3 2/3 solid innings in his first start of the season, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out five. Wade tossed the final two innings and allowed just one hit to notch his second save of the year. 

 

The Bucs remain perfect on the season at 9-0 while Northwest falls to 5-2.  

 

FSW's tough and busy early season schedule continues on Wednesday when they return home to City of Palms Park to take on #8 Miami Dade for the third time this year.