CULVER CITY, CALIF.- Following a season in which she helped lead Florida SouthWestern State to a Suncoast Conference and Region VIII Championship, Buccaneer sophomore Kelsi Collins has been named a Fastpitch News Preseason All-American as announced by the organization on Wednesday.
Collins was automatic in the circle for the Bucs last season as a freshman, going 15-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 25 appearances. Collins led FSW with 117 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just 77 hits in the process. She was a first team All-Suncoast Conference selection, a second team All-State pick, and the Region VIII Tournament MVP for FSW last season. Collins was electric down the stretch for the Bucs, pitching in each of the last seven games of the season for the Purple and Aqua. She saw action in all three State Tournament games, picking up a pair of wins and 16 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings worked. In St. George at the National Tournament, she was again in on all of the action, pitching in each of the Bucs four games in the desert. She threw a six inning gem in the Bucs opener against South Georgia Tech, striking out 10 without allowing a single hit in a 5-1 FSW victory. In their second game of the tournament she was on the rubber again, spinning a complete game against Seminole State in an 8-2 Buc win. She logged a total of 20 2/3 innings at the National Tournament, posting a 1.35 ERA against the nation's best competition.
As expected, the FCSAA was represented well on the Preseason All-American squad. Along with Collins, Indian River's Liz Gollin, Seminole State's Chelsea Peace, and Chipola's Candela Figueroa were also honored.
Collins and the Bucs will open up their 2019 campaign on Friday when they travel to Clearwater to take part in an opening weekend tournament there. Friday they will take on Team Puerto Rico, FSC-Jacksonville, and Santa Fe before battling Tallahassee and #12 Seminole State on Saturday.
FSW opens their home slate on Tuesday, January 29th when they take on Palm Beach State at the Historic City of Palms Park. The Bucs and Panthers will get their doubleheader underway at 5 PM with admission and parking free to all attendees.