FORT MYERS, FLA.- Four Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers signed their National Letters of Intent on Tuesday at City of Palms Park as Sarah Lawton and Madison Johnson will stay in Fort Myers and play at Florida Gulf Coast University, Kelsi Collins will head to the East Coast of Florida to play at Embry Riddle, and Alison Yawn will suit up for Warner University next season.
Lawton is headed to Florida Gulf Coast University after an All-Conference season for the Bucs in 2019. She finished the year 12-2 in 31 appearances, posting a 1.36 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 98 innings pitched. Working primarily out of the FSW bullpen, she also notched seven saves which led the state and ranked third nationally. Drawing a start late in the season, she threw the Bucs first perfect game in program history, leading her to being named both the FCSAA Pitcher of the Week and the NJCAA Pitcher of the Week.
Johnson will join Lawton at FGCU. She was a staple at third base for the Bucs this season, playing in all 57 games, hitting .390 with 16 extra base hits and 50 RBI's to earn 1st Team All-Suncoast honors. Johnson finished her FSW career with a .375 average, 111 hits and 89 RBI's in two seasons. She recorded hits in 44 of 57 games for the Bucs this season and closed the year with hits in seven straight games for FSW.
The pair will join an FGCU squad coming off of a third place finish in the ASUN in 2019. The Eagles are 28-20 on the year heading into the ASUN Tournament in Fort Myers this weekend. Two more wins would give them 30 wins for the fourth consecutive season. At FGCU, Lawton and Johnson will rejoin FSW teammate Mikenzie Vaughn who has been a mainstay on the infield for the Eagles this season, playing in 46 of 48 games.
Collins signs with NCAA Division II member Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. She was spectacular for the Bucs this season, going 25-1 with a 1.15 ERA in a team best 158 innings in the circle. Collins struck out 187 batters this season, giving her over 300 for her FSW career. She was named 1st Team All-Suncoast, the Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year, and ultimately the FCSAA State Pitcher of the Year and should be in line for an All-American nod at the conclusion of the National Tournament.
The Eagles finished 26-19 in 2019, their fifth straight 25+ win season. Their 17-13 mark in conference play was good for a sixth place finish in the Sunshine State Conference this season. Embry Riddle should boast one of the best pitching staffs in the region next season as not only do they add Collins to the mix, but also bring back their top two arms from this season's squad.
Yawn will play at Warner University next season. She was an All-Conference pick for the Bucs in her only season in Fort Myers, hitting .367, stealing eight bases and scoring 26 runs on the campaign. Yawn played in 44 games for the Bucs including drawing starts in all four of FSW's games at the FCSAA State Tournament this season.
She will join a Royals squad that finished 28-16 this season after making a deep run into The Sun Conference Tournament. Warner returns the bulk of their roster next season after losing just two players to graduation this year.
FSW is expected to have two more sophomores sign in the near future, stay tuned to FSWBucs.com and @FSWBucs on social media to find out when they do.