FORT MYERS, Fla.- The second FSW Softball pitcher to find her way into the Bucs' Top 10 is sophomore Kelsi Collins who checks in at #8 after being named the 2019 NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year.
Collins became the second Buc in four seasons to earn NJCAA Pitcher of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of Courtney Gettins who won the award in 2016.
Collins was showered with awards after a remarkable sophomore season, going from a Preseason All-American to the Suncoast Conference and FCSAA Pitcher of the Year and finally the NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year.
She finished the year with the second best ERA in the country at 1.15, allowing just 26 earned runs in 158 innings pitched on the year. Her 25 wins were seventh most in the NJCAA Division I ranks while her 8.28 strikeouts per seven innings ranked 13th. Overall she struck out 187 opposing hitters while tossing 14 complete games, half of those being shutouts.
Collins and the Bucs finished 54-3 and collected their fourth straight Suncoast Conference Championship with a 19-1 record in conference action. The Bucs fell just short of their fourth straight trip to the NJCAA National Tournament, dropping a 2-1 extra innings decision to eventual National Champions Chipola in the District H Championship game.
Collins will continue her academic and playing career at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University next season.
Tomorrow we highlight our #7 moment of the FSW Athletics year, brought to you by a host of Bucs student-athletes.
#10- Sarah Lawton's Perfect Game
#9- Bucs Baseball Sweeps Chipola
#8- Collins Named NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year
#7- Revealed July 11th
#6- Revealed July 12th
#5- Revealed July 15th
#4- Revealed July 16th
#3- Revealed July 17th
#2- Revealed July 18th
#1- Revealed July 19th