CHARLOTTE, N.C..- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers continued to receive national recognition on Tuesday as they were ranked #20 in the NJCAA's Preseason Top 20 poll as released by the National Office to kick off the 2020 season.
The Bucs are coming off of a 40-14 campaign, piling up a list of program firsts. It was the first 40 win season for FSW and they collected their first Suncoast Conference Championship with a 21-9 league mark. With their conference title, they earned the program's first bid to the FCSAA State Tournament in Lakeland. The Bucs' list of firsts didn't stop there however as they were ranked inside the NJCAA's top 20 for the first time, peaking at #4, and also had their highest draft pick in FSW history when Ryan Gusto went in the 11th round to the Houston Astros in June. The Bucs sent 11 of their sophomores to the NCAA Division I level.
FSW returns eight sophomores to the fold in 2020 while also adding some experience via the transfer route. Bucs fans will notice a number of a familiar names in the batting order this season, but will see some new faces on the mound after FSW lost 9 of their top 11 innings eaters from a year ago.
The NJCAA poll looked very similar to the Collegiate Baseball News poll released earlier this month with the same 20 teams making up both organization's lists. Central Arizona, Iowa Western, and Walters State led the way with Navarro and Chipola rounding out the top five. The Bucs were one of four FCSAA squads ranked in the top 20.
The Bucs open their 2020 campaign on January 28th when they battle State College of Florida in a non-conference contest at CoolToday Park in North Port, the Spring Training home of the Atlanta Braves. Their home slate begins on Friday, January 31st when they host ASA Miami in a 4 PM start at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.