FORT MYERS, Fla.- We continue our countdown of the Top 10 FSW Athletics Moments of the 2020-2021 year today with our #7 moment; Antonio Knowles becoming FSW Baseball's first 1st Team NJCAA All-American.
All season long, if the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers had a lead late in the game, you could chalk it up as a 'w' because of one man, Antonio Knowles. That brings us to our #7 moment on our countdown, Knowles earning 1st Team All-American honors, in the process, becoming the first FSW Baseball player to do so.
Knowles was lights out at the back end of the bullpen for the Bucs this season, leading the NJCAA and setting a new FSW record with 13 saves on the year. He didn't allow an earned run in his first 11 appearances of the season, finishing the year with a 1.35 ERA which was second best in the country for any pitcher who threw 40 or more innings. He struck out 72 opposing hitters on the year and walked just five, giving him the best strikeout to walk ratio in the nation and his 16.20 strikeouts per nine were more than any other pitcher that threw 35 or more innings this year.
He was named the Suncoast Conference Fireman of the Year, a 1st Team All-State pick, and later was bestowed the honor of being a 1st Team NJCAA All-American, the first Buccaneer in program history to earn that title.
Tuesday Knowles was drafted in the 13th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft by the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and will now have the opportunity to begin his professional career with the historic franchise or honor his commitment to the University of Florida this fall where he signed earlier this spring.
Check back in tomorrow as we continue our countdown with the #6 moment of the 2020-2021 FSW Athletics Year provided by the Bucs Softball team!
#10- Roberts Breaks Steals Record
#9- Williams' Monster Double-Double
#8- Bucs Volleyball Clinches First Conference Title
#7- Knowles Becomes Bucs Baseball's First 1st Team All-American
#6- 7/16/21
#5- 7/19/21
#4- 7/20/21
#3- 7/21/21
#2- 7/22/21
#1- 7/23/21