FORT MYERS, Fla.- After a pair of seasons in the Purple and Aqua, pitching for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers, FSW sophomore Ronaldo Fernandez will be headed home next season to South Florida after signing to play at Nova Southeastern University.  

 

Fernandez has been a workhorse for the Bucs the past two seasons, pitching in 36 games and logging 68 2/3 innings while striking out 83 opposing hitters which ranks in the top 10 in program history. This season Fernandez has pitched in 17 games for the Suncoast Conference Champion Buccaneers, going 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 32 innings pitched.  

 

Fernandez will join FSW teammate Frank Elissalt with the Sharks next season in Fort Lauderdale.  Nova Southeastern is 31-12 overall this season and 14-10 in Sunshine State Conference action. The 30 wins marks the sixth straight 30 win season for the Sharks.  

 

Fernandez and the Bucs closed out the regular season with a win Wednesday to head to the playoffs with a 40-14 overall record and their third straight Suncoast Conference Championship at 24-4. 

 

Fernandez is the 11th signee for the Bucs this season, joining Magnus Ellerts (Florida), Ben Peterson (North Carolina), Jose Izarra (Dallas Baptist), Grant Besser (Rutgers), Riley Skeen (South Florida), Matthew Corpas (Florida International), Nicholas Regalado (FGCU), Ronny Medina (Radford), Frank Elissalt (Nova Southeastern), and Kalvin Alexander (Georgia Southwestern).

 

Fernandez and the Bucs will be back in action next weekend at City of Palms Park when they host the runners-up from the Southern Conference in a best two out of three series Friday and Saturday to kick off the 2022 NJCAA Region VIII Tournament.