CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Florida SouthWestern State sophomore Kelsi Collins had the icing put on top of her 2019 cake on Monday as she was named the 2019 Dudley® NJCAA Division I Softball Pitcher of the Year.  Collins becomes the second Buc in just four years of program existence to win the award after righthander Courtney Gettins won it in 2016. 

Collins' 2019 numbers looked like they came out of a video game.  The Bucs' ace finished 25-1 with a microscopic 1.15 ERA in 158 innings pitched.  She struck out 187 opposing hitters while tossing 14 complete games, half of those shutouts. 

Collins' trophy case this season is overflowing by this point.  Along with being named the National Pitcher of the Year by the NJCAA, she has also been named a First Team All-American by the NJCAA, NFCA, and Fastpitch News while collecting FCSAA Pitcher of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, First Team All-State, and Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year inside of the Sunshine State.

Collins, who is headed to Embry Riddle University next season said this about being named the National Pitcher of the Year "To receive this award is truly an honor! Being able to say that all of my hard work these past two years has paid off feels extremely rewarding. I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to play at FSW and I will never forget my experience here."

Collins' Coach Robert Iamurri sang his praises for his righthander saying "Kelsi cemented herself as one of the best pitchers for many FSW softball years to come. The team had 95% winning percentage with her on the mound.  She made her teammates better with her presence on the mound. Kelsi is competitive, works hard, and expected her teammates to keep up. I'm very proud she will continue to build a legacy with Embry Riddle her next two years."

FSW finished the 2019 season 54-3 and captured their fourth straight Suncoast Conference Championship with a 19-1 record.