FORT MYERS, Fla.- A league high 10 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were honored by the Suncoast Conference on Tuesday as Alex Ayala was named the conference Pitcher of the Year, Antonio Knowles the Fireman of the Year, and Head Coach Ben Bizier the Coach of the Year, to lead the contingency of Bucs on the All-Conference squads. 

 

Ayala was lights out for the Bucs in Suncoast Conference play this season, going a perfect 6-0 in eight starts while posting a 1.90 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings pitched.  In six of his eight starts in conference play he went five or more innings, allowing four or less hits, and one or less runs.  It makes back to back seasons for a Buc to earn the Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year after current Houston Astros farmhand Ryan Gusto picked up the honor in 2019.  

 

At the back end, FSW closer Antonio Knowles was named the Fireman of the year, the first Buc in program history to earn the honor.  Knowles was spectacular closing out games for FSW this season, registering a league high seven saves during conference play while posting a 1.56 ERA in 17 1/3 innings pitched.  Knowles' most impressive stat though; a 32 to 0 strikeout to walk ratio during conference play this season.  

 

The third member of the Bucs pitching staff to earn 1st Team All-Conference honors was Carlos Rodriguez.  Rodriguez made five starts in league play, going 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA which led all Suncoast Conference starters during conference action.  He struck out 32 and walked just five in 24 2/3 innings pitched. 

 

Joining the trio on the 1st Team for the second straight year was shortstop Warnner Rincones. A catalyst atop the FSW lineup, Rincones hit .311 and reached base at a .403 clip in conference play, scoring 26 and driving in 14 runs while going 17 for 19 in stolen bases which was best in the conference. 

 

Slugger Christian Lucio also earned 1st Team All-Conference honors after being one of the most feared hitters in the Suncoast Conference this season.  He led all Suncoast Conference hitters with 43 hits in conference play while also leading the league in triples with 4, home runs with 9, and ranking second in RBIs and stolen bases with 32 and 13 respectively. His .387 average in conference contests was also second best in the league.  

 

Pitching staff workhorse Enrique Cotto was named a 2nd Team All-Conference pick.  He was 3-1 in league play this season in seven starts, logging 40 1/3 innings and posting a 3.57 ERA. Cotto went six innings or more in each of his final three conference starts of the year and allowed five or less hits and just one run in each contest.  

 

Abimelec Ortiz was also named a 2nd Team All-Conference selection after a big year at the plate for the Bucs. Ortiz hit .376 in conference play which ranked fourth best among Suncoast Conference sluggers while his 29 RBIs in league action was third most.  He finished with 13 extra base hits with seven doubles, a triple, and five RBIs in 25 contests.  

 

A pair of Bucs infielders were named 2nd Team All-Conference recipients. Matthew Corpas hit .280 with two home runs and 15 RBIs during conference play.  He saw action in 27 of 29 games and stole nine bases in ten chances on the year. Ronny Medina hit .289 with three homers and 14 RBIs while also proving a threat on the bases with 12 swipes in 15 tries in 27 games. 

 

Leading the group of nine was Head Coach Ben Bizier who was named the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season.  Bizier led the Bucs to their second of back to back Suncoast Conference Championships with a 22-7 mark in league play as they head into their final regular season game of the season on Wednesday. The Bucs clinched their second straight trip to the FCSAA State Tournament after failing to go in any of their first three campaigns. 

 

FSW closes out the regular season on Wednesday at home against State College of Florida in what will serve as a tuneup for the Bucs heading into the FCSAA State Tournament next week in Lakeland.