Local baseball, softball alumni make impact in college programs

Across the country this spring, baseball and softball players who got their start playing on fields around West and Southwest Orange County made an impact on teams at the collegiate-level.

And, with the College World Series ongoing and the Women’s College World Series having concluded, now is an appropriate time to recognize the stellar play of a select few local alumni from the 2016 campaign.

Chase Haney

Freshman pitcher, FSU (Windermere Prep)

Haney, a Windermere Prep alumnus from Winter Garden, has had a stellar year for the Florida State Seminoles. In 30 appearances as a reliever this spring, Haney has a 2.81 ERA and has earned five wins. In 32 innings of work, the former Laker has struck out 37 batters.

Racquel Fournet

Freshman IF/OF, FGCU (Windermere Prep)

Fournet took the Eagles by storm, hitting .354 this spring. The former Laker had 45 RBIs, 16 doubles and seven home runs during her freshman campaign. Fournet was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference First Team.

Kirk Sidwell 

Freshman outfielder, Stetson (Olympia)

Sidwell has made himself right at home in DeLand, hitting .308 this spring with 23 RBIs for the Hatters. Sidwell was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team.

Mary Warren

Junior IF/OF/C, Alabama-Birmingham (Ocoee)

Warren had a breakout spring for the Blazers, hitting .309 and knocking 11 home runs to go along with her 36 RBIs on the season. For her efforts, Warren was named to the Conference USA First Team and the NFCA Mideast All-Region Team.

Nic Strasser

Sophomore infielder, West Florida (Dr. Phillips)

Strasser hit .338 for the Argos this spring, recording team-highs in RBIs (48), home runs (9) and doubles (18). Strasser was recognized as an NCAA Division II South Region All-Tournament Team selection.

Jake Smith

Freshman first baseman, FGCU (Windermere Prep)

Smith was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference’s All-Freshman team after a debut season that saw the former Laker post a .402 batting average with 41 hits, 19 runs scored, eight doubles, one triple, one home run and 16 RBIs this season.

Cassady Brewer 

Freshman infielder, UCF (Apopka, West Orange)

Brewer, who played at the varsity level for West Orange and Apopka and whose father, Bobby, is the head baseball coach at Ocoee, had quite a debut season for the Knights. Brewer was named the American Athletic Conference’s Rookie of the Year and also was honored on the All-Conference First Team and All-Conference Freshman Team. 

Kendall Arcia and Amanda Nikhazy 

Freshmen, Daytona State (West Orange)

These two West Orange alumnae are teammates once again at the college level, helping Daytona State to a strong 2016 campaign. Of the team’s 15 home runs this spring, Arcia (5) and Nikhazy (4) accounted for nine of them. The duo also led the team in RBIs, with Arcia knocking in 32 and Nikhazy driving in 28.

Gunnar McNeill 

Junior first baseman, Kentucky (West Orange)

McNeill set a modern-era school record at Kentucky earlier this season when he compiled a 23-game hitting streak for the Wildcats. 

McNeill, who was batting over .400 for a stretch in March, cooled off, finishing the season with a .249 batting average and 38 RBIs — but not before earning a spot in the Wildcats’ record books.

Stevanna Ames

Freshman infielder, Seminole State (Foundation Academy)

As a freshman, Ames finished second on the team in RBIs (31) and first on the team in doubles (15) — hitting a pair of triples and home runs, each, along the way. Ames hit .327 on the season.