FCSAA/Region 8 D1 Pitcher of the Week
Justin Jackson started his first game for the Saints on Saturday versus the NJCAA preseason #16 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers and pitched five scoreless innings. The Bucs are also ranked #18 in the perfect game national "JUCO" preseason poll. Jackson, a transfer from the University of South Florida, was on target Saturday, striking out nine and giving up only one hit while facing 18 batters. The sophomore from Naples was named FCSAA/Region 8 D1 Pitcher of the Week for this outstanding performance. The Saints were solid behind the Pitcher of the Week as they recorded only one error while Jackson only walked one in the five innings.
Head Coach Johnny Wiggs on his newly minted Pitcher of the Week: "Jackson was great in his first start. He really did it easy, and threw all his pitches for strikes. He didn't get sped up by the moment, and I look forward to him building on this as we go."
The Saints are off to a hot start through four games as they are 4-0 with their latest win coming over TNXL Academy on Wednesday evening in extra innings. The Saints will be back in action Friday, February 2nd, with a doubleheader versus South Georgia State starting at noon and Saturday, February 3rd when they face South Florida State in a doubleheader also beginning at noon.
Wiggs continued, "It's nice to get off to a good start early in the season. But we haven't come close to playing our best yet. The season is a marathon, not a sprint and we will hopefully continue to improve as we head toward conference."
The Saints will look to improve over the next two weeks before Citrus Conference play begins on February 15th.