Former Rockledge Raider Drew Parrish Records 9 Strikeouts, Allows No Runs For Florida State In CWS Opener

FSU vs Michigan on Monday at 7 p.m. ET

Former Rockledge Raider Drew Parrish was on fire from the mound on Saturday after he pitched 8 innings without allowing a run and leading the Seminoles to 1-0 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in Omaha at the College World Series in front of  a record-crowd of 26,155 at TD Ameritrade Park. (FSU Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Former Rockledge Raider Drew Parrish was on fire from the mound on Saturday after he pitched 8 innings without allowing a run and leading the Seminoles to 1-0 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in Omaha at the College World Series in front of a record-crowd of 26,155 at TD Ameritrade Park.

Parrish, a junior left-hander from Rockledge, showed great command from the mound on Saturday by recording 9 strikeouts and only giving up five hits in 8-innings of work on 113 pitches.

Parrish, an 8th round pick in the MLB draft this year by the Kansas City Royals, got the win for the Seminoles after Florida State scored the only run of the game in the top of the 9th inning when freshman Nander De Sedas hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring J.C. Flowers from third base.

“A lot of us saw Drew, at an early age, achieve special things. And as you can see, he continues to be a special talent,” said Steve Wilson of the Friday Night Locker Room, who broadcasted many of Drew’s games.

Former Rockledge Raider Drew Parrish was on fire from the mound on Saturday after he pitched 8 innings without allowing a run and leading the Seminoles to 1-0 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in Omaha at the College World Series. (FSU Image)

Wilson’s broadcast partner, Orville Susong, was not surprised Drew would achieve great things at the next level after broadcasting many of his games and knowing him at an early age.

“Drew was one of those players, who at an early age, that you just knew he would do well in the game of baseball,” said Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong, who has known Drew from an early age.

“From a little league World Series championship in the junior division for Rockledge Little League, to a stellar high school career, and pitching lights out on the biggest stage in front 26,000 baseball fans last night, he has a special future in front of him. No doubt.”

Susong expressed that a lot of people have helped make Drew’s journey at the next level a success, two of them, were his high school school coaches.

“Drew was blessed to have a pitching coach in Tom Mendelo, who loved his players but demanded the best from them. He also had Rockledge head coach Greg Clayborne, who also played for the Seminoles and head coach Mike Martin as well,” Susong added.

Drew Parrish went 3-for-4 with a double and scored a run to help Rockledge to a 9-3 win over Southeastern Junior Baseball Regional Tournament win over North Carolina’s Southwest Forsyth in 2012 in Greenville, S.C. (Image by Larry Kinker)

Rockledge Head Coach Greg Clayborne was thrilled for Drew and his alma mater Saturday night.

“Amazing game by Drew and the ‘Noles last night,” said Coach Clayborne, who coached Drew in high school.

“I need a new carpet in my living room after I wore a hole in ours last night.”

The Seminoles (1-0) move to the winners bracket of the College World Series in a double elimination tournament format.

Florida State will face off against the Michigan Wolverines on Monday, who stunned the Texas Tech Raiders with a 5-3 win, their first win in the CWS since 1983.

Should Florida State win against Michigan, the Seminoles would only need one more win to clinch a spot in the best-of-three National Championship game.

ABOVE VIDEO: In 2015, Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong interviewed Drew Parrish when he signed with Florida State.

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