Five Eastern Florida State College Softball Players Named to All-Citrus Conference North Team

Titans open FCSAA Division I Softball Championship tournament Wednesday

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — The Eastern Florida State College softball team had five players named to the All-Citrus Conference North teams on Friday.

Freshman Avery Velazquez was named the Player of the Year in the conference as she led the Titans to 38 wins this season. The Ocoee native hit .414 in 58 games this season with 22 doubles, seven home runs, and a triple. Velazquez drove in 65 runs, scored 49 times, and had five stolen bases.

On the mound, Velazquez was just as good, if not better, as the right-hander went 23-10 in 27 starts with 22 complete games. Velazquez had nine shutouts and five saves and finished with a 1.14 ERA with 173 strikeouts and just 43 walks.

The 23 wins are a program record, and the 1.14 ERA is fourth in Titans history. Her 173 strikeouts are second. She has also set the RBI record with 65 and is second in both home runs and doubles.

Velazquez is the first conference player of the year since Lauren Lightbody in 2021.

Freshman third baseman Jessica Merk was named to the first team after hitting .370 in 50 games this season. The Groveland, Florida native hit 16 doubles and had three home runs with 49 runs batted in.

Freshman centerfielder Aracelis Jimenez was also named to the first team after playing 58 games in her first season with the Titans. Jimenez hit .379 with 54 runs scored and 31 RBI with 23 stolen bases.

Freshman shortstop Isabel Otero was named to the second team after hitting .357 in 48 games this season. The Orlando native scored 44 runs and stole 15 bases for the Titans.

Sophomore pitcher Luci Walters was named to the second team. The DeLand, Florida native was 12-5 this season in 27 appearances with eight complete games. Walters finished with a 3.58 ERA and had four shutouts in 121 1/3 innings.

The Titans finish the regular season with 38 wins and are heading back to the FCSAA Division I Softball Championship for the second straight season.

Eastern Florida State College will open the tournament on Wednesday at 10 a.m. against No. 2 seed Northwest Florida State College in Clearwater.

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