The College of Central Florida baseball team sweeps the doubleheader against Indian River State to win the Citrus Conference Championship. The Pats finished conference play with a 23-9 record. This is the first Citrus Confrence Championship for the Patriots since it has been established in 2024. The Pats have now won 3 Conference title in the last 5 years, two of which were the Mid-Florida COnference (2022 & 2023).
The Pats have firmly planted its flag at the summit of the Division I-Citrus Conference. Powering through the 2025-26 season with a potent mix of elite hitting and lockdown pitching, the Patriots have clinched the conference lead with an outstanding 23-9 conference record and a 33-18 overall mark.
Under the legendary leadership of Head Coach Marty Smith, who achieved his monumental 1,000th career victory earlier this year, the Patriots have demonstrated why they remain a perennial powerhouse in NJCAA Region 8. Earning the top spot in the highly competitive Citrus Conference was no easy feat. Central Florida had to outlast fierce challengers, ultimately edging out Florida SouthWestern State College and Miami Dade College in the latest standings to take control.
The Patriots' late-season momentum has been nothing short of electric. The squad recently secured their grip on first place by taking a high-stakes, gritty series over Florida SouthWestern. Offensively, the Patriots have been a nightmare for opposing pitchers. The lineup is anchored by Victor Martinez, whose bat has been blazing with an incredible .391 average and 44 RBIs—placing him solidly in the top five of the FCSAA. He has been matched stride-for-stride by Jose Correa, who holds a stellar .403 average and recently earned FCSAA Player of the Week honors for his scorching performances at the plate.
On the mound, the team has been anchored by clutch outings, including standout performances by Kaiden Lopez, who captured State and National Pitcher of the Week accolades in March.
As the regular season concludes and the postseason rapidly approaches, the College of Central Florida Patriots are locked in, leaning on Coach Smith's three decades of championship-winning pedigree to carry this momentum straight into the FCSAA State Tournament.