NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (May 6, 2023) - St. Johns River State College capped a dominant three days on the diamond with a 2-0 win over Palm Beach State College to win the FCSAA Division II/NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Championships - the first FCSAA title in the College's 65-year history. 

The Vikings swept their way through the four-team bracket with wins of 8-3 (vs. Palm Beach State) and 15-4 (vs. Pasco-Hernando State College) prior to the the shutout in Saturday's championship game. 

Pitching was the story for St. Johns River State and FCSAA Coach of the Year Ross Jones. Complete games by Logan Schmidt and Jarett Maresco served as bookends to Connor McBride's six-inning start in the Vikings' middle game. 

Over the three games, St. Johns River State held its opponents to a .177 batting average and all three starters earned a nod on the FCSAA All-Tournament Team, with Maresco receiving the Most Outstanding Pitcher Award thanks to his two-hit gem.

Palm Beach State entered Saturday's finale with its own momentum. The Panthers staved off elimination in impression fashion, beating South Florida State College, 14-7, and Pasco-Hernando State, 15-1, but the bats went silent against Maresco and the Vikings. 

St. Johns River State got on the board in the bottom of the first and added a second run in the fourth, which proved to be more than enough support for Maresco, who was joined on the All-Tournament Team by offensive stars Maverick Stallings, Kaleb Freeman, Andon Lewis and the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Aiden Mastantuno, was was 1-for-2 in the final and 6-for-9 (.667) with two home runs and five RBI for the tournment.

Palm Beach State had six representatives on the All-Tournament Team - pitcher Michael Fortes, who pitched a complete game against Pasco-Hernando State, and hitters Kevin Hirsch, Anthony Ruiz, Caden Marsters, Gavin Bogdanchik and Winston Parke.

St. Johns River State (42-17) will host the NJCAA South Atlantic District Championship Series against the Region 10 Champion. The best-of-3 series begins Friday, May 12 with a single game while game two and game three (if necessary) will be played Saturday, May 13.