RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
It was a busy week for the Florida Gulf Coast League, as a new team, the Siesta Key Phinz, was added along with new coaches and players.
The FGCL announced that the Phinz and the Sarasota Circus are the 9th and 10th teams in the league as it prepares for the 2021 season.
The Finza will be led by head coach Aaron Vail, who is currently the assistant softball coach and recruiting/camp coordinator at Furman University. Prior to Furman, Vail had stints at Oregon State, Utah Valley, Dakota County tech and Hamline University along with success at the high school and club levels.
“I’m excited at the opportunity to join the FGCL in 2021,” Vail said this week. “In its augural year, the league proved to be a fantastic option for our collegiate female athletes to develop, compete and grow. To be a catalyst in both the league’s development and these outstanding athletes’ careers is something I am really looking forward to next summer.”
“Thank you to Head Coach Wally King and the Furman University athletic department for allowing me to pursue this opportunity,” he added.
*****
The new team didn’t waste any time in getting its first player on the roster, Ferris State pitcher/utility player Kaitlyn Orme who led all of Div. II in triples as a freshman:
Welcome to the Siesta Key Phinz, 2021 summer commit from @FSU_SB , @Kaitlynorme, coming to @FGCLsoftball summer 2021! #PhinzUp 🐬 pic.twitter.com/Fd9UBAHOCm
— Siesta Key Phinz (@PhinzSb) September 11, 2020
The Phinz also went to the ACC to get Georgia Tech pitcher Blake Neleman of whom Coach Vail said, “The opportunity to add an ace from a Power 5 team is a huge get for us!”
Welcome to the Siesta Key Phinz, 2021 summer commit from @GaTechSoftball, @blakeneleman, coming to @FGCLsoftball summer 2021! #PhinzUp 🐬 @CoachAaronVail pic.twitter.com/uFtaHsWG9r
— Siesta Key Phinz (@PhinzSb) September 11, 2020
*****
The Sarasota Circus continued its prep for the new season by adding Aleima Lopez as an assistant coach.
Lopez will be joining head coach, Carsyn Gordon, when the Circus takes the field for the summer 2021 season.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to help coach the Sarasota Circus and get a chance to be part of the FGCL,” said Lopez. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about it from their inaugural season last year. I’m ecstatic to be able to coach alongside my teammate, Carsyn Gordon.”
Lopez attended Florida International University where she was an all-conference player. She has played with the fourth ranked Puerto Rican national team for more than 13 years and played professionally in Italy.
Following two seasons as a volunteer assistant at UTSA, Lopez is now a graduate assistant at Ole Miss.
“Aleima and I have played together for five-plus years,” said Circus Head Coach Gordon. “We’ve both played at the highest level and view the game very similarly. I’m really excited to bring that experience to the FGCL and grow the game in any way we can!”
“Thank you to the Sarasota Circus, and Carsyn, for giving me this awesome opportunity,” concluded Lopez. “Can’t wait for the summer. Let’s go Circus!”