Florida Gulf Coast League Updates: After Successful 2020 Summer, League Expands to 10 Teams for 2021

After a successful opening campaign in the summer of 2020, the Florida Gulf Coast League—the first collegiate softball league— has announced that the softball season for 2021 will include a 10^th team, the newly-created Sarasota Circus.

Said a league official: “We opened registration on September 1, and following the response, we made the decision to move to 10 teams.”

The Myakka City River Mocs beat the Manatee Squeeze 10-9 in the July FGCL championship game at the Lakewood Ranch (Florida) Sports Complex. Other teams included the Lynx, Pioneers, Bradenton Slice, Fastpitch U and Impact.

The Circus will have one of the top players in the League to build around in FGCL Rookie of the Year Stormy Kotzelnick, the infielder for the Univ. of Washington who will be returning. Other key additions to the Circus are Jordyn Wolfe, an incoming senior who batted .324 for Louisville in 2020 and Florida International infielder Jocelyn Alonso.

Welcome to Sarasota Circus Softball, 2021 summer commit from ⁦@UofLSoftball⁩, ⁦@JordynWolfe⁩, coming to ⁦@FGCLsoftball⁩ summer 2021, the greatest show on dirt! ⁦@carsynmariee⁩ 🎪🥎 pic.twitter.com/wZqkyEipm0

— Sarasota Circus (@CircusSB) September 2, 2020

 Carsyn Gordon, the who played at Florida State and was part of the Seminoles 2018 National Championship team, will serve as head coach and Aleima Lopez will be her assistant.

NEWCOMERS

Already, three highly-touted newcomers have been announced will play in the FGCL including Jessi Puk of Ole Miss who will play for the Slice. In the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, Puk hit .324 with four doubles, three homeruns and 16 RBIs.

Welcome to the Bradenton Slice, 2021 summer commit from ⁦@OleMissSoftball⁩, ⁦@jessi_puk⁩, coming to ⁦@FGCLsoftball⁩ summer 2021! #sliceNdice 🍊⁦@ginasnyder24⁩ pic.twitter.com/LMIF3ZRcrb

— SliceSoftball (@BradentonSlice) September 4, 2020

The other newcomers announced are Jazzy Contreras of Oregon for the River Mocs and Kailey Christian of Delaware for the Pioneers.

RETURNERS

Several talented returning players have also been confirmed for the following teams:

• River Mocs: Lizzie Shubert, Ari Quinones and Claire Ginder
• Pioneers: Kara Saylor, Kayla Howald, Sophie Hannabas, Cammeo Presutti and Jordyn Petty
• The Squeeze: Kenna Wilkey
• Slice: Breanna Roper, Maddie McPherson, Riley Ludlam, Adi Reese, Neleigh Herring and Maddie Banks.

Welcome to the Bradenton Slice, 2021 summer commit from ⁦@OleMissSoftball⁩, ⁦@MaddiBanks_29⁩,
Coming to ⁦@FGCLsoftball⁩ summer 2021. #sliceNdice 🍊 pic.twitter.com/IKfR8ESAaC

— SliceSoftball (@BradentonSlice) September 4, 2020

FINALIZED ROSTERS

Within the next two weeks, one to two new team announcements are expected and all teams should be in place by the end of September.

HOW TO SIGN UP

For players interested in joining the Florida Gulf Coast League for 2020, Click HERE to access the registration page.

For more information on the league go to FGCLSoftball.com.