Gainesville, FL

 

Six former Santa Fe Saints were on opposite sides of a high-level Sunshine State Conference showdown this past week as the No. 1-ranked University of Tampa faced Florida Southern in a three-game series. Tampa took two of the three games, but Santa Fe was well represented throughout the matchup, with former Saints contributing on both the mound and at the plate. Tobin Moran threw 1.1 innings for Tampa and allowed one earned run, while Florida Southern pitchers Casey O'Dell and Colby Rice also saw action, with O'Dell tossing 1.2 scoreless innings and Rice pitching an inning himself. At the plate, former Saints Cory Filley and Javi Soto both saw multiple at-bats in the series, with Soto recording one hit and one RBI. As Saints Baseball head coach Johnny Wiggs wrote on X, "Saints are everywhere! ... Proud coach here."

 

Tobin Moran has continued to shine at the University of Tampa, posting a 2.11 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 21.1 innings so far this season. At Santa Fe, Moran was one of the top pitchers in the state, earning NJCAA All-Region 8 First Team honors and Mid-Florida Conference Pitcher of the Year recognition in 2023 after going 8-1 with a 2.51 ERA.

 

Javi Soto has been a productive bat for Tampa this season, hitting .313 with three home runs and 27 RBIs. During his time at Santa Fe, Soto hit .290 and slugged 10 home runs, showing his offensive swagger that has continued at the Division II level.

 

Lucas Johns has made one appearance this season for Tampa after building a strong resume at Santa Fe. In 2025, Johns earned Second Team All-Citrus Conference honors after posting a 4.73 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 59.0 innings for the Saints.

 

Casey O'Dell has been a reliable arm for Florida Southern, posting a 3-1 record with two saves in 12 appearances this season. Before making the move, O'Dell pitched at Santa Fe, where he made 17 appearances and recorded three saves in 24.0 innings.

 

Cory Filley has been a regular behind the plate for Florida Southern, batting .263 with 21 RBIs this season after earning All-SSC Defensive Team honors in 2025. At Santa Fe, Filley was a Second Team All-Conference selection and hit .291 with 33 RBIs during his sophomore season.

 

Colby Rice has pitched in six games for Florida Southern this season after serving as a key bullpen piece in 2025, when he totaled four saves. At Santa Fe, Rice appeared in 37 games over two seasons, going 6-2 with eight saves and 53 strikeouts in 53.0 innings.

 

Ultimately, the weekend was a strong reflection of the talent development at Santa Fe, as six former Saints were part of a marquee Division II series between two nationally respected programs. From meaningful innings on the mound to key at-bats at the plate, the Saints' impact continues to be felt well beyond Gainesville.