Columbia softball's Joe Saucier named Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year
· Yahoo Sports
Columbia softball entered the season doubted and left it champions.
That’s got to earn some recognition, right?
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It has, but on Wednesday, June 10, it came not just in Class 4A but across the entire state of Florida.
Coach Joe Saucier was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year. Saucier was chosen by sportswriters from around the state out of the Coach of the Years from each class.
Saucier, who was named Class 4A Coach of the Year last week, received six first-place votes and narrowly defeated Pace coach Lexi Alexander – who won her second state title in three years for the Patriots.
In his second season with the Tigers, Saucier led the Tigers to a 29-3 win and two dramatic victories in Longwood – 6-5 over Seminole in the state semifinals and 3-2 over Lake Wales to win the state title.
Alannah Lord, who was the Class 4A Player of the Year, finished in eighth place for Miss Softball.
Trenton softball also receives recognition
Addison Allaire, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year on Friday, came oh-so close to becoming the Gainesville-area’s first-ever Miss Softball.
Instead, that honor went to Hannah DeMarcus from Pace who gained nine first-place votes. Allaire finished in second with three votes.
Coach Kevin Benson – who led Trenton to their third consecutive state title (most in Florida) – landed in third for Coach of the Year behind Saucier and Alexander with one first-place vote.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Dairy Farmers names Columbia softball's Joe Saucier Coach of the Year