Lions return to Conference Tournament
By Damian Alexander
For only the third time in school history, the Florida Memorial University baseball team has made The Sun Conference tournament. The Lions finished with a school best, 24-19 record and a 13-11 record in conference play. This was good enough for the Lions to seed third in the conference tournament behind Southeastern University and St. Thomas University. Finishing third in the conference standings is the highest FMU has ever placed in school history.
The team has strived on dominating pitching performances and timely hitting all year long. On the offensive side, Sergio Chil propelled his team into the spot they are in now. Chil put together one of the best offensive performances in all of the conference. The junior finished with a career high .424 batting average with 37 RBIs and 14 doubles on the season. Chil’s batting average ranks number twenty among all of the NAIA. On the mound for the Lions, Christian Rivera has dealt all season long. Rivera is 7-3 on the season with a 3.33 ERA while striking out 75 in 67 2/3 innings pitched. To start the season, Rivera threw 26 1/3 scoreless innings while earning three straight wins. Rivera also ranks 47 in wins in all of the NAIA. Another pitcher that has been productive for FMU all season long is Edgard Aparacio. Aparacio is nationally ranked in the top 15 in three pitching categories. He ranks third in hits allowed per nine, fifth in opponent batting average, and thirteenth in total hits allowed.
The Sun Conference tournament begins May 4 and runs through May 7. The six team tournament will be held in Palm Beach County at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The 7,700 seat stadium is the Spring Training home to reigning World Series Champions, the Houston Astros. The Lions will take on the Keiser University in their first game of the tournament at 6 p.m., on May 4, 2018.
