Baseball season has returned, and the Florida Gators open the 2025 campaign with a three-game series against the Air Force Falcons at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, starting Friday.
Kevin O’Sullivan is looking to lead his program to a third-straight College World Series appearance, but the team looks much different than it did last June. Jac Caglianone is in the minor leagues, only five members of the starting lineup are returners and there’s a new crop of freshmen to fill out the bullpen.
As always, hopes are high in Gainesville, but last year proved that it doesn’t take a strong regular season record for a team to be competitive down the stretch. The SEC schedule could get rough, but opening the year against Air Force should allow the Gators to find their footing.
Projected Starting Lineup: Florida Gators
Pos.
Player Name
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
HR
RBI
C
Luke Heyman
.246
.342
.481
264
46
65
16
52
1B
Brendan Lawson
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2B
Cade Kurland
.245
.346
.457
245
51
60
14
44
3B
Bobby Boser
.299
.351
.667
117
28
35
12
32
SS
Colby Shelton
.254
.374
.551
256
60
65
20
56
LF
Blake Cyr
.847
.397
.537
95
22
27
7
21
CF
Kyle Jones
.355
.459
.476
248
53
88
5
32
RF
Ty Evans
.316
.406
.580
193
44
61
13
43
DH
Brody Donay
.250
.329
.520
152
28
38
12
27
Notes: All stats are from last year.
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Probable Starters: Friday (6:30 p.m. ET)
Team
Pitcher
Record
ERA
FLORIDA
RHP Liam Peterson
3-6
6.43
AIR FORCE
RHP Dylan Rogers
5-5
7.49
NOTES:
Liam Peterson is back in the Friday night role for Florida after moving around the weekend rotation as a freshman. Although his numbers leave something to be desired, there’s optimism that he’ll be a true ace this year for the Gators. Peterson’s fastball can run into the high-90s and his breaking stuff (curve/slider) is devastating. Peterson also works in a changeup. He’s looking to simplify his delivery this year in hopes of better results. Avoiding the “big inning” is key.
Dylan Rogers was a part of the weekend rotation a year ago at Air Force but saw limited success, similar to Peterson. Now he’s the team ace and is looking to complete the puzzle. His slider has been a work in progress and is leading to more strikeouts and fewer walks. He’s also improved his flyball percentage, but that could work against him with a power-heavy lineup like Florida.
Probable Starters: Saturday (4 p.m. EDT)
Team
Pitcher
Record
ERA
FLORIDA
RHP Jake Clemente
2-0
5.34
AIR FORCE
RHP Gaines Estridge
1-0
8.10
NOTES: Redshirt sophomore Jake Clemente moves into the Saturday spot this year for Florida after a breakout summer in the Cape Cod League. Another player Gators Wire is familiar with from the high school circuit, Clemente has the mental makeup and stuff to thrive in the starting rotation.
“91-93 fastball, topped 94,” said Clemente’s high school pitching coach Michael Cimilluca. “Slider sits 79-82 and is a sweeping wipeout pitch that draws lots of swings and misses. 82-84 changeup with good run.”
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That fastball might be able to touch the mid-90s at this point, but it’s the secondary stuff that’s going to lead to success as a starter.
Gaines Estridge made 23 appearances out of the bullpen for Air Force last year. His 8.10 ERA as a freshman is a bit high for a starter, but that’s the roster the Falcons have to work with. He has decent command of his fastball and secondary, but a 10.9% strikeout rate says there’s not a ton of swing-and-miss there.
Probable Starters: Sunday (1 p.m. EDT)
Team
Pitcher
Record
ERA
FLORIDA
LHP Pierce Coppola
1-4
8.75
AIR FORCE
RHP John Mitchell
DNP
DNP
NOTES: Pierce Coppola has been a draft darling for some time, but he hasn’t played a full season of baseball in years. injuries plagued all three of his collegiate seasons with Florida, but now he’s healthy to start the season. Coppola posted a ridiculous 31.3% strikeout rate last season over 23 2/3 innings. For a 6-foot-7 guy, a fastball in the low-90s may seem slow, but he paired it with a mid-to-high-70s slider that draws a 40-50% whiff rate.
Air Force will throw freshman John Mitchell on Sunday. On the travel circuit, Mitchell threw a high-80s fastball that reached 92 at times, an 87-mph curve and an 84-mph slider.
Other Players to Watch
Air Force’s roster went through a lot of churn this offseason, and the expectation is a rebuilding season for the Falcons. Still, there are some returning names worth knowing, including right fielder Zach Peters, who batted .290 and had a .830 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, and designated hitter Tripp Garrish (.289/.881).
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Dawson Thrush is a freshman to keep an eye. Gators Wire got a first-hand look at him last year with Dwyer High School during its state championship run. Thrush was a key member of the Dwyer lineup and rotation.
Series History
OVERALL
0-0
AT HOME
0-0
AWAY
0-0
NEUTRAL
0-0
NOTES: Florida has never played Air Force on the baseball diamond before.
Follow the Action
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. EDT)
SATURDAY (4 p.m. EDT)
SUNDAY (12 p.m. EDT)
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* Watch links go directly to game feed
Predictions
GAME 1: Florida, 9-2
GAME 2: Florida, 13-3
GAME 3: Florida, 10-0
The pitching matchups in this series favor Florida as the weekend carries on. Because there are so many new faces in the lineup, I expect the offense to click at the same rate, putting the run rule victories into play. It’s a new season, so expectations are high and there’s not much negative to go off of.
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Series prediction: Florida sweeps the series convincingly, 3-0.
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Florida Highway Patrol Logo (WJXT, Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A 21-year-old Fernandina Beach man is dead following a crash on State Road A1A in Nassau County Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene at South Fletcher Avenue and Askins Avenue around 9:30 p.m.
According to FHP, the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on S. Fletcher Ave. when he struck an unoccupied sport utility vehicle that was stopped perpendicular to the roadway in the northbound lane. Troopers say the SUV’s driver had exited the vehicle to unhitch a trailer at the time of the crash.
The front of the motorcycle collided with the left side of the SUV. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to the report.
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FHP pronounced the motorcycle rider dead at the scene. The SUV driver was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.
Florida health officials are pushing back at quarantine guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius exposed to the deadly Andes hantavirus.
One American who was on the cruise ship says she’s stuck in the middle and unable to leave federal quarantine.
“I’m being held hostage in this power struggle between a state and the federal government,” said Angela Perryman, 47, who has been at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit since May 11.
“I don’t think there has been a day since I’ve been here that I didn’t cry,” she said.
Perryman said that health officials previously told passengers that they would be able to leave federal quarantine by the end of May and spend the rest of their 42-day quarantine under home supervision. The first five went home June 1.
Like all Americans aboard the cruise ship, Perryman has tested negative for the Andes virus.
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Angela Perryman, seen here on an excursion from the MV Hondius, said she hasn’t been able to go a day without crying since she disembarked.Courtesy Angela Perryman
States were required by the CDC to station law enforcement or public health employees outside the homes of quarantined passengers for surveillance.
It was up to state health departments to figure out how to accomplish that for passengers who chose to go home.
Florida health officials, it appears, have a different approach.
“At this time, neither the state of Florida nor the Department is planning to implement round-the-clock surveillance measures,” Brian Wright, a spokesman for the Florida Health Department, said in an email. “The state does not believe unnecessarily intrusive restrictions are warranted when established public health practices can effectively protect both public health and personal freedom.”
The agency, which didn’t provide an official response, has named Dr. David Fitter to lead its response under the temporary leadership of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who has criticized the CDC’s restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Perryman, a Florida native, is one of 18 Americans who were on the Hondius when the rare hantavirus outbreak struck in May. They were taken to the Nebraska unit, where some of the first Covid patients who’d been aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in early 2020, as well as several Ebola patients in 2014, were treated.
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As of Thursday, 10 of the Hondius passengers have left the federal facility and are now under surveillance in their home states, until the end of the virus’s full 42-day quarantine period, set to end June 22, a University of Nebraska Medical Center spokesperson confirmed.
The passengers’ trips home were coordinated by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, as well as local and state health departments.
The Hondius off the port of Praia, Cape Verde, on May 5.AFP via Getty Images file
“The individuals did not travel commercially, and appropriate biocontainment measures were in place during their transport,” the medical center said in a statement.
Eight passengers, including Perryman, remain in Nebraska. The only other passenger still in Nebraska who has spoken publicly about the ordeal is Jake Rosmarin, who’s posted about his time in quarantine on Instagram.
Generally, the virus is spread from rodents to people. The Andes strain is the only one known to spread from person to person.
The World Health Organization confirmed 13 cases of Andes virus associated with the cruise ship, and three people have died. None of the Americans have developed symptoms.
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That fatality rate — 23% — is one of the reasons health officials have been particularly focused on keeping any potential for viral spread contained. And the incubation period is exceptionally long. It can take up to six weeks for symptoms of hantavirus to appear.
Perryman said that all she wants to do is walk into her yard and take photos of birds and bugs.
“I want to go home,” she said, “and stay in my house and have no contact with anyone.”
Want to take dinner and drinks to new heights? While Collier County may not have as many rooftop venues as larger Florida cities, the handful of elevated restaurants and bars the county features are stunning and worth visiting.
From downtown Naples views and a waterfront mangrove oasis to beautiful Gulf sunsets on Marco Island, these rooftop destinations have mastered the art of pairing scenery with food and cocktails.
Here’s three rooftop restaurants and bars in Collier County to check out this summer.
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Tigress Restaurant & Rooftop Bar
Tigress is located on the seventh floor of The Perry Hotel Naples and has quickly become one of the most talked-about dining destinations since its debut a couple years ago. From its rooftop terrace, guests can take in panoramic views of the Cocohatchee River and its surrounding mangrove estuaries.
The open air rooftop bar features a huge island bar in the center of the space, inviting guests to grab a drink before dinner. There’s a few tables to dine at as well, but many guests opt to enjoy their meals inside the darker interior dining room. The interior room features a large window so the rooftop views aren’t lost.
The menu is full of delicious and modern takes on traditional Cantonese dishes, like dry-aged crown of duck with Hong Kong French toast and Mongolian barbecue pork ribs.
Located on top of the AC Hotel Naples Fifth Avenue, Limon Rooftop Bar is one of Naples’ few elevated dining and drinking experiences. The open-air rooftop provides views of colorful sunsets and the bustling Fifth Avenue South. The views are more urban than waterfront, but Limon provides a unique dining experience regardless.
The combination of handcrafted cocktails, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, and city views has made Limon a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. Its downtown location gives guests a great venue to enjoy a meal at before a night on the town.
(455 12th Street S., Naples; 239-944-3755; limonrooftop.com)
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Tesoro JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
Looking for unobstructed Gulf views? Make a reservation at Tesoro, JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort’s adults-only restaurant. Tesoro overlooks the Gulf and Marco Island’s white sand shoreline, giving guests beautiful waterfront views to enjoy during dinner. The rooftop terrace provides front-row seats to Southwest Florida’s most beautiful nightly display: a stunning sunset.
Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with a unique Italian flair along with a lively weekend atmosphere with a resident DJ. Expect fresh Gulf seafood, shareable plates, and handcrafted cocktails against a beautiful beach view.
(400 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island; 239-393-3208; tesoroatjwmarco.com)
Kendall Little is the food & dining reporter for Naples Daily News. Questions, comments, or tips? Email Kendall.Little@NaplesNews.com.
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