Welcome to The Chief Brief!

It’s St. Patrick’s eve, Noles and many of our teams are in action this weekend.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

⚾ FSU Baseball Extends Winning Streak in ACC Opener Discover how the Seminoles maintained their flawless record and made history with their 16th consecutive victory, underpinned by stellar performances from Cam Smith, James Tibbs, and a solid pitching lineup.

🥎 Noles Face Setback Against Duke in Series Opener The FSU softball team encountered a formidable challenge against Duke, showcasing resilience and a late-game rally that sets the stage for an intriguing series continuation.

🏐 Seminoles' Beach Volleyball Battles in Manhattan Beach FSU's beach volleyball team displayed a mix of dominance and challenge in the East vs. West Tournament, promising more action-packed matchups against top-ranked teams.

🏌️‍♀️ Seminoles Shine at Florida State Match Up With a spotlight on standout performances and team cohesion, FSU's Women's Golf team secures a strong position in the prestigious tournament, led by sophomore All-American Lottie Woad.

🏃‍♂️ FSU Track and Field Teams Impress in Season's First Dual-Meet Weekend FSU's outdoor track and field teams kick off the season with notable achievements and personal bests across different venues, setting a high standard for the season.

🏈 Spotlight on Vernell Brown III: A Rising Star in High School Football Vernell Brown III captivates the football world with his performance at the Battle New Orleans 7-on-7 event, drawing attention from top collegiate programs and showcasing his prowess on both ends of the field.

⚾ FSU Baseball Extends Winning Streak in ACC Opener

The Florida State baseball team notched another victory, moving to an impressive 16-0 season record and 1-0 in ACC play, following their 8-4 win against Notre Dame at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles' continued success ties their 18-game win streak to the 10th-longest in the program's storied history.

Dynamic Duo at the Plate:

Cam Smith and James Tibbs led the offensive charge, combining for a 6-for-8 performance, contributing to four runs and three RBIs between them. Smith, now boasting a .507 batting average, showcased his power with a double and his fifth home run of the season.

Marco Dinges' first-inning homer set the early tone, putting FSU up 5-1 and highlighting the team's explosive start.

Pitching Prowess:

Cam Leiter shone on the mound, striking out 10 over 6.2 innings, marking FSU's longest pitching performance this year and nearly matching his career-best. Brennen Oxford and Noah Short provided critical relief, with Short securing his first save of the season.

Record-Breaking Run:

FSU's unbeaten start matches the second-best in program history, showcasing their status as the last remaining undefeated team in the country. This season's scoring streak also sets a new school record, with the Seminoles scoring at least seven runs in 16 consecutive games.

Noteworthy Performances:

• Cam Smith's 20-game hitting streak ties for the 17th-longest in FSU history, highlighting his remarkable consistency at the plate.

• James Tibbs extended his hitting streak to five games, underlining the depth of talent in FSU's lineup.

• Marco Dinges and Drew Faurot continued their hot streaks, contributing crucial hits and maintaining impressive batting averages.

Looking Ahead:

The series against Notre Dame continues with a Saturday game featuring Jamie Arnold on the mound for the Seminoles, aiming to extend their perfect start further into ACC play.

🥎 Noles Face Setback Against Duke in Series Opener

Last night at the Seminole Softball Complex, the No. 18 Florida State softball team (17-7, 0-1) encountered a tough challenge, dropping the game 10-5 to the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (21-1, 0-1). Despite a late surge in the sixth inning, FSU's comeback efforts fell short.

Duke's Early Dominance:
The Blue Devils swiftly took control, racking up the first 10 runs through a consistent offensive performance across the first to the sixth innings.

FSU's Rally Ignites:
In a spirited sixth inning, Jahni Kerr sparked hope with a leadoff double, her first appearance after a five-game hiatus due to injury. The Seminoles then capitalized on Duke's errors, with Jaysoni Beachum, Kalei Harding, and Amaya Ross driving in runs, showing signs of a potential comeback.

Harding's Notable Performance:
Kalei Harding stood out, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI, underscoring her critical role in FSU's lineup.

Looking Ahead:
The teams square off again today at 1 p.m. on ACCNX, amidst the celebrations of Alumni Weekend, where FSU honors the legacy of Team 31's 2014 Women's College World Series run.

🏐 Seminoles' Beach Volleyball Battles in Manhattan Beach

The No. 4 Florida State beach volleyball team displayed a mixed bag of results on the sunny sands of Manhattan Beach, California, during the East vs. West Tournament's opening day. Splitting the day with a decisive victory over No. 13 Hawaii but stumbling against the formidable No. 6 Cal, the Seminoles showcased their resilience and competitive spirit.

Against Hawaii: A Strong Start

• FSU opened with a 4-1 triumph over Hawaii, thanks to standout performances across the board. Junior Audrey Koenig and senior Raelyn White clinched a nail-biting win on court two, overcoming their opponents with a slim margin in the decisive third set.

• Despite a hard-fought battle on court five by senior Caitlin Moon and graduate student Kaeli Crews, Hawaii snatched the win in the third set, showcasing the intensity of the competition.

• Sophomore Carra Sassack and senior Alli Hansen dominated court three, sealing their match in straight sets and highlighting FSU's depth and skill.

Challenge from Cal

• The tides turned against Cal, where FSU found themselves on the back foot, managing only a 4-1 scoreline. The duo of Anna Long and Alexis Durish secured the sole point for FSU in a closely contested first set.

• Despite the determined effort, FSU conceded the rest of the courts in two sets, with Moon and Crews pushing for a third set on court five but ultimately falling short.

Looking Forward

• The Seminoles are not done yet; they're set to face No. 2 UCLA and No. 10 LMU in what promises to be a thrilling continuation of their campaign. With matchups scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, fans are eagerly anticipating FSU's next moves.

🏌️‍♀️ Seminoles Shine at Florida State Match Up

Sophomore All-American Lottie Woad leads the charge for the FSU Women's Golf team, tied for sixth place individually, while the team secures a strong second-place standing after the first two rounds of the 11th Annual Florida State Match Up at Seminole Legacy Golf Course.

Hosts with the Most

• FSU welcomed 14 teams to their home ground, trailing behind ACC rival Duke by 14 strokes but holding a commanding lead over other notable contenders such as Georgia and Baylor.

Weather-Adjusted Play

• Anticipating inclement weather, the tournament accelerated its schedule, completing 36 holes on the first day, Friday, and setting the stage for the concluding 18 holes on Saturday.

Senior Spotlight: Alice Hodge

• Senior Alice Hodge dazzled with an impressive 139 over two rounds, landing in a tie for 10th place with a remarkable 11 birdies across the day's play.

Sophomore Stars: Mirabel Ting

• Sophomore All-American Mirabel Ting, previously shining at Augusta University, continued her excellent form in Garnet and Gold with a two-under of 142, including five birdies, tying her for seventh place.

Woad's Wonderful Day

• Lottie Woad demonstrated her consistency and skill, earning a tied sixth-place standing with a total of 138, thanks to six birdies and an impressive second round under par.

Charlotte Heath's Consistent Performance

• Senior Charlotte Heath contributed significantly to the team's success, tying for 12th place with a score of 140, showcasing her skills with five birdies and an eagle.

Supporting Squad

• Kathrine Cook showed steady play throughout the day, securing a tie for 38th place with a combined score of 148, including four birdies.

Individual Talents

• Competing individually, Bella Bugg, Madison Hewlett, and Kaylah Williams also made their mark, with Bugg and Williams finishing the day tied for 49th and 56th, respectively.

Final Round Anticipation

• With all eyes on the Seminoles, the team is set to conclude the tournament with early tee times on Saturday, aiming to maintain or improve their standing in what promises to be a thrilling final round of play at the Seminole Legacy Golf Course.

🏃‍♂️ FSU Track and Field Teams Impress in Season's First Dual-Meet Weekend

Florida State University's outdoor track and field teams made a spectacular debut over the weekend, splitting their talent across two prestigious meets. The athletes showcased their prowess, marking a promising start to the season with several standout performances and a collection of personal bests.

Spotlight Performances and Breakthroughs:

• Avin's Debut Victory: In Jacksonville at the Bob Hayes Invitational, newcomer Ahmari Avin didn't just compete; he dominated the discus throw. With a career-best throw of 45.27m, he clinched his first win in an FSU jersey. His teammate, Ryan Driscoll, wasn't far behind, nabbing second place with a personal best throw of 42.52m, highlighting a strong showing for the Seminoles in the field events.

• Crowell's Hammer Throw Milestone: Cooper Crowell stepped up in the hammer throw, landing a personal best and second place with a mark of 50.82m. This early success sets a high bar for Crowell and his teammates for the rest of the season.

• Kone's Dash Dominance: Speedster Ismael Kone turned heads in the 200-meter dash prelims, clocking an impressive time of 20.79. FSU's head coach, Bob Braman, noted Kone's performance as a probable regional qualifier and an excellent sign for meets to come.

• Fleming and Carroll Lead in Javelin and Long Jump: On the women's side, Catherine Fleming hit a career-best 32.49m in the javelin throw, securing sixth place. Meanwhile, at the Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables, Tori Caroll leaped to third place in the long jump with a mark of 5.98m, backed by Skyler Reynolds and Adina Jackson, who also achieved personal bests, underscoring the Seminoles' depth in jumps.

• Tatham's Long Jump Feat: The men's long jump saw Kyvon Tatham soar to a career-best of 7.48m, finishing third. This achievement wraps up a day filled with significant milestones for the Seminoles, showcasing their readiness for the competitive season ahead.

Looking Ahead to Saturday's Finale: The Seminoles are set to conclude their opening weekend at the Hurricane Invitational. The events pick back up with the men's 400 at 2:05 p.m., where FSU aims to continue their strong start to the outdoor track and field season.

🏈 Spotlight on Vernell Brown III: A Rising Star in High School Football

This past weekend at the Battle New Orleans 7-on-7 event, Vernell Brown III, a class of 2025 wide receiver from Orlando, Florida, captured attention with a standout performance. Displaying skills reminiscent of NFL talent Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brown showcased his ability to dominate on the field, proving why he's a player to watch.

A Performance to Remember:

• Brown's display over the weekend was nothing short of spectacular, earning comparisons to some of the best talents in football for his exceptional ability to get open, secure the ball, and find the end zone with apparent ease.

Recruitment Heating Up:

• With a successful visit to Georgia already under his belt and more visits planned, Brown's talent has attracted interest from top programs nationwide, including Ohio State and Florida State, both confirmed as destinations for official visits.

Insight from Brown:

• Reflecting on his performance, Brown exudes confidence in his play-making abilities, viewing his on-field success as part of his routine.

• He emphasizes the importance of the recruitment process, looking for programs that not only excel in player development but also have a genuine coaching staff.

Connections and Future Plans:

• Highlighting his relationship with Florida State QB commit Tramell Jones Jr., Brown sees potential in joining forces with Jones at FSU, adding an intriguing dynamic to his recruitment.

• Brown also speaks highly of his duo with fellow receiver Jaime Ffrench, asserting their unmatched talent and synergy on the field.

• Aiming to make an early decision, Brown is focused on finding the right fit before his senior season, unless the clarity he seeks warrants a longer deliberation.

And that’s a wrap!

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Chief Brief, packed with updates and inspiring performances. Now go get yourself some corned beef and a green shirt to wear.

Stay tuned for more action, triumphs, and stories of Seminole spirit in our next issue. Until then, keep cheering, and Go Noles!