By: Josh Stevens 

The South Florida Collegiate League is known for its competitiveness. The games are close and different teams win the championship each year. While a high level of competition is a big draw for the league, the biggest upside to playing in the SFCBL is the preparation players get to use toward playing for their schools.  There is no better example of this than LSU’s College World Series Win. 

Three former SFCBL players: Case Beloso, Gavin Dugas, and Alex Milazzo were all vital towards LSU’s dominant season, ending in an 18-4 thrashing of Florida in Game 3. 

Cade Beloso was a standout for the Phipps Park Barracudas in 2020. Beloso hit .412 with a 1.088 OPS for the Barracudas, which earned him an All-Star selection. 

After two solid years at LSU, Beloso was looking to take on an advanced role in 2022. However, Beloso tore his ACL early on in the season, missing the whole year. 

In 2023, Beloso finally took that leap forward. Leading off for the Tigers, Beloso his .324 with 16 homers and a 1.084 OPS. In the CWS, Beloso was an on-base machine and hit a go-ahead homer in extra innings for the Tigers in Game One against Florida. 

Gavin Dugas also had a very solid year in 2020 in the SFCBL. Dumas blasted three homers with a .900 OPS for the Boynton Beach Buccaneers. 

Dugas had an advanced role for LSU in all three years from 2021-2023. The second baseman hit .290 or above in all three years, with an average OPS of 1.033. 

Dugas had a great final year for LSU, as he belted 17 homers. The biggest of these homers came in Game One of the CWS, where he hit a homer to extend LSU’s lead. Dugas was also in the middle of LSU’s go-ahead rally in Game Three, as he laced an RBI single into left. 

Finally, Alex Milazzo is also an SFCBL alumnus who won the College World Series with LSU. Milazzo was a Buccaneer for the SFCBL.

For LSU, Milazzo had a split-time role being the plate for his first couple of years before winning the starting job in 2023. Milazzo proved that he was the right man for the job, as he hit .290 while expertly controlling LSU’s pitching staff in 2023. 

While Milazzo had a great CWS, it was unfortunately overshadowed by the devastating injury that he suffered in Game Three. While trying to avoid the tag at home, Milazzo landed awkwardly and fractured his shin. We are wishing a speedy recovery to Milazzo and hope he can return to his productive performance. 

The South Florida Collegiate League continues to receive and churn out great college talent, and that reputation was bolstered with Cade Beloso, Gavin Dugas, and Alex Milazzo’s College World Series Win with LSU.