More Than a Game: Reflections on the UCF vs. Rollins Rivalry

It may be an exaggeration, but it seemed like hundreds of scouts filled the stands at Alfond Stadium on Saturday November 1, 2025. You couldn’t miss them. They stood out in their pressed pants, holding radar guns , jotting notes with a professional focus that cuts through the casual crowd. Everyone was looking for the next best prospect. In this second game of the annual series between our two local schools, the hard-to-miss ones were on the UCF side.

Knight pitching, for the most part, ruled the day. It was a gauntlet of power, right-handed pitchers throwing over 90 miles an hour. Their sharp breaking balls, focused command, and overall athleticism proved to be the overwhelming force that shut the Rollins offense down.

The Knights showed their talents on the mound, consistently delivering blistering fastballs that overpowered the Tars. (Credit: UCF Instagram)

On the offensive side, the UCF players came out swinging. In an era where it seems most amateur players are obsessed with exit velo and launch angle -focusing on how far they can hit a ball that ends up as a fly out -UCF bucked the trend. They drove line drives into the right-center field gap, forcing a lead early in the game. Of course, the titans of the UCF outfield still showed their power. DeAmez Ross and Andrew Williamson both blasted home runs to right field. Williamson’s shot, in particular, was one of those moments where time stops. He back spun a ball to the pull side that narrowly missed the team bus, bouncing into the old Holler Chevrolet parking lot off Fairbanks Ave as scouts scribbled furiously.

Rollins conjured a little offensive momentum with a few singles and ground balls, but it wasn’t enough. UCF overpowered them with pure numbers and athletic ability , just as they had last year at their home field.

The Third Base Dugout: The Rollins Anchor

Standing behind the backstop in the Alumni sections and seeing that “R” logo on the hat brings back a flood of memories. I played baseball at Rollins College in the 2000’s. In 2004, our team did something special -we won the Sunshine State Conference Championship for the first time in school history. We went on to win the NCAA Regional against our in-state rivals and found ourselves in the College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama.

In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Rollins Baseball World Series team, the players and coaches from that squad received new, reimagined Championship rings to honor that special 2004 season.

We just celebrated the 20th anniversary of that team. And while standing there on Saturday, watching a new generation of Tars compete, I was reminded of that journey and the bonds that last a lifetime.

The First Base Dugout: The Teammate at the Helm

Then, I looked in the other dugout. Watching Rich Wallace coach his alma mater, UCF, brings me an immense pride I can hardly describe. Rich was a teammate and trusted friend of mine at Bishop Moore High School back in the late 1990s.

Back then, I was a raw, talented power pitcher with a lively fastball that had a lot of movement… and not always a lot of direction. Rich was the fortunate person who had to catch my fastballs, which were routinely off the mark and sometimes in the dirt.

But even then, Rich had a way of teaching. He had the makeup of a great coach. He knew how to tell me where I was wrong and what I needed to do as a ballplayer. He taught me so much back then, and he teaches me even more now. In fact, my first coaching job after college was a teenage travel team we started together called the Oviedo Knights. Talk about some humble beginnings! To see him now lead his alma mater, a program at the Division 1 level, is a powerful thing to witness.

The View from the Stands: Where It All Connects

This game, for me, was never about the score. It was about the story.

So, seeing two of my favorite local clubs compete against each other -with friends, family, teammates, and former coaches all nearby-was a surreal moment. Yes, it was a competition between two prominent Orlando sports teams. But the impact on our community, the opportunity for the players under the watchful eyes of those scouts, and the impact on my own heart- that was an opportunity of a lifetime for everyone involved.

Only baseball can paint pictures like the one I saw yesterday.

David Pringle , Founder | Brains and Bases

Mental Skills Coach | Veteran Public School Educator

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.