Polk State Baseball

2011,2012,2014,2015,2016,2017 Suncoast Conference Champs, 2014 State Runner-Up, 1992 and 2012 State Champs #SoarEagles #BlueCollar #ItsNotForEveryone

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

LEGENDS OF POLK’S PAST: Zach Diewart, OF (Baseball)

A native of Canada, Zach Diewert spent six seasons playing college baseball in Polk County. The first two of those came at Polk State College. As a member of the Eagles, Diewert was named second-team All-Suncoast Conference each year. Over his two seasons with the program, Polk State totaled 80 wins and claimed consecutive conference titles.

As a freshman in 2016, Diewert hit .338 with seven home runs, 37 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Polk State finished as FCSAA semifinalists that season. As a sophomore in 2017, Diewert hit .291 with a team-leading seven home runs and 32 stolen bases – good for third in the FCSAA. He also led the Eagles with 64 hits and 18 doubles as the Eagles won 41 games. Diewert was also named to the FCSAA All-Tournament team.

After two years at Polk State, Diewert spent the 2017 season at the University of Missouri but didn’t play. He then spent two years each at Florida Southern College, an NCAA Division II program, and Southeastern University, an NAIA school – both in Lakeland. Diewert hit .339 for Florida Southern as a junior in 2019 with six home runs and 24 RBIs. He added four home runs and 12 RBIs during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Diewert transferred to Southeastern for his final two years. After going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in his only game of 2021, Diewart closed his career by hitting .323 as a redshirt senior in 2022 as the Fire won the NAIA national championship.

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

Former Polk State College student-athletes continued to excel on the fields and courts this past academic year. A total of 15 former Eagles earned All-Conference, All-Region, All-America or All-Tournament honors at four-year programs. https://t.co/tI1rDtDcVG

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

With four signees in the fall and four more in the spring, eight Polk State Baseball players have signed to continue their athletic and academic careers at four-year programs, including five at NCAA Division I institutions. https://t.co/v8gWZQSc1d

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

Oppo thunder #PolkBoy

[Springfield Cardinals @Sgf_Cardinals]

Dakota Harris lifts off! Springfield is up 2-0.

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

America 250! 🇺🇸 #SoarEagles

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

After a stellar season on the field and in the classroom, Polk State Baseball infielder Kustarr Webb has been recognized as the top male academic athlete in the state, earning FCSAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
https://t.co/58uQY3IgQB

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

Polk State Athletics was proud to join Polk State College faculty, staff and incoming President Anastasios ‘Stasi’ Kamoutsas to celebrate Independence Day at the Polk State College Foundation's America 250 event on Thursday at the Health Center on the Winter Haven Campus!

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

Nelly Taylor Jr 💣 #PolkBoy

[Portland Sea Dogs @PortlandSeaDogs]

Nelly!

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

The Uncle Charlie working ! Great job Aiden #PolkBoy

[Mariners Minors @MiLBMariners]

Aiden Butler was awesome tonight. Final line: 5IP, 5H, 0R, 1BB, 8K, 18 whiffs, 76 pitches, 50 strikes. New career best in strikeouts.

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

Clutch

[Springfield Cardinals @Sgf_Cardinals]

YES! DAKOTA HARRIS! TIE GAME!

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

Congrats @KustarrWebb21 What a special young man. Exemplary student , teammate , player, and leader ! @premier_sox @BCUDiamondCats

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

After graduating summa cum laude with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Polk State's Kustarr Webb is the 2026 winner of the Bill Tuten Award, which goes to the FCSAA's top scholar-athlete for baseball. https://t.co/EfaTACzcUk

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

GAMER #PolkBoy

[Springfield Cardinals @Sgf_Cardinals]

Have a day Dakota Harris! 4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 SB, 4 RBI tonight in Wichita.

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

FUN FACT FRIDAY: Testerman had highest double total for Polk State Baseball in three years

Polk State Baseball had another solid season in 2026, hitting the 30-win mark for the fifth time in six years. One of the key pieces toward the top of the lineup was second baseman Hayden "Bear" Testerman.

After an injury-plagued freshman season, Testerman played in all 54 games and raised his average by nearly 60 points, batting .325 with four home runs and 44 RBIs. Testerman led the team and finished fifth in the FCSAA with 17 doubles. That's the highest total for a Polk State player in three years.

The last time that a Polk State player finished with more two-baggers came in 2023 when Nelson "Nelly" Taylor finished with 19 doubles. Taylor is now a valued prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization. Testerman will continue his collegiate career next fall at Brigham Young University.

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

Congrats @bradyn_potter25 on the hardware ! #SoarEagles

[Rawlings Baseball @RawlingsSports]

The 2026 @abca1945 NJCAA Division I Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winners!

#RawlingsGoldGloveAwards

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

Previously named to the FCSAA All-Defensive Team, freshman Bradyn Potter became the third Polk State Baseball outfielder in four years to win a Rawlings Gold Glove on Wednesday. https://t.co/YRW6EM98zz

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

LEGENDS OF POLK’S PAST: Matt Pearce, P (Baseball)

A big body at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Matt Pearce was never the hardest thrower, but he certainly knew how to pitch. Over two seasons at Polk State College, Pearce helped Polk State Baseball finish a combined 73-30 with a Suncoast Conference title. Pearce was recognized as a first-team All-Suncoast performer in each of his two seasons on campus.

As a freshman in 2013, Pearce finished 6-1 and ranked fourth in the FCSAA with a 1.65 ERA. He finished the year with 56 strikeouts. As a sophomore, Pearce helped the Eagles capture the Suncoast title and finish as FCSAA runners-up. For the year, Pearce went 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 82.2 innings pitched. He finished the season ranked ninth in the FCSAA in strikeouts, seventh in innings pitched and fourth in complete games (4).

Selected in the 13th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Pearce spent five seasons in the organization, reaching as high as Triple-A. He spent parts of six seasons in professional baseball. In 101 professional games, all starts, Pearce posted a 3.42 ERA and finished with six complete games, including two shutouts.

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

#7 Dakota #PolkBoy

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

Great job in athletics ! ⚾️ with 13 !

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

A Polk State College record 49 student-athletes have been named to the FCSAA All-Academic Team for the 2025-26 year. All five of the College's sports were represented. https://t.co/DHHgRX02kc

[Polk Athletics @Polk_Athletics]

In April, the Polk State College Athletics Department made history by making its first Hall of Fame inductions in 13 years and inducting its largest class ever at Cleveland Heights Golf Course in Lakeland.

The 1992 Polk State Baseball team, Lance Jeter, Stephanie Koutsoumbaris, Bing Tyus and Phoebe Wu joined eight existing members. More than 100 people were on hand to celebrate these legends, including coaching legends German Del Valle and Matt Furjanic!

View the full Hall of Fame here: https://t.co/4uBjduhXHA

Nominate for the 2027 class here: https://t.co/nqoimzDcHD

[Polk State Baseball @PolkStBaseball]

1st pro hit HR ! Might as well trot Congrats to @ColeGriffith_24 #PolkBoy