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Nine Raiders Earn All-Conference Honors, Orlando Fernandez Named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year
Posted: Apr 30, 2026

Nine Raiders Earn All-Conference Honors, Orlando Fernandez Named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year

Complete 2026 All-Conference Teams List (Citrus/Panhandle)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The FCSAA unveiled its 2026 Panhandle and Citrus All-Conference Baseball teams Monday, with Northwest Florida placing nine players on the All-Panhandle squad. Highlighting the honors was freshman shortstop Orlando Fernandez, who was named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year, marking the third straight season a Raider has claimed the award.

Fernandez joins Cayden Gaskin (2024) and Qrey Lott (2025) as recent Raiders to earn the conference's top individual honor. The Fort Myers, Fla. native has put together a standout freshman campaign, batting .400 with 12 home runs, 30 extra-base hits, 49 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases. He currently ranks among the state leaders in batting average, home runs, and stolen bases while sitting top-15 in RBIs. Fernandez has also been red hot entering postseason play, recording hits in nine straight games and 12 of his last 13 contests, totaling five home runs and 14 RBIs during that stretch.

Joining Fernandez on the All-Panhandle First Team are Anthony Quigley (3B), Angel Santiago (2B), Brock Clayton (OF), and Bradley Garrett (P).

Quigley recently etched his name into program history by breaking Northwest Florida's single-season home run record with his 16th homer of the year. The sophomore is hitting .398 with 28 extra-base hits, 56 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.

Santiago has been one of the Raiders' most consistent offensive weapons all season, batting .376 with 65 hits, 59 runs scored, 35 RBIs, and a team-high 35 stolen bases. His ability to get on base (.483 OBP) and create havoc on the basepaths has made him a catalyst at the top of the lineup.

Clayton has provided power and production in the middle of the order, slashing .363 with 45 hits, 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 41 RBIs while posting an impressive .661 slugging percentage.

Garrett has anchored the pitching staff throughout conference play, compiling a 6-0 record with three complete games and a 3.03 ERA across 59.1 innings pitched. The sophomore left-hander has struck out 46 batters while holding opponents to a 1.30 WHIP.

The All-Panhandle Second Team selections for Northwest Florida include Hunter Tarchalski (1B), Nathan Nance (OF), Sam Bradley (DH), and Aiden Torrez (P).

Tarchalski has been a reliable bat all season, hitting .397 with 60 hits, 36 RBIs, and a .471 on-base percentage while striking out just 19 times in 151 at-bats.

Nance earned second-team honors after batting .317 with 38 hits, six home runs, 21 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases, adding versatility and speed to the Raiders lineup.

Bradley has delivered consistent run production as the designated hitter, batting .367 with 51 hits, 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a team-best .676 slugging percentage. This also marks the second straight year Bradley has earned all-conference honors after being named a first team recipient last season.

On the mound, Torrez posted a strong sophomore season with a 7-1 record and 4.34 ERA over 45.2 innings. He struck out 47 batters, averaging 9.26 strikeouts per nine innings while tossing three complete games.

Northwest Florida now shifts its focus to postseason play after earning an at-large bid into the FCSAA Division I Baseball Championship, where the Raiders will face No. 2 seed Central Florida in a best-of-three regional series beginning Friday in Ocala.