WINTER HAVEN – Under Head Coach Al Corbeil, Polk State Baseball players moving on to four-year schools has become a time-tested tradition. Following two recent signings, all 11 outgoing sophomores from this year's class are moving on.

Pitcher Caidan Peeples and catcher Travis Stapleton are the latest to sign with their next school. They join nine other Polk State sophomores who signed in the fall.

"I'm proud of these kids for doing a great job on the field and in the classroom," Corbeil said. "It makes it a lot easier to move on when they have the academic component. The next schools know that they're getting players who are willing to put the work in."

Peeples has pledged his services to the University of West Florida, an NCAA Division II school in Pensacola. There, he'll join three other former Polk State pitchers – Jacob Heath, Kade Manderscheid, and his former roommate, Major Posey.

"I heard a lot of good things about it, but I wasn't sure if it was the place for me," Peeples said. "When I got up there, met the coaches, seen the facilities, I knew that was where I wanted to be."

An arm injury has limited Peeples to just 29 innings pitched this season. A third-year player, Peeples finished tied for the team lead with six wins as a freshman in 2021.

"Polk State helped me figure out a lot of things on the field – but off the field as well," Peeples said. "'Corbs is a really good coach – one of the best I ever had. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. If you're a coachable player, you'll find out what works and what doesn't here."

After spending his freshman season at the University of North Florida, Stapleton is headed back to an NCAA Division I school and back to the Atlantic Sun Conference. He's chosen to sign with Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.

"Lipscomb checked all the boxes for me," Stapleton said. "I liked the coaches. I wanted to go somewhere I can contribute and compete."

In his lone season at Polk State, Stapleton ranks second on the team in batting average (.348) and hits (62) behind only Nelson Taylor. The sophomore catcher has three home runs and 35 RBIs. At one point this season, Stapleton had hit in 15 straight games.

"I got a lot of the coaching that I needed," Stapleton said of Polk State. "The reps helped a lot. Getting on the field and having guys like Coach Corbeil and (Assistant Coach Dominic Anagnos) help me with my hitting, I feel like I grew a lot."

Peeples and Stapleton aren't ready to say goodbye to Polk State just yet. The Eagles begin their quest for an FCSAA championship on Friday against Northwest Florida State College in a best-of-three regional.

Polk State Baseball Signees

Name, position, signed
• Gage Allen, P, Bethune-Cookman University
• Jaydon Bishop, P, Florida International University
• Breton Cusic, P, Winthrop University
• Cole Griffith, C/1B, Winthrop University
• Ray Mercer, OF, University of Tampa
• Caidan Peeples, P, University of West Florida
• J'Quann Smith, OF, Florida International University
• Travis Stapleton, C, Lipscomb University
• Nelson Taylor, OF, Florida State University
• Josh Texidor, P, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Dawson Turner, P, St. Leo University