WINTER HAVEN – After having four players sign in the fall, four more Polk State Baseball players have signed to continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year programs.

Of the four players to sign during the spring and summer, three will be staying in the state of Florida. Polk State finishes the year with eight players moving on to four-year programs. Five will go the NCAA Division I route.

"To watch players come in, work hard, develop and move on to good four-year programs is one of the most rewarding parts of this job," Head Coach Al Corbeil said. "Four-year programs know that when they're getting a Polk State player, they're getting a guy who isn't afraid of hard work."

A first-team All-Citrus Conference and second-team All-FCSAA selection, catcher Marvin Montenegro will head to the state's capital as he's signed with Florida State University. Montenegro becomes the fourth Polk State player in as many years to sign with the Seminoles.

"I chose Florida State because of the coaching staff, the culture they've built and the opportunity to compete at a high level in the ACC," Montenegro said. "When I talked with the coaches and visited campus, it felt like the right fit for me both athletically and academically. I'm excited to continue developing as a player and to be part of a program with such a strong tradition."

In his lone season at Polk State, Montenegro hit .342 with five home runs, 45 RBIs, 52 runs scored and 16 stolen bases this season. He also led the Eagles with four triples.

"Polk State prepared me for the next step in a lot of ways, especially through Coach Corbeil and his staff," Montenegro added. "Coach Corbeil pushed me every day to improve as a person and a player. He helped me to become more disciplined, mentally tougher and more confident in my abilities. Polk helped me mature and get ready for the responsibilities that come with playing Division I baseball. I'm very thankful to Coach Corbeil, my teammates and everyone at Polk State who helped me get to this point."

Also a native of Lakeland, pitcher Anthony Schatz will return to the Swan City to conclude his college career. He's signed with Florida Southern College, an NCAA Division II program.

After beginning his college career at Tallahassee State College, Schatz led Polk State with 26 appearances on the mound in 2026. He finished with a 3-0 record and ranked second on the team with two saves and a 4.43 ERA.

"I'm proud to have had the opportunity to play for this school and with these guys," Schatz said during the spring. "I've gained confidence and realized I could compete at this level." 

Infielder Kenay Acevedo will also be continuing his college career in Lakeland. He's signed with Southeastern University, an NAIA program.

"I chose Southeastern because it is a highly competitive and successful program that consistently wins at a high level," Acevedo explained. "It was also a great fit for me because it's close to home, and they offered me a great opportunity – both academically and athletically. I felt it was the best place for me to continue developing as a player and a student."

A native of Puerto Rico and a graduate of Winter Haven High School, Acevedo appeared in 40 games for Polk State as a redshirt sophomore, hitting .274 with one home run, 18 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He played in all 55 games as a freshman in 2025.

"Polk State helped prepare me to become a better teammate, work harder every day and get ready for the next level of competition," Acevedo reflected. "My coaches and teammates pushed me to improve on and off the field. The experience taught me the discipline, work ethic and accountability needed to succeed."

Jason Sawyer, a left-handed relief pitcher, was the last to sign with a four-year program. He'll head to Columbus State University, an NCAA Division II program in Georgia.

"I chose Columbus State because it's a great program with coaches who know how to win," Sawyer said.

For Polk State as a sophomore, Sawyer made 18 appearances, including three starts. Sawyer posted a 2-1 record and finished with 29 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work.

"Polk State prepared me to take this step by showing me what it meant to grind," Sawyer concluded. "It prepared me for anything that came my way."

Polk State signees

Name, position, signed
• Kenay Acevedo, IF, Southeastern University
• Roman Corinti, P, University of South Alabama
• Zach Lester, OF, University of South Carolina Upstate
• Marvin Montenegro, C, Florida State University
• Jason Sawyer, P, Columbus State University
• Anthony Schatz, P, Florida Southern College
• Hayden Testerman, IF, Brigham Young University
• Kustarr Webb, IF, Bethune-Cookman University