While a top ranking in the preseason polls followed by a 25-6 start would satisfy most coaches, Central Florida College's Kevin Fagan sees no reason to celebrate midway through the season.

"Realistically, we are underachieving at this point," the Patriots' fourth-year coach says. "Offensively, we are not doing as well as I expected, and defensively we are lacking the communication needed to be a championship-level team. It remains to be seen if we can turn it around."

Fagan's assessment is most likely due to the high expectations for his team in 2017. In his three prior years at the helm, Fagan has guided the Ocala-based junior college to a 163-29 record, two Mid-Florida Conference Championships, and a runner-up finish in the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championship.

Coming off a 60-win season and an excellent recruiting year, the Patriots have the same lofty goals.

"Without question, I believe this is my most talented team," Fagan said. "But potential doesn't mean anything unless it translates on the field."

Still, it's not like the Patriots have been bad this season. The team recently went 4-1 in the ultra-competitive Dodgertown Classic. Two of its four losses have come to top 10 nationally ranked teams Florida Southwestern (ranked No. 3 preseason) and Indian River CC (preseason No. 13) while the other two losses came to state powers Chipola and State College of Florida.

Along the way, Central Florida also has wins against two those four teams.

The strength of the Patriots' team revolves around freshmen pitchers Shayne O'Connell  and Morgan Cushman. O'Connell is 10-2 this season with 77 strikeouts and a 0.67 ERA in 52.1 innings of work while Cushman is 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA.

"They are two different pitchers," Fagan said. "O'Connell is a power pitcher, throws in the mid 60s and has great movement. Cushman relies more on placement. She is more like a surgeon, really precise and accurate with her location."

Having essentially two No. 1s is an advantage many teams would envy.  

"Honestly at this point if we were in a must-win situation, I don't know who I would start," Fagan said. "They are so different but both are effective and having two aces could serve as well come tournament time."

Offensively, a trio of sophomores has been leading the way. Caeley Nix is hitting .495 this season while Kelsee Cullop is hitting .360 with 24 runs scored.  Destinee Lizzmore provides the pop in the lineup, hitting .360 with and leading the Patriots in home runs (11), RBIs (42) and runs scored (32).

Fagan also praised the play of freshman catcher Hannah Kelly.  Hitting .359 on the season, Kelly has already thrown out seven potential base-stealers and has committed just one error this year.

Conference champions in both 2015 and 2016, Central Florida opens defense of its title this week with the start of MFC play. There are seven teams in the conference, and Fagan sees Seminole State College as his team's biggest obstacle to a third straight crown.

"Seminole State College (21-2) is off to a great start but frankly all the teams in our conference are competitive," Fagan said.  "But if I had to pick the team we need to beat, I'd say it was Seminole."

Regardless of the outcome of the conference race, it is the state tournament that will measure the true success of the season for Fagan. There are 23 Division-I junior college teams in Florida spread through four conferences. The top four teams in each conference qualify for the 16-team double elimination state championship, and only the top two teams advance to the NJCAA national tournament.

Last year, despite a final record of 62-5 and top five ranking, the College of Central Florida went 1-2 in the state tournament and sat at home.

"Florida is it's own region and with so many great teams in the state, it is really tough to get into the national tournament," Fagan. "And when Florida teams advance, they usually represent well in the national tournament. Getting there is always the goal."