NCAA DII TEAMS TO WATCH
The defending national
champion University of
Tampa baseball team is
ranked No. 1 in the
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
NCAA Division II preseason poll.
Coming off a 43-13 record in 2015, the Spartans won the seventh national championship in program history to cap off another exciting season. After finishing the regular season with a 35-13 record, UT hit its stride in the NCAA tournament while winning four games in both the NCAA South Regional and Championship Series.
UT headlines a list of four Sunshine State Conference schools in the preseason poll, which also includes Florida Tech (7), Nova Southeastern (17) and Lynn (20). Additionally, Florida Southern and Saint Leo are receiving votes.
The 2016 Spartan schedule includes games against several nationally-ranked out-of-conference teams, including Catawba (2). Seton Hill (19), West Florida (29). The game against Catawba will mark a rematch of the 2015 national championship game, which UT took by a 3-1 score.
In total, Tampa plays 16 games against teams in the 2016 preseason poll. Along with West Florida, the NCAA South Region also includes three other ranked teams from the Gulf South Conference, including West Alabama (8), West Georgia (27) and Alabama-Huntsville (30).
The Spartans return just two offensive starters from last season, including senior center fielder Casey Scoggins and senior third baseman Cody deNoyelles. Scoggins won the national Gold Glove for his play in the field last season, and also hit .352 with a .425 on-base percentage. deNoyelles hit .367 with nine home runs and 43 RBI. Tampa welcomes
a large number of junior college and NCAA
Division I transfers to replace the departed
offensive players.
UT's pitching staff looks to remain a bright spot for the team, as it returns NCAA Championship Series Most Outstanding Player Michael Calkins. The senior left-hander finished the 2015 season with a 6-4 record and 3.18 ERA. He capped the tremendous season with a complete game in the national title contest against Catawba.
Also returning for Tampa's pitching staff is a pair of experienced seniors in David Heintz and Brad Hencke. The Spartans added a number of arms who are expected to compete, via transfer.
This marks the 18th consecutive season that Tampa has been ranked in the preseaon poll, as the Spartans were No. 2 in 2015. This is the sixth time in program history where UT has received the top billing in the opening poll.
UT has now been nationally ranked for 181 consecutive weeks, which dates back to the 2005 season. Tampa has now been ranked every season dating back to 1998. This also marks the 75th week that Tampa has been No. 1 in the nation.
The Lakers went 40-11 last year and made their first appearance in the NCAA Division II National Finals.
Starting pitcher Colin McKee and relief pitcher Ben Nolan were elected to the Preseason All-Atlantic First Team. Second baseman Brendan Cox and outfielder Hank Morrison were named to the Second Team.
#1
TAMPA
Courtesy of tampaspartans.com
#3
MERCYHURST
Josh Reilly, Director of Athletic Communications
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