Tampa Selected As Preseason Favorite To Win SSC
ORLANDO, Fla. - In a preseason poll in which the top three teams were separated by just seven points, The University of Tampa was selected as the favorite to win the 2010 Sunshine State Conference baseball championship.
The Spartans collected 116 points in the poll, followed by Florida Southern, which received 110. Nipping at the Moccasins' heels was defending national champion Lynn, which tallied 109 points. Tampa received eight first-place votes. FSC garnered six first-place nods, while the Fighting Knights collected the remaining four.
Barry, which won the SSC title a year ago, placed fourth in the poll with 84 points. Florida Tech came in fifth with 67 points, while Nova Southeastern occupied the sixth slot with 58. Rollins (46), Saint Leo (39), and Eckerd (19) rounded out the poll.
Voting for the preseason baseball poll was conducted among the league's baseball coaches and sports information directors.
Tampa returns 18 letter-winners from the squad that posted a 40-17 record in 2009. The Spartans finished second in the SSC standings, posting a 16-8 conference slate. They also advanced to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.
Among UT's returning players is junior first baseman Jared Simon, who earned first team all-SSC honors last spring. In 48 starts, he batted .387 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, and 13 doubles. Also returning to the diamond will be a pair of second team all-SSC honorees, Correy Figueroa and Mike Schwartz. A senior shortstop, Figueroa batted .335 with 23 RBI in 38 starts. A senior designated hitter, Schwartz posted a .368 batting average with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, and 12 doubles.
Seven pitchers will also lend experience to Tampa's returning ranks. Among them are left-handers Carmine Giardina and John Wiedenbauer, both of whom notched a 5-1 record last season.
2010 SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
Rank - School, Points (1st Place Votes)
1 - Tampa, 116 (8)
2 - Florida Southern, 110 (6)
3 - Lynn, 109 (4)
4 - Barry, 84
5 - Florida Tech, 67
6 - Nova Southeastern, 58
7 - Rollins, 46
8 - Saint Leo, 39
9 - Eckerd, 19