Pair Of Spartans Receive Call In MLB Draft

TAMPA, Fla. - Catcher Mike Blanke and pitcher Carmine Giardina became the third and fourth University of Tampa baseball players to be selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.

Blanke was selected by the Chicago White in the 14th round, with the 428th pick as Giardina was then chosen by the Los Angeles Angels in the 15th round at 474. The duo joins Jared Simon and Josh Bowman, who went in the sixth and 10th rounds respectively.

Blanke, a junior from Palm Bay, Fla., spent one season at UT after transferring from St. Petersburg College. As a Spartan, he hit .377 with nine home runs and 65 RBI. While starting 54 of 56 games, the catcher also clubbed 18 doubles and three triples for Tampa.

A first-team all-Sunshine State Conference selection, Blanke was also a first-team all-region choice by ABCA/Rawlings, Daktronics and the NCBWA. He was also an honorable mention NCBWA All-American.

He also earned the most valuable player award for the NCAA II South Regional. In the championship game of the regional, he clubbed a fifth-inning grand slam to give UT a 7-2 lead over Southern Arkansas as it went on to capture the South Region title.

Giardina, a senior from Valrico, played for UT for two seasons after transferring from the University of Central Florida. He was previously chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 22nd round of the 2009 MLB Draft and the Boston Red Sox in the 28th round in 2006.

The left-handed pitcher compiled a 2.76 ERA and a 4-1 record as a senior. In 49.0 innings, he registered 52 strikeouts while walking just 12 batters.