Tampa’s Stephen Dezzi on Short List for 2014 Josh Willingham Award

OMAHA, Neb. - The semifinalists for the 2014 Josh Willingham Award have been announced, as UT's Stephen Dezzi is among the group. The award honors NCAA Division II college baseball's most valuable player. Three Sunshine State Conference student-athletes made the list.

A total of 41 exceptional student-athletes make up the list. The award is sponsored by Sale Consultants of St. Louis. In addition to Dezzi, Florida Southern's Keith Curcio and Lynn's Sal Giardina, Jr., represent the SSC on the list.

Dezzi, a junior from Sarasota, Fla., was named Daktronics South Region Player of the Year. He was also named All-SSC First Team, Daktronics All-South Region First Team, ABCA All-South Region First Team and NCBWA All-South Region First Team.
Curcio, also a junior from Sarasota, Fla., was a ABCA Golf Glove First Team selection and a Daktronics All-South Region Second Team honoree.

The annual honor is named after the former North Alabama All-American and current Major League Baseball star, Josh Willingham. While playing baseball at UNA, Willingham was a two-time All-American and tied or broke 14 school single-game, season and career records. After his junior season, Willingham was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 17 th round of the MLB Draft. He is currently in the midst of his 11 th season in the MLB and is an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.

The winner of the 2014 Josh Willingham Award will be named Monday, June 2 following the Division II Championship, which will be held May 24-31 in Cary, N.C.