Casey Scoggins Named Defensive Player of the Year; Giovanny Alfonzo Recognized as All-American

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Casey Scoggins was named the ABCA/Rawlings National Defender of the Year as its NCAA Division II postseason awards were announced Monday. Teammate Giovanny Alfonzo was also tabbed a third-team All-American.

The American Baseball Coaches Association announced awards including the 2015 ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans, the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team and the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award as National Player of the Year for NCAA Division II.

Scoggins, a junior centerfielder from Port St. Lucie, Fla., becomes the first national defender of the year in UT's illustrious program history. In addition to making several big plays on defense, Scoggins remains perfect with 135 chances. He has totaled 131 putouts and four outfield assists, including a throw where he gunned out a Florida Tech runner at the plate to win the NCAA South Regional for the Spartans.

Alfonzo, a senior shortstop who also hails from Port St. Lucie, adds All-America honors to his impressive two-year resume with the Spartans. Also a two-time all-Sunshine State Conference performer, Alfonzo is hitting .359 on the season with 10 home runs and 46 RBI. He also leads the team with 75 hits and 18 doubles.

Craig Brooks, a senior pitcher from Catawba College, was named 2015 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award winner as National Player of the Year. Brooks is 9-1 with 150 strikeouts and 33 walks in 96 innings pitched this season. He has limited opponents to a .157 batting average and led the Indians to an appearance in the NCAA Div. II College World Series.

Established in 1945, the ABCA is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 6,600 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, Junior College, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 72nd annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 7-10, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.

2015 ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams
NCAA Div. II All-America First Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C Will Albertson Jr. Catawba NC
1B Ryan Uhl Sr. Indiana University of Penn. PA
2B Stephen James Sr. Ashland OH
3B Nick Sell Sr. Seton Hill PA
SS Paxton DeLaGarza Jr. Angelo State TX
INF Collins Cuthrell Sr. UNC Pembroke NC
OF Adam Urbania Sr. Slippery Rock PA
OF Jason Morozowski Jr. Mount Olive NC
OF Jhalan Jackson Jr. Florida Southern FL
OF Justin Garcia Jr. Nova Southeastern FL
DH Jesse Rall Jr. Missouri Southern MO
P Brendan O'Rourke Sr. Franklin Pierce NH
P Reese Gregory Jr. St. Cloud State MN
P Craig Brooks Sr. Catawba NC
P Ryan Olson So. Cal Poly Pomona CA
RP Nick Vanthillo Jr. Henderson State AR

NCAA Div. II All-America Second Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C Austin Allen Jr. Florida Institute of Technology FL
1B Albert Baur Sr. Newberry SC
2B Shane Billings So. Wingate NC
3B Hunter Newman So. Trevecca Nazarene TN
SS Daniel Martin Jr. Azusa Pacific CA
INF Dean Long Sr. Emporia State KS
OF Justin Harris Sr. Emporia State KS
OF Kamran Young Sr. Cal State Dominguez Hills CA
OF Thomas Spitz Sr. Wingate NC
OF Kyle Garlick Sr. Cal Poly Pomona CA
DH Troy Paris Jr. Kentucky Wesleyan KY
P Miles Sheehan Jr. Franklin Pierce NH
P Steve Naemark Jr. Angelo State TX
P Justin Donatella Jr. UC San Diego CA
P Chris Murphy Sr. Millersville PA
RP Tyler Fries Sr. Wilmington DE

NCAA Div. II All-America Third Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C Michael Jurgella Sr. St. Cloud State MN
1B Tanner Rainey Sr. West Alabama AL
2B Hayden Jones Jr. Valdosta State GA
3B Jay Jabs So. Franklin Pierce NH
SS Brandon Overstreet Sr. Erskine SC
INF Giovanny Alfonzo Sr. Tampa FL
INF Dan Stoltzfus Jr. Millersville PA
OF Mick Fennell Jr. California (PA) PA
OF Sam Goines Sr. Wilmington DE
OF Alex Fife Jr. Colorado Mesa CO
OF Chandler Brock Sr. Alabama Huntsville AL
OF Jake Sandlin Jr. Georgia College GA
DH Chris LaVorgna So. Franklin Pierce NH
P Jamie Treml Sr. Wilmington DE
P Matt McClain Sr. St. Mary's TX
P Fernando Gonzalez Sr. West Alabama AL
P Ryan Colegate Jr. Ohio Dominican OH
P Brandon Nagem Jr. West Florida FL
RP Austin Simokaitis Jr. Missouri-St. Louis MO

Gold Bat Award - Player of the Year: Craig Brooks, Sr., P, Catawba
Position Player of the Year: Will Albertson, Jr., C, Catawba
Pitcher of the Year: Craig Brooks, Sr., Catawba

2015 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II Gold Glove Team
NCAA Div. II Gold Glove Team
Pos. Player Cl. School State
C Michael Jurgella Sr. St. Cloud State MN
1B Nick Pate Jr. Fresno Pacific CA
2B Dylan Cook Jr. Georgia College GA
3B Chris Dennis Sr. Florida Southern FL
SS John Ascenzia Sr. Bridgeport CT
OF Casey Scoggins Jr. Tampa FL
OF Jamie Potts Sr. Grand Valley State MI
OF Jason Morozowski Jr. Mount Olive NC
P Collin Sherrod Jr. St. Edwards TX

Defensive Player of the Year: Casey Scoggins, Jr., OF, Tampa