May 24, 2016

Four Spartans Earn ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region Honors

Danny Le represents Tampa on the first team.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The 2016 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region teams for both NCAA Div. II and NCAA Div. III as well as Regional Players of the Year have been announced. The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by each division's ABCA All-America Committee.

Earning first team All-South Region honors for the University of Tampa is junior right fielder Danny Lee. In his first season with the Spartans, Lee played in 50 games totaling a .383 batting average. He recorded 80 hits on the season, including 15 doubles, three triples, and four home runs. He would also drive in 44 runs for the Spartans and had a slugging percentage of .541.

Earning spots on the second team ABCA/Rawlings All-Region team were a trio of Spartans. The second baseman Laz Rivera earned a spot on the team after posting a team-high .427 batting average. J.D. Osborne earned a spot on the second team as an infielder, as the utility man led the Spartans in the power department hitting a team-best 13 home runs. Starting pitcher, Christopher Williams earned all-region honors after leading the UT pitching staff with 10 wins and 72 strikeouts.

To view the entire ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region Teams click here

ABCA/Rawlings All-Region first-team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors.

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.

The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 8,200 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 eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth. The 73rd annual ABCA Convention will be held Jan. 5-8, 2017 in Anaheim, California.