Spartans Well Represented on NCBWA Preseason Teams

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America (NCBWA) announced its preseason all-region and All-American teams, listing a number of players from the University of Tampa.

The Spartans led the way with six players named to the preseason all-region team for the South. Among the UT players honored were first teamers Christopher Williams and Laz Rivera. The second-team included J.D. Osborne, Kevin Santa, Danny Lee and Vin Cosenzo.

Rivera, a senior second baseman from Miami, Fla., was also a second-team preseason All-American selection. As a junior, Rivera hit .427 in 50 games for the Spartans. He connected on six home runs, driving in 47 runs. He also had 22 doubles while being named first-team all-Sunshine State Conference and an honorable mention All-American.

Williams, a senior right-handed pitcher from Tampa, was also tabbed an honorable mention All-American. He is coming off a season where he established himself as the team's ace. He finished the season with a 10-2 record and 3.53 ERA. In 74.0 innings of work, he punched out 72 hitters. The first-team all-SSC selection also picked up a pair of saves before moving to the rotation.

Osborne, a senior third baseman from Whitby, Ontario, led the team with 13 home runs in 2016. He hit .363 while recording 59 RBI. He was named second-team all-SSC and all-region.

Santa, a senior shortstop from Yabucoa, P.R., was Tampa's top hitter in 2016 before going down with a season-ending injury. Playing in the team's first 26 games, Santa hit .441 in his first season as a Spartan. He slugged a pair of home runs, drove in 27 runs and hit 10 doubles and three triples.

Lee, a senior right fielder from Sarasota, Fla., hit .383 for the Spartans last season. He added four home runs, 44 RBI, 15 doubles and three triples. He concluded the season as both a first-team all-SSC and all-South Region selection.

Cosenzo, a senior designated hitter, enjoyed a 2016 campaign where he hit .420. The slugger hit 10 home runs, drove in 41 runs and hit six doubles. He was named a second-team all-South Region choice.

NCBWA Division II Preseason All-South Region First Team
SP JT Granat, West Florida
SP Tre Hobbs, Delta State, Miss.
SP Christopher Williams, Tampa
RP Jarrod Petree, West Florida
C AJ Walden, Alabama Huntsville
1B Kyle Hubbuch, North Alabama
2B Laz Rivera, Tampa
3B Mitch Reeves, Florida Southern
SS John Sternagel, Florida Tech
OF Ryan Baldwin, Barry
OF Dalton Duty, Valdosta State, Ga.
OF Alex Mata, Saint Leo, Fla. DH Brandon Gomez, Nova Southeastern, Fla.
UT Mike Purcell, Rollins, Fla.

NCBWA Division II Preseason All-South Region Second Team
SP Ty Cohen, Florida Tech
SP Walker O'Connor, West Florida
SP Art Vidrio, Lee, Tenn.
RP Drew Beyer, Florida Tech
C Christopher Corbett, Rollins, Fla.
1B Trey Mathis, Alabama Huntsville
2B Nic Strasser, West Florida
3B J.D. Osborne, Tampa
SS Kevin Santa, Tampa
OF Nick Delgado, West Alabama
OF Danny Lee, Tampa
OF Daniel Szpik, Florida Tech
DH Vin Cosenzo, Tampa
UT Kevin Suarez, Nova Southeastern, Fla.