Tampa Favored to Win 2020 SSC Baseball Crown

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Sunshine State Conference coaches select the University of Tampa as the preseason number one for the 12th time in 13 years. With 100 points and 10 first-place votes in the poll, the Spartans are expected to lift the league trophy for the 20th time in program history.

Nova Southeastern University finishes second in the voting with 87 points, while Florida Southern follows in third place with 78 points and the final first-place vote. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (60 points) edges out Florida Tech (58 points) for fourth place in the preseason poll. Saint Leo University (54 points) lands in sixth place, closely followed by Barry University (50 points). Lynn University (38 points), Eckerd College (31 points), Rollins College (26 points), and Palm Beach Atlantic University (23 points) round out this year's preseason ranking.

Collegiate Baseball Newsletter Highlights SSC Teams and Players for 2020

Eckerd [31-19, 19-11] won its first SSC championship and qualified automatically to compete in the 2019 NCAA South Region tournament. Along with the Tritons, Tampa [45-14, 19-11], Nova Southeastern [34-17, 19-11], and Embry-Riddle [29-22, 18-12] also earned a regional bid. The Spartans, top seed and host of NCAA South Regional #1, advanced to the Super Regional where they swept Delta State University. At the NCAA finals site, the Spartans defeated Mercyhurst University two times (4-2, 12-0) along with the University of California - San Diego (7-2), and Colorado Mesa University (3-1) to hoist the championship trophy for the eighth time in program history

Following Tampa's title, SSC teams have now reached the NCAA Division II World Series 43 times. While seven league teams have reached the World Series, only four programs have won a national championship. Florida Southern leads the SSC and NCAA D2 with nine national baseball titles, the last coming in 2005. Tampa follows closely with its eight championships. Lynn joined the SSC baseball national championship ranks after winning it all in 2009, and NSU went all the way in 2016.

For more information on the 2019 season, including national award winners and the league's success in Major League Baseball, please click here.

The first pitch of the 2020 season will be delivered on Friday, January 31st, and league play opens up on Friday, February 21st. South Region tournament play begins Thursday, May 14th. Regional hosts will be determined following the last week of the season and will be announced live, along with seeding, here on Sunday, May 10th. Cary, North Carolina repeats as the NCAA finals host for 2020; competition in the Tar Heel state begins on Saturday, May 1st, and a new champion will be crowned on Saturday, June 8th.

Below are the full results of the 2020 SSC preseason coaches' poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).

SSC Baseball History: National Championships | Conference Champions | All-SSC Teams | Current / Former MLB Players | 2019 Draftees