Spartans Well Represented On Daktronics All-Region Team

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The University of Tampa placed eight players on the 2010 Daktronics All-South Region baseball team, including five on the first team.

Valdosta State's Brandon Decker was named the Daktronics South Region Player of the Year and Hayden Simpson of Southern Arkansas captured Daktronics South Region Pitcher of the Year honors. Voting was conducted by Sports Information Directors from South Region institutions.

The Gulf South Conference finished with five student-athletes named to First Team All-South Region, led by Southern Arkansas four. The Sunshine State Conference recorded 10 student-athletes from six different institutions to comprise the first team.

Tampa placed the most student-athletes on the first team with five. Patrick Donahue was named first team utility, while teammates Mike Blanke, Brad Roberts, Mike Schwartz and Evan Stobbs captured first team accolades to culminate the Spartans season. Jared Simon, Tyler Cox and Josh Bowman were named to the second team.

The first team award winners will now be sent to the national ballot for All-American nominations.

First Team
UT: Patrick Donahue, Tampa
C: Mike Blanke, Tampa
1B: Logan Williams, Southern Arkansas
2B: Brad Roberts, Tampa
SS: Andrew Whittington, Southern Arkansas
3B: Cannon Lester, Southern Arkansas
DH: Mike Schwartz, Tampa
OF: Brandon Decker, Valdosta State
OF: Yas Gutierrez, Barry
OF: Taylor Ferguson, Rollins
SP: Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas
SP: Tim Griffin, Rollins
SP: Max Russell, Florida Southern
SP: Jonathan Cornelius: Florida Tech
RP: Evan Stobbs, Tampa

Player of the Year: Brandon Decker, Valdosta State

Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas

Second Team
UT: Ryan McChesney, Florida Tech
C: Ben Hewett, Rollins
1B: Chris Chavez, Lynn
2B: Ray Valdez, Stillman
SS: Nick Shaw, Barry
3B: Josh Gordon, Delta State
OF: Jared Simon, Tampa
OF: Matt Johnson, Arkansas Tech
OF: Tyler Cox, Tampa
DH: Clayton Cain, Valdosta State
SP: Josh Bowman, Tampa
SP: Matt Speake, Southern Arkansas
SP: Kevin Johnson, West Florida
SP: Jeremy Forbus, Valdosta State
RP: Sean Albury, Nova Southeastern