Tampa Ranked No. 1 in Baseball Preseason Poll
TUCSON, Ariz. - The reigning national champion University of Tampa baseball team has been tabbed the No. 1 team of Division II in the preseason poll conducted by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The Spartans finished their 2013 campaign with a 47-12 record and the NCAA Division II championship.
Saint Leo University represents the only other Sunshine State Conference program to appear in the preseason poll, as the Lions were slotted at No. 28 however, Florida Tech, Barry, Lynn and Nova Southeastern each received votes. South region foes West Florida (No. 4), Delta State (No. 8), and Valdosta State (No. 21) appeared in the poll released over the winter break.
Head coach Joe Urso returns for his 14th season at the helm of the UT baseball program and has led the team to three national championships (2006, 2007, 2013). During his tenure as the Spartan skipper, Urso has guided the squad to a 567-176-1 record including 10 seasons with over 40 victories.
Tampa will welcome 16 newcomers to its 2014 roster and welcome back 14 from a season ago. Third-team All-American Michael Danner will return for his senior season after an impressive 2013 campaign. The outfielder hit for a .348 batting average and scored a team-leading 53 RBI.
Seniors Tyler Ding, Connor Obrochta and Zach Gawrych return for their final seasons as the trio was instrumental in the Spartan's 6th baseball championship.
Sophomore Brad Hencke will look to build off an impressive freshman campaign of 39.2 innings at a 2.50 earned run average. The lefty's biggest performance was a nine-inning bout in the NCAA tournament against Grand Valley State which the pitcher struck out five while surrendering one earned run.
Tampa will begin its season on Feb. 1st with a double-header against Bentley University at the UT Baseball Field.
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