Tampa Places School-Record 12 Players on All-SSC Team

WINTER PARK, Fla. - A total of 34 student-athletes have been named to the 2014 All-Sunshine State Conference Baseball Team, which is dominated by league champion University of Tampa student-athletes. Lynn's Sal Giardina, Jr. was selected Player of the Year. UT's Preston Packrall was chosen Pitcher of the Year. Saint Leo's Dylan Harris was tabbed Freshman of the Year. Tampa's Joe Urso was named Coach of the Year.

Joining Giardina (C), Harris (3B) and Packrall (SP) on the All-SSC First Team were: 1B Fran Whitten (Saint Leo), 2B Orlando Rivera (Tampa), SS Giovanny Alfonzo (Tampa), SS Alvin Swoope (Nova Southeastern), OF Dominic Brugnoni (Florida Southern), OF Keith Curcio (Florida Southern), OF Michael Danner (Tampa), OF Sheehan Planas-Arteaga (Barry), DH Mario Urdaneta (Nova Southeastern), UT Stephan Dezzi (Tampa), SP Jimmy Gutowski (Eckerd), SP David Heintz (Tampa), SP Jed Vandernaald (Lynn) and RP Bill Mendek (Lynn).

Selected to the All-SSC Second Team were: 1B Sean O'Brien (Tampa), 2B Lucas Luopa (Eckerd), 3B Thomas Kain (Lynn), SS Taylor Perez (Saint Leo), C Nick Tindall (Tampa), OF Christian Coburn (Rollins), OF Zach Gawyrch (Tampa), OF Connor Obrochta (Tampa), OF Cole Stancil (Saint Leo), DH Chris Hanson (Eckerd), UT Alex Debellis (Lynn), SP Clay Chapman (Florida Southern), SP Brian Johnson (Florida Southern), SP Trey Oest (Tampa), SP Scotty Ward (Florida Tech), RP Nate Carter (Florida Southern) and RP Kevin McNorton (Tampa).

Voting for the All-SSC Baseball Team was conducted among the league's head baseball coaches.

A senior from Tampa, Fla., Giardina batted .363 with 57 hits, 37 RBIs, 18 runs scored, 16 doubles and four home runs. In conference action, Giardina led the SSC with a .427 batting average and a .547 on base percentage. Against conference opponents the senior recorded 32 hits, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored. He slugged .587 with nine doubles and one home run. Giardina finished the regular-season ranked in the top-5 in the SSC in each of the said conference statistics. In conference action, the catcher led the SSC with seven runners caught steals. Giardina is the third-straight Fighting Knight to be named SSC Player of the Year.

A senior from Tampa, Fla., Packrall led the SSC with seven victories in conference play. Packrall was perfect on the season with a 9-0 (7-0 in SSC action) record. He led all conference starting pitchers with a 1.63 ERA in 2014 and was second with two shutouts. In 66.1 innings of work, Packrall struck out 40 batters, walked just 11 batters and allowed just 12 earned runs. The senior pitched 40.2 innings in conference play with 22 strikeouts, seven bases-on-balls and 11 earned runs. Opponents managed just a .216 batting average against Packrall. He is the third-straight Spartan to be named SSC Pitcher of the Year.

In his debut season out of Land O Lakes, Fla., Harris led the SSC with 71 hits and 194 at bats. The freshman finished the regular-season hitting .366 with 37 RBIs and 45 runs scored. His 45 runs scored ranks third in the conference. He amassed 90 total bases and stole 13-of-14 bases. In conference action, Harris ranked this in the conference with a .367 batting averaging and second with 33 hits.

Tampa's Urso earns his ninth SSC Coach of the Year distinction-third-straight. After winning the 2013 NCAA Division II National Championship, Urso led his Spartans to their third-straight SSC Championship (16th overall) in 2014 with a 22-1 conference record. Tampa also set a new NCAA Division II baseball single-season win percentage mark with its 47-2 (.959). Savannah State held the previous record since 2000 with a 46-3 (.939) record. Tampa has been ranked No. 1 since week one of the season in every NCAA Division II poll.

2014 All-SSC Baseball Team

FIRST TEAM
1B - Fran Whitten, Saint Leo (Sr.)
2B - Orlando Rivera, Tampa (Jr.)
3B - Dylan Harris, Saint Leo (Fr.)
SS - Giovanny Alfonzo, Tampa (Jr.)
SS - Alvin Swoope, Nova Southeastern (Fr.)
C - Sal Giardina, Jr., Lynn (Sr.)
OF - Dominic Brugnoni, Florida Southern (RSo.)
OF - Keith Curcio, Florida Southern (Jr.)
OF - Michael Danner, Tampa (Sr.)
OF - Sheehan Planas-Arteaga, Barry (Jr.)
DH - Mario Urdaneta, Nova Southeastern (Jr.)
UT - Stephen Dezzi, Tampa (Sr.)
SP - Jimmy Gutowski, Eckerd (Jr.)
SP - David Heintz, Tampa (So.)
SP - Preston Packrall, Tampa (Sr.)
SP - Jed Vandernaald, Lynn (Sr.)
RP - Bill Mendek, Lynn (Jr.)

Player of the Year - Sal Giardina Jr., Lynn
Pitcher of the Year - Preston Packrall, Tampa
Freshman of the Year - Dylan Harris, Saint Leo
Coach of the Year - Joe Urso, Tampa

SECOND TEAM
1B - Sean O'Brien, Tampa (Sr.)
2B - Lucas Luopa, Eckerd (Fr.)
3B - Thomas Kain, Lynn (Jr.)
SS - Taylor Perez, Saint Leo (So.)
C - Nick Tindall, Tampa (Jr.)
OF - Christian Coburn, Rollins (Jr.)
OF - Zach Gawrych, Tampa (Sr.)
OF - Connor Obrochta, Tampa (Sr.)
OF - Cole Stancil, Saint Leo (So.)
DH - Chris Hanson, Eckerd (Sr.)
UT - Alex Debellis, Lynn (Jr.)
SP - Clay Chapman, Florida Southern (Sr.)
SP - Brian Johnson, Florida Southern (Sr.)
SP - Trey Oest, Tampa (So.)
SP - Scotty Ward, Florida Tech (Jr.)
RP - Nate Carter, Florida Southern (Sr.)
RP - Kevin McNorton, Tampa (Sr.)