Joe Urso Named Regional Coach of the Year As Six Spartan Players Honored

BOCA RATON, Fla. - After capturing the 2010 NCAA Division II South Region baseball championship, University of Tampa head coach Joe Urso and six student-athletes each earned ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region honors.

Urso was named the ABCA/Rawlings Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to the South Region title as Patrick Donahue and Mike Blanke each earned a spot on the first-team. Josh Bowman, Tyler Cox, Mike Schwartz and Jared Simon also earned second-team consideration.

The Spartans will travel to Cary, N.C., for the NCAA Division II Championships where it will meet the South Central Region champion on Saturday at 1 p.m. UT currently carries a 46-9 overall record.

Each member of the first team will be eligible for NCAA DIVISION II All-American consideration, which will be selected on Sunday, May 23, in Cary, N.C., in conjunction with the Division II National Championship Tournament.

2010 NCAA ABCA/RAWLINGS "ALL-SOUTH" REGION TEAM

First Team All South Region
1B - Logan Williams, Southern Arkansas
2B - Kyle Brown, West Florida
3B - Cannon Lester, Southern Arkansas
SS - Andrew Whittington, Southern Arkansas
INF - Patrick Donahue, Tampa
OF - Brandon Decker, Valdosta State
OF - Patrick Johnson, Southern Arkansas
OF - Taylor Ferguson, Rollins
OF - Yas Gutierrez, Barry
C - Mike Blanke, Tampa
DH - Clayton Cain, Valdosta State
SP - Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas
SP - Tim Griffin, Rollins
SP - Kevin Johnson, West Florida
SP - Max Russell, Florida Southern
RP - Sean Albury, Nova Southeastern

Second Team All South Region
1B - Christian Chavez, Lynn
2B - Eric McCans, Nova Southeastern
3B - Rhys Roberts, Nova Southeastern
SS - Nick Shaw, Barry
INF - Haven Fitzsimmons, Nova Southeastern
OF - Matt Johnson, Arkansas Tech
OF - Tyler Cox, Tampa
OF - Chase Porch, North Alabama
OF - Jared Simon, Tampa
C - Kevin Williams, North Alabama
DH - Mike Schwartz, Tampa
SP - Jason Coats, Delta State
SP - Isaac Hicks, Nova Southeastern
SP - Jonathon Cornelius, Florida Tech
SP - Josh Bowman, Tampa
SP - Jeremy Forbus, Valdosta State
RP - Daniel Tillman, Florida Southern

Player of the Year: Brandon Decker, Valdosta State
Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas
Region Coach of the Year: Joe Urso, Tampa