2010 All-SSC Baseball Team Announced
Thirty-five student-athletes have been named to the 2010 All-Sunshine State Conference Baseball Team. Tampa’s Mike Schwartz was selected Player of the Year, while UT’s Joe Urso was chosen Coach of the Year. Rollins’ Tim Griffin garnered Pitcher of the Year honors, and Saint Leo’s Ryan Brnovich received Freshman of the Year accolades.
Voting for the all-conference baseball team was conducted among league head baseball coaches and sports information directors.
Receiving All-SSC First Team honors with Schwartz (DH) and Griffin (SP) were: 1B Michael Demma (Florida Tech), 2B Eric McCans (Nova Southeastern), 3B Rhys Roberts (Nova Southeastern), SS Nick Shaw (Barry), OF Tyler Cox (Tampa), OF Taylor Ferguson (Rollins), OF Yas Gutierrez (Barry), OF Jared Simon (Tampa), UT Patrick Donahue (Tampa), C Mike Blanke (Tampa), SP Jonathan Cornelius (Florida Tech), SP Isaac Hicks (Nova Southeastern), SP Max Russell (Florida Southern), RP Sean Albury (Nova Southeastern).
Earning All-SSC Second Team recognition were: 1B Chris Chavez (Lynn), 2B Brad Roberts (Tampa), 3B Matt Petty (Barry), SS Correy Figueroa (Tampa), OF Dylan Brown (Tampa), OF Nikko Echevarria (Nova Southeastern), OF Trae Gore (Florida Southern), OF Minervino Labrador (Eckerd), UT Haven FitzSimmonds (Nova Southeastern), DH Ryan Garcia (Barry), C Ben Hewett (Rollins), SP Josh Bowman (Tampa), SP Stephen Hiscock (Rollins), SP AJ Pinera (Tampa), SP John Wiedenbauer (Tampa), RP Daniel Tillman (Florida Southern).
Receiving honorable mention were: DH Andrew Grutka (Florida Southern), SP Eddie Sipple (Florida Southern), and RP Evan Stobbs (Tampa).
A senior from Montville, N.J., Schwartz led the SSC in four offensive statistical categories. He ranked first with a .421 batting average, a .736 slugging percentage, a .597 on-base percentage, and 70 runs scored. His 11 home runs tied for eighth in the league, while his 17 doubles tied for 10th. Schwartz drove in 48 runs (T14th) on the season.
A senior from Jacksonville, Fla., Griffin posted an 11-2 record on the mound. His 11 wins were the most of any pitcher in the conference. He also ranked atop the SSC standings with a 2.34 ERA, a .219 opponent batting average, and 92.1 innings pitched. Griffin struck out 86 batters (T5th), while walking just 22.
Currently in his 10th season at Tampa, Urso claimed Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time in his career. He guided his Spartans to a 42-8 overall record and a 21-3 SSC slate. UT won its fourth SSC title in five years and is currently ranked No. 2 in the most recent Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. Urso’s squad has proven to be an offensive juggernaut, ranking at the top of every team offensive statistical category except triples, in which it ranks second.
In his debut season at Saint Leo, Brnovich batted .346 with 22 RBI and 38 runs scored. A product of Boca Raton, Fla., he started in all 50 games in which he appeared. Brnovich tallied 11 extra-base hits, including six doubles. He was also a threat on the base paths, completing 12-of-15 stolen base attempts.
2010 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM
1B – Michael Demma (Florida Tech, Sr)
2B – Eric McCans (Nova Southeastern, Sr)
3B – Rhys Roberts (Nova Southeastern, Sr)
SS – Nick Shaw (Barry, Sr)
OF – Tyler Cox (Tampa, Sr)
OF – Taylor Ferguson (Rollins, Sr)
OF – Yas Gutierrez (Barry, Sr)
OF – Jared Simon (Tampa, Jr)
UT – Patrick Donahue (Tampa, Jr)
DH – Mike Schwartz (Tampa, Sr)
C – Mike Blanke (Tampa, Jr)
SP – Jonathan Cornelius (Florida Tech, Jr)
SP – Tim Griffin (Rollins, Sr)
SP – Isaac Hicks (Nova Southeastern, Jr)
SP – Max Russell (Florida Southern, Jr)
RP – Sean Albury (Nova Southeastern, Jr)
Player of the Year – Mike Schwartz, Tampa
Pitcher of the Year – Tim Griffin, Rollins
Coach of the Year – Joe Urso, Tampa
Freshman of the Year – Ryan Brnovich, Saint Leo
SECOND TEAM
1B – Chris Chavez (Lynn, Sr)
2B – Brad Roberts (Tampa, Sr)
3B – Matt Petty (Barry, Jr)
SS – Correy Figueroa (Tampa, Sr)
OF – Dylan Brown (Tampa, Jr)
OF – Nikko Echevarria (Nova Southeastern, So)
OF – Trae Gore (Florida Southern, Sr)
OF – Minervino Labrador (Eckerd, Sr)
UT – Haven FitzSimmonds (Nova Southeastern, Jr)
DH – Ryan Garcia (Barry, Jr)
C – Ben Hewett (Rollins, Sr)
SP – Josh Bowman (Tampa, Jr)
SP – Stephen Hiscock (Rollins, Sr)
SP – AJ Pinera (Tampa, Sr)
SP – John Wiedenbauer (Tampa, Sr)
RP – Daniel Tillman (Florida Southern, Jr)
HONORABLE MENTION
DH – Andrew Grutka (Florida Southern, Sr)
SP – Eddie Sipple (Florida Southern, Jr)
RP – Evan Stobbs (Tampa, Jr)
