2015 Baseball Review
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2015 BASEBALL REVIEW Records: 52-18, 19-11 SEC No. 1 (429 feet vs. Virginia) and No. 2 Team Highlights (421 feet vs. Miami). NCAA Finish: T-3rd (3-2 at NCAA College In Kevin O’Sullivan’s eighth UF claimed its fourth Super Regional title World Series) season at the helm, the Gators (52- in five appearances under Coach SEC Finish: 4th overall/2nd in Eastern Division 18) advanced to the NCAA College O’Sullivan and its first since 2012 with World Series for the fourth time in the sweep of the Seminoles. Final Poll Rankings: 3rd in Baseball America, six seasons and were one victory Florida was 12-3 (.800) in the Collegiate Baseball, D1 Baseball.com, shy of the CWS Finals. NCBWA, USA Today Coaches’ Poll postseason, going 8-2 (.800) in the All-Americans: Three with 12 honors – OF Florida made the CWS for the ninth NCAA Tournament and 4-1 (.800) at the Harrison Bader (NCBWA Third Team, Perfect time in school history (1988, 1991, SEC Tournament. Game Second Team), C/DH JJ Schwarz (ABCA 1996, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012 The Gators made their 31st NCAA Second Team, Baseball America Third Team, and 2015). Tournament appearance and swept D1 Baseball Second Team, NCBWA Third UF reached the 50-win plateau for through the NCAA Gainesville Regional Team, Perfect Game Second Team), Josh the second time in O’Sullivan’s Tobias (ABCA Second Team, Baseball America at McKethan Stadium by knocking off tenure and for the fourth time in Florida A&M (19-0), USF (8-2) and Second Team, D1 Baseball Second Team, school history. Its 52 wins were the NCBWA Third Team, Perfect Game Third Team) Florida Atlantic (2-1). Freshman All-Americans: Three with eight second-highest total for the program Florida brought home its seventh SEC honors – 2B Dalton Guthrie (Baseball America (53 in 2011). Tournament Championship with a 7-3 Second Team, Louisville Slugger), C/DH Mike The Gators have been a national victory over No. 9 Vanderbilt. It was the Rivera (Louisville Slugger), C/DH JJ Schwarz seed in six of the past seven squad’s first crown since 2011 and it (Baseball America First Team, D1Baseball First seasons (No. 8 in 2009, No. 3 in defeated the defending national Team, Louisville Slugger, NCBWA Second 2010, No. 2 in 2011, No. 1 in 2012, champions three times in four meetings Team, Perfect Game First Team) No. 2 in 2014, No. 4 in 2015) – the during the season. Senior CLASS Award Finalist: 3B Josh Tobias most national seeds in the country Collegiate Baseball Co-Freshman of the After dropping a 7-6 decision to No. 24 in that span. Year: C/DH JJ Schwarz Arkansas in the SEC Tournament, the NCBWA Freshman Hitter of the Year: Florida set a school record with a Gators reeled off four consecutive wins C/DH JJ Schwarz .984 fielding percentage, the over Auburn (11-2), No. 24 Arkansas (10- All-SEC: 3 – Second Team: C Mike Rivera, second-best clip in NCAA history. 0 in 7 innings), No. 1 LSU (2-1) and No. 9 DH JJ Schwarz, 3B Josh Tobias For the first time in school history, Vanderbilt (7-3). The Tigers and SEC All-Freshman Team: 3 – 2B Dalton the Orange and Blue ended the Commodores were the top two seeds at Guthrie, C Mike Rivera, DH JJ Schwarz seasons for Sunshine State rivals the event. SEC All-Defensive Team: OF Buddy Reed Miami and Florida State in NCAA SEC Community Service Team: Josh Tobias Freshman JJ Schwarz, who went 2-for-5 play. SEC Academic Honor Roll: 9 – Shaun with a run scored versus Vanderbilt, was Anderson, Tyler Deel, Mike Fahrman, Jason The Gators overpowered the chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the Lombardozzi, Scott Moss, Richie Martin, Hurricanes twice in Omaha, by SEC Tourney after batting .526 (10-for-19) Bobby Poyner, A.J. Puk, Frank Rubio scores of 15-3 and 10-2, and swept over the five games, with six RBI, five runs SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll: 1 – the NCAA Gainesville Super and three doubles. He joined Gator Dalton Guthrie Regional over the Seminoles, 13-5 winners Rich Bombard (Pitcher, 1982), Departing Seniors: 3 – Bobby Poyner, Aaron and 11-4. Brian Reimsnyder (Outfielder, 1988), Rhodes, Josh Tobias Florida made its first appearance at Herbert Perry (Designated Hitter, 1991), TD Ameritrade Park Omaha since Brian Purvis (Outfielder, 1991) and the 2012 campaign and just two Daniel Pigott (Outfielder, 2011). players remained from that club: The NCBWA Freshman Hitter of the senior left-hander Bobby Poyner Year, Schwarz was 28-for-57 (.491) with and senior third baseman Josh 23 runs and 19 RBI during the Tobias. postseason and batted .333 (6-for-18) The Gators boast the top-five during the CWS. He set a Gator longest homers in TD Ameritrade freshman record with 18 homers, Park Omaha history, while including a school-record four round- Righty Logan Shore was a perfect 5-0 in five sophomore Peter Alonso occupies trippers versus Stetson on April 7, and starts during the postseason and became the led the club with 73 RBI. first Gator to earn a pair of victories during the NCAA College World Series. Taken 20th in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland A’s Professional Draft Schedule & Results and named as a finalist for the Brooks Selections Overall: 52-18 Home: 33-6 Away: 11-8 Wallace Award as the nation’s top shortstop, Player Team (Round) Neutral: 8-4 SEC (4th): 19-11 Richie Martin (SS) Oakland (1st) junior Richie Martin batted .291 and scored Harrison Bader (OF) St. Louis (3rd) Date Opponent Result a team-high 63 runs. Eric Hanhold (RHP) Milwaukee (6th) Feb. 13 Rhode Island W, 9-1 Feb. 14 Rhode Island (SEC +) W, 22-3 UF played the toughest schedule in the Danny Young (LHP) Toronto (8th) Feb. 15 Rhode Island (SEC +) W, 6-1 nation and boasted the No. 1 RPI. Taylor Lewis (RHP) Atlanta (9th) Feb. 18 at USF W, 13-3 The Gators led the league with three All- Josh Tobias (3B) Philadelphia (10th) Feb. 20 Miami (FL) (SEC +) W, 4-3 SEC Freshman Team selections, Dalton Bobby Poyner (LHP) Boston (14th) Feb. 21 Miami (FL) (SEC) L, 2-7 Mike Vinson (RHP) Detroit (24th) Feb. 22 Miami (FL) (SEC +) W, 2-1 Guthrie, Mike Rivera and Schwarz, giving Feb. 24 vs. FAU (Jupiter) W, 10-8 Aaron Rhodes (RHP) L.A. Angels (28th) Feb. 27 Stony Brook W, 1-0 O’Sullivan 17 recipients during his tenure. Feb. 28 Stony Brook W, 14-3 Mar. 1 Stony Brook W, 6-2 Individual Highlights Statistical Leaders Mar. 3 at UCF L, 3-4 Peter Alonso, So., 1B At Bats Dalton Guthrie (282) Mar. 4 UCF (SEC +) W, 10-2 . SEC All-Tournament Team Mar. 6 Maine (SEC +) W, 5-0 Buddy Reed (282) Harrison Bader, Jr., OF Mar. 7 Maine (SEC +) W, 6-1 . NCBWA All-American (third team) Runs Scored Richie Martin (63) Mar. 8 Maine (SEC +) W, 5-3 . Perfect Game All-American (second team) Hits Buddy Reed (86) Mar. 10 Fairfield W, 8-7 . Dick Howser Award (semifinalist) Doubles Harrison Bader (16) Mar. 11 Fairfield W, 6-1 . USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List . NCAA College World Series All-Tournament Team JJ Schwarz (16) Mar. 13 Tennessee* (SEC +) L, 3-6 . NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team Triples Buddy Reed (5) Mar. 14 Tennessee* (SEC +) W, 8-3 . Louisville Slugger Player of the Week (Feb. 16) Josh Tobias (5) Mar. 15 Tennessee* (SEC +) W, 9-4 . SEC Player of the Week (Feb. 16) Mar. 17 Florida State (SEC) W, 14-8 Home Runs JJ Schwarz (18) Mar. 20 at Ole Miss* (SEC +) L, 1-4 Dalton Guthrie, Fr., 2B Runs Batted In JJ Schwarz (73) . Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Mar. 21 at Ole Miss* (SEC +) L, 2-5 . SEC All-Freshman Team Total Bases JJ Schwarz (161) Mar. 21 at Ole Miss* (SEC +) W, 8-4 Slugging Percentage JJ Schwarz (.629) Mar. 24 at Stetson W, 9-6 Taylor Lewis, Jr., RHP Mar. 27 Alabama* (SEC) L, 9-12 (10) . SEC All-Tournament Team Bases on Balls Richie Martin (35) Hit by Pitch Richie Martin (16) Mar. 27 Alabama* (SEC +) W, 8-1 Richie Martin, Jr., SS On-base Percentage Josh Tobias (.435) Mar. 28 Alabama* (SEC +) W, 7-4 . Brooks Wallace Award Finalist Mar. 31 vs. Florida State (Jacksonville) L, 3-8 . USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List Sacrifice Flies JJ Schwarz (6) April 3 at Missouri* (SEC +) W, 5-1 . CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 (first team) Sacrifice Hits Richie Martin (7) April 4 at Missouri* (SEC +) L, 1-10 A.J. Puk, So., LHP Stolen Bases Richie Martin (20) April 5 at Missouri* (SEC +) L, 3-5 . NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team Putouts Peter Alonso (329) April 7 Stetson (SEC +) W, 22-2 . SEC All-Tournament Team April 10 South Carolina* (SEC +) W, 14-3 . Louisville Slugger Player of the Week (May 11) Assists Richie Martin (190) April 11 South Carolina* (SEC) W, 12-5 Buddy Reed, So., OF Earned Run Average Taylor Lewis (1.33) April 12 South Carolina* (SEC) W, 12-2 . NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team April 14 at Florida State (ESPN3) L, 3-4 (12) . SEC All-Defensive Team Wins Logan Shore (11) April 17 at Mississippi State* (SEC +) W, 6-3 . SEC Player of the Week (Feb. 23) Appearances Taylor Lewis (31) . College Baseball 360 Primetime Performer of the Week (Feb.