What is there not to love about UT baseball as a student? The big crowds at games, the six national titles in school history and top 25 ranking every year since 1997, the winning atmosphere… There is a lot to be said for UT’s baseball team and its accomplishments.
“Baseball is popular here in Florida. The students love the sun and they get to watch a team who is capable of winning the national title every year,” Coach Joe Urso said. “The amount of athletes that declare for the MLB draft also plays a factor.”
In fact, UT baseball has had 68 MLB draft selections with seven of them playing in the major leagues. Some notable alumni players are Tino Martinez and Lou Pinella.
The student body at UT has taken notice that the baseball field is the place to be during the year. Rising attendance amongst fans, the student body and UT alumni are due to the constant success the Spartans have had on the field.
Last year, the baseball team went 47-12 during the regular season and defeated Minnesota State 8-2 in the championship game of the NCAA Division II National Finals in Cary, N.C. A crowd of 2,478 attended the final game in Cary, which was the second highest single- game attendance since the title game was moved there in 2009.
“We love having the support of the fans and the student body. There has been good interaction between the players and the fans who come out to watch us game by game,” said Preston Packrall, a senior pitcher.
Fan support has increased even more this year due to the number one ranking in all of Division II to start the season. With 14 returning players from last year’s championship roster, the Spartans have been able to maintain a number one ranking throughout the 2014 season, and the end goal is nothing short of winning their second straight national championship.
Being at the top has seemed to fire up the players and the coaches to perform at the highest level.
“It is no secret that UT baseball has a bulls eye on their back, and we are motivated to be recognized as the best in Division II,” Urso said. “We need to be better in the weight room and in the classroom in addition to our on-the-field play.”
Outfielder Michael Danner played a huge role on the 2013 team with a .348 batting average and a team leading 53 RBIs.
“A ranking is a ranking. We have to stick to who we are and stick to team play,” Danner said.
UT has changed throughout the years, but the success of our baseball team has always been consistent and has been something students can take pride in.
It is hard to ask for much more from such a dominant program except to keep on winning. Winning is contagious, especially in the game of baseball, and consistency will be the key factor to the success of the future for the UT baseball program.
“Winning constantly is hard but we know that it is all about winning the title,” Urso said. After all, UT baseball is one of many great sports programs on campus, but the constant success year after year has made it stand out. The student body has spoken.
Phil Novotny can be reached at philip.novotny@spartans.ut.edu.