USCAA Spring 2015 Baseball Newsletter

SPRING 2015 Scheduling Board Please make sure to check the “Scheduling Board” on the menu tab of the USCAA baseball page. This board allows USCAA coaches and administrators to communicate directly with each other in regards to scheduling opportunities, announce open dates, and advertise upcoming tournaments. We encourage the use of this board to help with scheduling difficulties and also increase the number of USCAA head-to-head games.

New Members The USCAA would like to welcome new members to the 2015 season:

Berea University

2014-2015 Ratings and Selections Changes All-American Nominations To be considered for first or second team, players will now be required to have participated in 75% of their team’s games. Those that are nominated and do not meet the 75% criteria will still be eligible for honorable mention recognition. Pitchers will be exempt from this policy.

Coaches Poll The USCAA National Office uses an oversight policy in administering the Baseball Coaches Poll that allows for an individual voter to deviate no more than eight points from the mean of the other voters. That deviation will be reduced to six points.

Cleary University New Awards The USCAA will begin offering three new awards in the 2014-15 season. The description and selection process for those awards are noted below.

Illinois Institute of Technology

Providence Christian College (California)

USCAA Coach of the Year: This award will be for all USCAA sanctioned sports. One coach will be selected as the award recipient each year in each USCAA sport.

Ballots will be distributed to schools toward the end of the sport season through the USCAA’s award platform (the same place where schools submit nominations for Player of the Week and All-Americans). Athletic Directors and coaches will be allowed to nominate, but only one nomination will be accepted per school.

SPRING 2015 The award will be selected by a committee comprised of National Office members, board members, and member Athletic Directors.

USCAA Player of the Year: This award will be for all USCAA sanctioned sports. One player will be selected as the award recipient each year in each USCAA sport.

The players considered would be the top five vote getters in the online All-American votes. After the final selection of All-Americans from the selection committee, an email vote will take place between those same committee members. They will be asked to rank the top five vote getters 1-5 and submit their vote to the National Office, who will then compile those votes and determine the Player of the Year.

USCAA Student-Athlete of the Year: This award will be for all USCAA sanctioned sports. One player will be selected as the award recipient each year in each USCAA sport. The nomination process will take place through the USCAA award system, and schools will be allowed to nominate one player per sport. The emphasis of this award is going to be on academics and community involvement, versus athletic performance. The award winner will be selected by a committee comprised of National Office members, board members, and member Athletic Directors.

World Series Moved to Hampton, VA The 2015 USCAA Small College World Series has been moved to Hampton, VA where the Apprentice School and Peninsula Pilots will be hosting the series. The world series returns to War Memorial Stadium, home of the Pilots, where it was held in 2008 and 2009.

The championship dates are May 10-14, 2015. The week’s events will consist of a banquet, home run derby, and a double elimination tournament to crown the 2015 USCAA national champion. Bids are currently being accepted for the 2016-2-17 USCAA Small College World Series.

Eastbay and Rawlings The USCAA has announced a new five-year partnership with Eastbay and Rawlings.

January 2015, Eastbay — a leading direct-to-customer supplier of athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories — became the USCAA’s exclusive supplier of all athletic gear. Rawlings will serve as the official ball of the USCAA and the USCAA’s Championship events in the sports of men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball.

Worth will become the official ball of USCAA Softball and the USCAA Softball National Championship.

Additionally, the USCAA will be the first national intercollegiate organization to beta-test Rawlings’ new premiere intercollegiate soccer and volleyballs beginning in 2015.

Eastbay features top athletic brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, ASICS, Reebok, Jordan, Converse, New Balance, and Brooks. Founded in 1877, Rawlings is a leading sports equipment supplier and has been the official supplier of baseballs to MLB since 1977.

“We are very proud to add Eastbay and Rawlings as USCAA partners,” states USCAA Chief Operating Officer Matt Simms. “Both companies bring to the table history, combined with tremendous products, and outstanding customer service. USCAA member institutions who purchase from Eastbay receive an industry leading discount, product rebate, and first class customer care, making this a win-win proposition for all members regardless of the amount of business they can do.”

SPRING 2015 As part of the agreement with Eastbay and Rawlings, the following will be the official balls of USCAA National Championship events.

Men’s Basketball – CONTOUR Women’s Basketball – CONTOURW Baseball – FSR1NCAAA, FSR100NAIA Softball – NC12L-NCAA, NC12L-NAIA (Worth) Soccer – SB950 *Starting in 2015 following beta testing Volleyball – VB1001 *Starting in 2015 following beta testing

American Baseball Coaches Association On behalf of the USCAA and the Baseball Coaches Committee we would like to encourage you to become a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. Visit abca.org to learn more and to become a member.

“We’re very excited and pleased to be involved with quality organizations like the USCAA and Rawlings,” says Eastbay Team Sales Director Ken West. “Our goal is to help these athletes prepare to win with the best performance shoes, clothing, and equipment in the market, and we have a 30-year history of supplying the greatest athletes in the world with the tools they need to succeed. We look forward to helping this generation of athletes in their pursuit of excellence.”

USCAA member intuitions are strongly encouraged to engage with Eastbay for team apparel and equipment needs.

Did you know...

The following professional players played at USCAA schools.

• Wayne Kirby, Cleveland Indians (1991-1998), Newport News Apprentice School • Anthony D’Alfonso, played in the Mexican League and Frontier League (2010-2014), University of Southern Maine • Anthony J. Puma, Trinidad Triggers (2014-current), Briarcliffe College

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