USCAA Summer 2015 Baseball Newsletter

SUMMER 2015 Newport News, VA – Apprentice Wins 2015 National Championship

The Builders won three games on the final day of the 2015 USCAA Small College World Series to capture their first title since 2007. The #5 seeded Builders defeated #1 Illinois Tech by scores of 25-10 and 10-1 to win the championship. The win by the Builders was the first time that a host school has won the USCAA Championship since Florida College won the championship in 2002. Apprentice School ends the season red hot winning its last five games and 15 of its last 17. The 30 wins that the Builders accumulated this season equals the second most wins in a single season under Bryan Cave trailing only the 2013 team that went 34-10. The Builders also won 30 games in 2004 (30-12) and 2007 (30-15).

All Tournament Team Player Team Nicholas LoPrinzi St. Joseph’s College-Brooklyn Mark Hollis Penn State Greater Allegheny Francisco Del Rio Penn State Greater Allegheny Michael Malfeo Illinois Tech Shane Pung Illinois Tech Brian Colon-Rodriguez Illinois Tech Lee Rossi The Apprentice School Michael Brumfield The Apprentice School Taylor Gomer The Apprentice School MVP Player Team Sam Massie The Apprentice School

End of the Year Awards USCAA Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year: Scott Kunert, Rochester College In the classroom, Scott has accumulated a grade point average of 3.56 while being named twice to the USCAA All-Academic Team. In addition to his success on the field and in the classroom, this young man has led the organizing of the team’s Wounded Warrior Project as well as the Fall Charity Classic. Both of these events helped raise awareness and funds for the Wounded Warriors Project and Compassion International, which is an organization dedicated to the long-term development of children living in poverty around the world. In his free time, he also has been active in Habitat for Humanity by helping build local houses.

SUMMER 2015 USCAA Baseball Coach of the Year: Scott Marks, Illinois Tech After inheriting a team with a record of 4-30 three seasons ago, this head coach has turned his team completely around. Despite the high academic standards set at this institution, Marks has continued to have strong recruiting classes and has developed a culture that has led his team to a 21-9 record and a #1 seed in this year’s USCAA Baseball National Championship.

USCAA Baseball Player of the Year: Brian Colon-Rodriguez, Illinois Tech In 29 games played and 110 plate appearances, this player batted in 43 runs (4th in the USCAA) on 51 hits that included 12 doubles (7th in the USCAA) and 6 homeruns (2nd in the USCAA). He accumulated a batting average of .464 (4th in the USCAA), a slugging percentage of .736 (2nd in the USCAA), and an onbase percentage of .500. In the field, he produced a fielding percentage of .941 with 67 put outs and 13 assists. Additionally, he received the USCAA Player of the Week honor for his play during the week of April 7th to April 13th for going 11 for 19 at the plate with 2 doubles, 3 homeruns, and 10 RBIs in four games. This year, the junior catcher has helped lead his team to a 21-9 record and a #1 seed in this year’s USCAA Baseball National Championship.

USCAA Names Matthew Simms as its Newest Executive Director Michael Goodman to take Chief Operating Officer Role Newport News, VA – Following the announcement that Bill Casto, ten year Executive Director of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, would step down in 2015, the Board of Directors have named Matt Simms as Executive Director.

Simms becomes only the third Executive Director in the association’s history, since becoming the USCAA in 2001. A native of Smithfield, VA, he joined the USCAA management staff in 2005. Simms is a graduate of Old Dominion University, where he obtained a bachelor’s in Organizational Psychology. He went on to receive his MBA from the College of William & Mary in 2015.

Simms has been instrumental in sponsorship attainment, leading to contracts with Eastbay, Rawlings, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, as well as grants with various convention & visitors bureaus. He has also worked directly in efforts to improve the image of the USCAA including five website re-designs, the reorganization of the national office,

SUMMER 2015 and improved broadcasting of USCAA Championship events with partnerships for webcasting, ESPN Radio, and the addition of the USCAA Network.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Michael Goodman is entering his fifth year with the USCAA. A graduate of Old Dominion University where he obtained his master’s degree in Sports Management, Goodman will oversee day-to-day operations of the USCAA National Office.

Goodman has compiled a long list of different job functions during his time with the USCAA. Beginning as the association’s Administrator of Communications and Compliance in 2011, he developed the USCAA’s eligibility center, a platform on the USCAA website for all matters dealing with the association’s eligibility rules and guidelines. Goodman also created the USCAA’s first eligibility Case Study Handbook, assisted in the development of the USCAA Code of Conduct policy, and in 2012 oversaw the association’s transition to PrestoSports as the official statistical provider of the USCAA. Furthermore, Goodman has led efforts to improve the layout and content of the USCAA website, improve the association’s ratings and selections processes, internal and external communication channels, and contributed to latest redesign of the USCAA’s website.

He also led a project team beginning in 2012 to develop the USCAA’s standalone championship websites. The USCAA now offers six championship websites as well as a separate site for the annual USCAA National Convention.

To date, Goodman continues to serve as the USCAA’s compliance chairman, working with the membership to ensure timely and accurate reporting of USCAA eligibility documentation, and working with the USCAA’s eligibility committee to process all applicable waivers. He continues to oversee the USCAA Coaches Polls, Sport Committees, internal subcommittees, and lead development of internal marketing initiatives aimed at highlighting the USCAA’s unique mission and niche in intercollegiate athletics. Goodman is a regular at USCAA championships, where he plays an integral part in event operations.

Scheduling Board Please 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.

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.

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