NCBWA Announces All-Region Honors

TAMPA, Fla. – After leading the University of Tampa baseball team to another stellar season, head coach Joe Urso and six Spartan student-athletes earned recognition on the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II All-South Region Team, highlighted by Urso being named South Region Coach of the Year.

Tampa places five players on the All-South Region First Team, including senior catcher Jhoander Irigoyen, senior second baseman Brayden Woodburn, graduate left-handed pitcher B.J. Bailey, junior left-handed pitcher Robert Satin, and junior relief pitcher Luke Fikar. Senior outfielder Jordan Evans also earns All-South Region Second Team honors.

Urso has guided the Spartans to a 42-8 overall record and a 27-3 mark in Sunshine State Conference play this season. Tampa captured another SSC regular season title and continues its postseason run in the NCAA South Regional after opening tournament play with a victory over Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday.

A senior from Winter Garden, Florida, Irigoyen earns first-team honors after establishing himself as one of the top offensive and defensive catchers in the South Region. The backstop is batting .381 with 45 runs scored, 72 hits, 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 55 RBI, and a .608 slugging percentage in 50 games. Behind the plate, the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year owns a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 303 putouts while helping guide one of Division II's top pitching staffs.

Woodburn continues his standout Spartan career with another all-region campaign at second base. The senior from Winter Springs, Florida, is batting .373 with 61 runs scored, 66 hits, eight doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 41 RBI. Woodburn also has 19 stolen bases and a .576 slugging percentage while anchoring the middle infield defensively with 111 assists.

Bailey has emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in the South Region during his graduate campaign. The left-hander from Woodruff, South Carolina, owns a 1.93 ERA with a 12-0 record across 15 appearances, including 14 starts. The SSC Pitcher of the Year has struck out 89 batters over 88.2 innings while holding opponents to a .207 batting average.

Satin garners first-team recognition following what has been a dominant junior season on the mound. The Tampa native is 11-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 16 appearances and 16 starts. Over 97.2 innings pitched, Satin has recorded 105 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .234 batting average.

Fikar earns first-team recognition as a relief pitcher after excelling in multiple roles throughout the season. The junior from Tampa owns a 1.55 ERA and six saves in 16 pitching appearances, striking out 28 batters across 29.0 innings. Offensively, Fikar is batting .274 with 17 runs scored, 11 RBI, and 18 stolen bases while appearing in 31 games.

Evans secures second-team all-region honors after putting together a productive senior season in the Tampa outfield. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native is batting .355 with 50 hits, 31 runs scored, seven doubles, seven home runs, and 44 RBI in 49 games. Evans also owns a .595 slugging percentage and has delivered several key hits throughout the season.

Tampa continues NCAA South Regional action on Friday at 5 p.m. against Sunshine State Conference opponent Rollins.

Player of the Year: Zach Stokes, Gr., University of West Florida

Pitcher of the Year: Adrian Byrd, Sr., Delta State University

Coach of the Year: Joe Urso, University of Tampa

2026 NCBWA Division II All-South Region First Team

2026 NCBWA Division II All-South Region Second Team