@OspreyBSB Picked to Repeat, Four Earn Preseason Accolades
1/27/2016 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
Complete Atlantic Sun Release
2015 Atlantic Sun Preseason All-Conference Team (PDF)
MACON, Ga. – Coming off a banner year in 2015 and the program's first Atlantic Sun Regular Season Title, the North Florida baseball team was picked to repeat according to this year's A-Sun Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Ospreys captured their first ever Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship in 2015 with a league mark of 16-5 (.762), the highest winning percentage against conference foes in the program's D-1 era (2006-present). The team's 45 wins were the most since 2005 and only nine other teams in the country had more wins than the Ospreys. In addition, North Florida had the second-highest win improvement (+23) of any team in college baseball.
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After a stellar performance in the field, junior Patrick Ervin was voted the A-Sun's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, one of three major awards handed out by the league. Playing primarily second base in 2015, Ervin led the A-Sun and set a new program single season record with 225 assists. He sported a fielding percentage of .994, the fourth highest among A-Sun players with 300 or more chances.
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Two-way player Corbin Olmstead who has already garnered Preseason All-America accolades from Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball, was voted on the Preseason All-Conference Team as a relief pitcher and a designated hitter. Last season he became the first player in league history to earn First Team All-Conference honors in two different positions. He was listed as an All-American in six different publications last season. He was second in the league in home runs with 13 and was tied for a league-best nine saves. He allowed only one earned run in 35.1 innings pitched and struck out a team-high 48 batters.
Seniors Keith Skinner and Kyle Brooks also received recognition from the league as Preseason All-Conference members. Brooks was integral in the Ospreys historic run in 2015 batting .303 with 59 hits and 50 runs scored. When he returned from the disabled list in early March, the Ospreys preceded to go on a 38-8 run. The Osprey shortstop enters the season just 30 assists shy of breaking the school's all-time assist mark.
Skinner made 37 starts behind the dish for the Ospreys in 2015 and batted .325 with 32 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Defensively, he had the highest fielding percentage (.996) among A-Sun catchers. His most notorious moment came on April 19 against cross-twon rival, Jacksonville when he drove in a school record nine runners after going 4-for-4 with two home runs and three runs scored. He went on to earn a spot on Collegiate Baseball's  National Team of the Week.
The Ospreys will open their 2016 campaign on Feb. 19 at home with a three-game series against George Washington. North Florida will have 34 games at Harmon Stadium this season and season ticket packages are on sale now.
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A-Sun Preseason Coaches Poll
1.        North Florida (4)                  58
2.        FGCU (3)                            50
3.        Lipscomb                             48
4.        Stetson (1)                            43
5.        Kennesaw State                    37
6.        Jacksonville                          28
7.        USC Upstate                        14
8. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NJITÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8
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2015 Atlantic Sun Preseason All-Conference Team (PDF)
MACON, Ga. – Coming off a banner year in 2015 and the program's first Atlantic Sun Regular Season Title, the North Florida baseball team was picked to repeat according to this year's A-Sun Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Ospreys captured their first ever Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship in 2015 with a league mark of 16-5 (.762), the highest winning percentage against conference foes in the program's D-1 era (2006-present). The team's 45 wins were the most since 2005 and only nine other teams in the country had more wins than the Ospreys. In addition, North Florida had the second-highest win improvement (+23) of any team in college baseball.
Â
After a stellar performance in the field, junior Patrick Ervin was voted the A-Sun's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, one of three major awards handed out by the league. Playing primarily second base in 2015, Ervin led the A-Sun and set a new program single season record with 225 assists. He sported a fielding percentage of .994, the fourth highest among A-Sun players with 300 or more chances.
Â
Two-way player Corbin Olmstead who has already garnered Preseason All-America accolades from Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball, was voted on the Preseason All-Conference Team as a relief pitcher and a designated hitter. Last season he became the first player in league history to earn First Team All-Conference honors in two different positions. He was listed as an All-American in six different publications last season. He was second in the league in home runs with 13 and was tied for a league-best nine saves. He allowed only one earned run in 35.1 innings pitched and struck out a team-high 48 batters.
Seniors Keith Skinner and Kyle Brooks also received recognition from the league as Preseason All-Conference members. Brooks was integral in the Ospreys historic run in 2015 batting .303 with 59 hits and 50 runs scored. When he returned from the disabled list in early March, the Ospreys preceded to go on a 38-8 run. The Osprey shortstop enters the season just 30 assists shy of breaking the school's all-time assist mark.
Skinner made 37 starts behind the dish for the Ospreys in 2015 and batted .325 with 32 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Defensively, he had the highest fielding percentage (.996) among A-Sun catchers. His most notorious moment came on April 19 against cross-twon rival, Jacksonville when he drove in a school record nine runners after going 4-for-4 with two home runs and three runs scored. He went on to earn a spot on Collegiate Baseball's  National Team of the Week.
The Ospreys will open their 2016 campaign on Feb. 19 at home with a three-game series against George Washington. North Florida will have 34 games at Harmon Stadium this season and season ticket packages are on sale now.
Â
A-Sun Preseason Coaches Poll
1.        North Florida (4)                  58
2.        FGCU (3)                            50
3.        Lipscomb                             48
4.        Stetson (1)                            43
5.        Kennesaw State                    37
6.        Jacksonville                          28
7.        USC Upstate                        14
8. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NJITÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8
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