USF baseball coach Lelo Prado was named Monday as the Big East's Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls to a second-place finish in the conference.
The Bulls led the league standings for most of the season, but lost five of their last six conference games, losing the regular-season crown to Louisville. Prado was previously named Conference USA Coach of the Year in 2002, when he was at Louisville, and was the ABCA Division II National Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993 while at the University of Tampa.
"It's special because it comes from the other coaches in the league," Prado said. "There's a lot of people involved. My assistants have done a great job, and the players have done everything we've asked of them."
Bulls sophomore pitcher Randy Fontanez, who had the league's lowest ERA, was the only USF player named to the first-team All-Big East. Fontanez was beaten out for the league's Pitcher of the Year by Louisville's Justin Marks, who got his league-best seventh conference win against USF on Thursday.
Senior catcher Trey Manz named to the second team, and pitcher Derrick Stultz,. outfielder Junior Carlin and first baseman Todd Brazeal made the third team. Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez repeated as Player of the Year, and Connecticut outfielder George Springer has named Rookie of the Year.
USF opens play in the Big East tournament on Tuesday night against seventh-seeded PIttsburgh, though the day's four scheduled games could be delayed due to anticipated rains throughout the day.
Prado is shaking up his standard weekend rotation for this week's tournament -- after opening with Fontanez on Tuesday, he'll turn to junior Shawn Sanford, who had been the Sunday starter in weekend series, with sophomore Derrick Stultz getting the call in USF's third game. "Shawn's been pitching great, and it gives Derrick an extra day of rest," Prado said.
Times sportswriter Greg Auman, who covers USF, will post news and thoughts on the Bulletin and we invite your participation in the comments area.
Interesting about the switch of Stultz and Sanford. I kind of like this move. Hopefully Font wins game 1. That sets up Sanford for game 2. Whether he wins or loses it sets up Stultz as our game 3 starter in what could be a must win situation. Hopefully it isn't and we're in the winner's bracket. If so, I like our chances at that point.
Posted by: JoeB | May 18, 2009 at 11:51 PM