FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University baseball team had five players named to the Daktronics, Inc. All-South Region Teams, including Justin Garcia (Jr., Hialeah, Fla.), who was once again named South Region Player of the Year.
 
Garcia was also honored as a first-team outfielder along with starting pitcher Ryan Castellanos (Jr., Davie, Fla.). Pitchers Zachary Westcott (R-Sr., Weston, Fla.) and Alex Mateo (Jr., Miami, Fla.) joined second baseman Alexander Fernandez (Sr., Davie, Fla.) on the second team.
 
Garcia led the Sunshine State Conference in home runs (24), total bases (164), slugging (.901) and on-base percentage (.484) Garcia's current slugging percentage of .901 is the highest slugging percentage in the SSC since Tino Martinez slugged .957 in 1988. This is Garcia's third POY award, after being honored by the SSC and the NCBWA.
 
Joining him was Castellanos, who tossed a SSC-high 90.2 innings in 2015, earning nine wins. He held a 3.08 ERA and struck out 60 batters while only walking 16. He was also named a first-teamer by the NCBWA.
 
Recognized on the second team, Westcott was the most dominant pitcher in the SSC this year, posting a 0.70 ERA against conference opponents. So far, he is averaging 12.6 K's per nine innings, 1.2 more K's per nine than the next highest in the SSC of 11.4. Like teammate Castellanos, Westcott was recognized as an All-South Region talent by the NCBWA.
 
Just like Castellanos, Alex Mateo has been an essential part of the weekend rotation in 2015, making 13 starts and recording a 9-1 record. Mateo's electric "stuff" has led to a SSC-high 87 K's, five more than the next highest of 82. Mateo's best start came against Eckerd on April 25, when he tossed 8.0 innings, while striking out nine batters. His season high in K's came against Florida Tech on April 11, when Mateo struck out 10 batters.
 
Outside of Garcia, Fernandez has been the team's top slugger with a .591 percentage. He had a team-best five triples to go with 110 home runs and 10 doubles. Fernandez drove in 42 runs, ranking third on the team, and scored 50 times. At second base, Fernandez held a .966 fielding percentage. 

First Team
C – Austin Allen, Florida Tech
1B – Tanner Rainey, West Alabama
2B – Brian Walker, Palm Beach Atlantic
3B – Mitch Holgate, West Alabama
SS – Alfonzo Giovanny, Tampa
OF – Justin Garcia, Nova Southeastern
OF – Jhalan Jackson, Florida Southern
OF – Colton Simbeck, Alabama Huntsville
DH – Stephen Dezzi, Tampa
UT (Pitcher) – Kyle Carter, Lynn
SP – Scotty Ward, Florida Tech
SP – Fernando Gonzales, West Alabama
SP – Ryan Castellanos, Nova Southeastern
SP – Daniel Koger, Alabama Huntsville
RP – Bill Mendek, Lynn
 
Player of the Year – Justin Garcia, Nova Southeastern
Pitcher of the Year – Scotty Ward, Florida Tech
 
Second Team
C – Alex DeBellis, Lynn
1B – Troy Sieber, Saint Leo
2B – Alex Fernandez, Nova Southeastern
3B – Dylan Harris, Saint Leo
3B – Chris Dennis, Florida Southern
SS – Brett Guzay, North Alabama
OF – Chandler Brock, Alabama Huntsville
OF – John Borup, Lynn
OF –Christian Coburn, Rollins
DH –Ryan Barnes, Alabama Huntsville
UT (Pitcher) – Jonathan Quintana, Barry
SP – Jorge Cruz, West Alabama
SP – Alex Mateo, Nova Southeastern
SP – Brandon Nagem, West Florida
SP – Max Watt, Lynn
RP – Luke Mould, Alabama Huntsville
RP – Zachary Westcott, Nova Southeastern