Hillsborough Community College Baseball: A Tradition of Success
Contents
Hillsborough Community College has a long tradition of success in baseball. The Hawks have won eight State Championships and five NJCAA National Championships HCC is also a perennial powerhouse in conference play winning 19 conference titles in the last 20 years.
Introduction
Hillsborough Community College has a long tradition of success in baseball. The school has won nine state championships and has produced many Major League Baseball players. The school is located in Tampa, Florida and competes in the Coast Conference
History
Established in 1966, the Hillsborough Community College (HCC) baseball team has a long and successful history. The team has won the Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) state championship a total of six times, most recently in 2019. They have also been runners-up in the state championship four times. In addition to their success at the state level, the team has also won two NJCAA Division I World Series titles, in 1998 and 2000.
Championships
In its relatively short history, the Hillsborough Community College (HCC) baseball program has been quite successful.
HCC has won nine State Championships most recently in 2019. In addition, the Hawks have made seventeen appearances in the NJCAA Division I World Series including three consecutive trips from 2017-2019. Overall, HCC has an impressive record of 1,605 wins and only 885 losses.
Notable alumni
The Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Baseball Team has long been considered a top junior college program in the country. HCC has produced many successful Major League Baseball (MLB) players, including some of the game’s biggest stars. Here is a look at some of the most notable HCC alumni to have played in MLB.
Facilities
HCC Baseball plays its games at the on-campus Steffi Nossen Stadium, which underwent a $1.2 Million Dollar renovation in 2016 that added a new press box, concession stand bathrooms, and ticket booth. The stadium also features a newly installed state of the art LED lighting system and a regulation size infield.
Coaching staff
Hillsborough Community College has a long tradition of success on the baseball diamond The school has produced numerous professional ballplayers, including current Boston Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr.
The Coaching Staff at Hillsborough is experienced and dedicated to helping their players reach their full potential. The Head Coach Ken Eriksen, has been with the team for over twenty years and has led the Hawks to twelve conference titles and five appearances in the NJCAA World Series
assistant coaches Steve Spring and Scott Bittle, are also former professional players. Spring played for the New York Yankees and Bittle pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals
The coaching staff at Hillsborough is committed to helping their players develop into not only great baseball players but also good people. They are positive role models who emphasize the importance of education and giving back to the community.
Schedule
The HCC baseball team has a long history of success and c ontinues to be one of the top programs in the state of Florida. The program has produced many professional ballplayers, including current Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer. The team is led by head coach Steve Springsteen, who has been at the helm for 19 years.
The HCC baseball team competes in Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and is a member of the Mid-Florida Conference (MFC). The team plays its home games at Joe Arnold Field on the campus of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida.
The HCC Baseball Team has had great success over the years, winning five NJCAA Division I National Championships (1993, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2018), 20 Mid-Florida conference championships and 12 Florida State Championships.
Roster
Pitchers
Tyler Baumgart-Lloyd
Aundreas Espinoza
Garrett Gaynor
Gregory Harper
Luke Heyer
Andrew Karp
Travis Lakins
Brendan McKay
Brady McConnell
Thad McKenzie
Peter Miller
Giuseppe Neri
Catchers
Michael Amditis
Scotty Bradley
Infielders Outfielders Utility/DH
First Base left field Right Field Third Base Shortstop Second Base designated hitter Catcher
Joe Johnson * Luke Becker* Michael Danner Dylan Busby* Kevin Santa * Shane Marshall* Wesley McClure* Danny De La Calle
Media coverage
In recent years the Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Baseball team has received increased media coverage. The team has had success at the national level, winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series in 2013 and 2015. In addition, several players have gone on to play professional baseball
The increased media coverage has brought more attention to the program and helped to recruit new players. It has also helped to raise the profile of the college in the community.
Conclusion
The Tampa Bay Area has a long tradition of producing successful collegiate and professional baseball players and Hillsborough Community College has played a large role in that tradition. The Hawks have won nine State Championships and five NJCAA national championships, and have produced over 1,000 Major League Baseball players.
HCC is committed to the success of its student-athletes both on and off the field, and takes pride in its role in helping young men develop their skills and pursue their dreams of playing Professional Baseball If you are interested in playing college baseball Hillsborough Community College is a Great Place to start your journey.