Mazzilli Lands a Spot on Preseason All-American First Team

Dec. 20, 2011

STORRS, Conn. (December 20, 2011) - University of Connecticut junior second baseman LJ Mazzilli (Greenwich, Conn.) has been named a First Team Preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Mazzilli is coming off a strong sophomore season in which he batted .338 on 93 hits, tied for second most in a single season in program history, in 275 at-bats. He also scored 48 runs and drove in 32, while smacking 23 doubles, the second highest single season mark, and stealing 11 bases.

Last season, Mazzilli was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team and was honored as a NEIBA Second Team All-Star. Over the summer, he played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was also an alternate for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

A year ago, two members of the Connecticut baseball team were named NCBWA Preseason All-Americans as Mike Nemeth and George Springer were each named to the Third Team. At season's end, Springer and Matt Barnes were each chosen as First Team All-Americans, while Kevin Vance was honored on the Second Team.

Mazzilli is just one of two players representing the BIG EAST on the NCWBA Preseason All-American roster. Louisville's Justin Amlung was named a Third Team starting pitcher after posting a 2.31 earned run average and a 10-2 record in 2011.

The Huskies 2012 campaign gets underway in St. Petersburg, Fla. as they take on Indiana in game one of the BIG EAST/Big Ten Challenge on February 17.

NCBWA All-American First Team
C-Mike Zunino, Florida (.371 BA, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 7 SB)
1B-Adam Brett Walker, Jacksonville (.409, 13, 75, 14)
2B-LJ Mazzilli, Connecticut (.338, 3, 32, 11)
3B-Stephen Piscotty, Stanford (.364, 3, 40, 2)
SS- Bo Cuthbertson, Southern Utah (.432, 5, 47, 15)
OF-Victor Roache, Georgia Southern (.325, 30, 84, 3)
OF-Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston (.347, 22, 73, 1)
OF-Tyler Naquin, Texas A&M (.381, 2, 44, 6)

SP-Michael Roth, South Carolina (1.06 ERA, 14-3 W-L, 0 SV, 112 SO)
SP-Tyler Ray, Troy (2.34, 12-0, 0, 69)
SP-Ross Stripling, Texas A&M (2.29, 14-2, 0, 113)
SP-Branden Kline, Virginia (1.88, 4-1, 0, 56)
RP-Matt Price, South Carolina (1.83, 7-3, 20, 75)
RP-Tony Bryant, Oregon State (1.52, 3-2, 12 , 40)
RP-Caleb Reed, Mississippi State (1.55, 1-2, 12, 66)
RP-Corey Knebel, Texas (1.13, 3-2, 19, 60)

UT-Brian Johnson, Florida (.307, 5, 29, 2) (3.62, 8-3, 0, 72)

University of Connecticut Athletics

Mazzilli Lands a Spot on Preseason All-American First Team

Players Mentioned

Matt Barnes

LJ Mazzilli

LJ Mazzilli

Mike Nemeth

George Springer

Kevin Vance

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