Aug. 3, 2012
Boca Raton, FL -
Any championship season is filled with many dramatic moments and fantastic finishers. That certainly was the case for the 2012 Florida Atlantic University baseball team as it captured the Sun Belt Conference's regular-season title -- the Owls' second league crown in the last three seasons.
FAU compiled a 32-22 record, marking the 14th consecutive winning season for the program. The team had a 19-8 mark in SBC play.
FAUSports.com will look back at the top 10 highlights from the 2012 successful season. The countdown continues with Mike Albaladejo's successful transition from catcher to becoming an all-conference second baseman.
The Scene: Albaladejo had been a three-year starter and preseason All-Sun Belt Conference choice at catcher.
Supporting Information: Playing second base was not foreign for Albaladejo, who was coming off playing the position during the 2011 summer collegiate baseball season. So, he was receptive to Head Baseball Coach John McCormack's suggestion during fall workouts. The move pays off as the Winter Garden native leads Florida Atlantic with a .358 batting average, 76 hits, 13 doubles and 43 runs scored.
The Play: Albaladejo's shift also opened an opportunity for junior catcher Mike Spano. He earned second-team All-SBC honors, hit three home runs, had a .291 batting average and had 22 RBIs during the 2012 season.
For his part, Albaladejo hit leadoff in the batting order for most of the season and played a key role in the Owls' offense and defense (making just five errors at second base) during the 2012 regular-season conference championship season. He still saw some action behind the plate, starting in the Sunday games of SBC weekend series.
Key Stat: Albaladejo ranked among the Sun Belt leaders in statistical categories at two different defensive positions: putouts from second base and pickoffs as a catcher.
Schedule of 2012 FAU Baseball Highlight Countdown:
No. 10 - Spano's walk-off single in 10th inning against Western Kentucky
No. 9 - Seigel's Big Day against South Alabama
No. 8 - Garton's Pitching Consistency
No. 7 - Cooney's Jersey and Number Retirement
No. 6 - Nelson's Performance in March FIU Series
No. 5 - Albaladejo's Transition to Second Base
No. 4 - August 6
No. 3 - August 8
No. 2 - August 10
No. 1 - August 13
Roster ·
Schedule ·
