BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of West Florida standout pitcher Mike Jeffcoat returned to UWF as an assistant baseball coach in 2001, and after 10 seasons, including five as head coach, Jeffcoat and the Argonauts have become known for their pitching prowess in the Gulf South Conference.  Seven pitchers in those 10 years, as well as one position player, were selected to the GSC All-Decade Team, as announced by the conference office on Thursday.

“This is a testament to the success of our program,” said Jeffcoat.  “It shows the consistency our team has been able to maintain over the last 10 years, and we hope to continue it going forward into the next decade.”

Right-handed starter Bryan Lee (2002-05) was selected to the GSC All-Decade first team along with right fielder Peter Antoske (2004-07), and both were unanimous selections.  Left-handed starter Todd Androsko (2003-06) was also a first team pick.  Starting pitchers Kevin Johnson (2009-10) and Kyle Ramsey (2005-09) were second team selections, and starter Brett McCullough (2007) and relievers Fred Fosson (2005-06) and Phil Lawhorn (2007) received honorable mention.

“When I came in with Coach (Jim) Spooner, we both made a concerted effort to rebuild the program on pitching,” Jeffcoat explained.  “The program had some struggles previously, but the 2002 season was the moment it turned around with Bryan Lee coming in as a freshman.  Once we established that baseline of pitching, we really took off.  Obviously that has shown in our players on the all-decade team, with seven of our eight selections being pitchers.”

FIRST TEAM: Peter Antoske, outfielder (2004-07)
- .364 batting average, 281 H, 50 2B, 9 HR, 118 RBI
- Four-time All-GSC, three-time All-GSC first team

FIRST TEAM: Todd Androsko, starting pitcher (2003-06)
- 28-14, 2.95 ERA, 366.2 IP, 321 K
- Four-time All-GSC, three-time All-GSC first team

FIRST TEAM: Bryan Lee, starting pitcher (2002-05)
- 31-12, 2.89 ERA, 364.1 IP, 253 K
- Three-time All-GSC, two-time All-GSC first team

SECOND TEAM: Kevin Johnson, starting pitcher (2009-10)
- 13-6, 4.15 ERA, 184.1 IP, 148 K
- Threw UWF’s first no-hitter in Division II

SECOND TEAM: Kyle Ramsey, starting pitcher (2005-09)
- 21-19, 2.98 ERA, 317.1 IP, 215 K, 50 BB
- Three-time All-GSC

HONORABLE MENTION: Brett McCullough, starting pitcher (2007)
- 12-1, 2.54 ERA, 102.2 IP, 71 K
- 2007 GSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player

HONORABLE MENTION: Fred Fosson, relief pitcher (2005-06)
- 8-6, 3.25 ERA, 22 SV, 80.2 IP, 69 K
- 2005 All-GSC first team

HONORABLE MENTION: Phil Lawhorn, relief pitcher (2007)
- 4-0, 2.61 ERA, 14 SV, 41.1 IP, 52 K, 18 BB
- GSC single season saves leader (14)

Thursday’s release marks the third consecutive Thursday all-decade release for the GSC following the six-sport fall release and the men’s and women’s basketball release.  The league compiled all-decade teams for five spring sports, excluding women’s golf which was added as an official league sport in 2005.

Players could only be nominated for the all-decade team if they competed in at least two seasons during the decade and were also named to the All-GSC first team at least once.  Each squad was broken up into first and second teams except for men’s tennis.  Players and coaches of the decade were selected and honorable mentions were also recognized in special circumstances (for example, those student-athletes that competed in just one season and were an All-GSC first team member during the past decade).

For information on the Gulf South Conference, visit www.gulfsouthconference.org.  For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.

OFFICIAL GSC RELEASE