Gelof, Tappen, Ortiz, other Cavaliers pick up additional national, regional accolades

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association listed third baseman Jake Gelof, outfielder Alex Tappen and two-way standout Devin Ortiz on its annual All-America Team. Perfect Game included Gelof as a Second Team All-American and named first years Casey Saucke and Griff O’Ferrall to its Freshman All-America squad.

The three selections on the NCBWA All-America Team matches the school record previously achieved in 2010, 2011 and 2016. A total of six Cavaliers have earned either All-America or Freshman All-America honors from various publications thus far. Three more All-America teams (D1Baseball.com, Baseball America and ABCA) are scheduled to be released in the near future.

2022 All-America Honors

3B Jake Gelof – Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (Third Team), NCBWA (Third Team) Perfect Game (Second Team)

UTL Devin Ortiz – Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (Second Team), NCBWA (Second Team);

OF Alex Tappen – NCBWA (Third Team)

2022 Freshman All-America Honors

RP Jay Woolfolk – College Baseball Newspaper

OF Casey Saucke – Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Perfect Game (First Team)

SS Griff O’Ferrall – NCBWA (First Team), Perfect Game (Second Team)

Ortiz continues a long line of Cavalier utility men to be included on the team and joins the likes of Joe Koshansky, Sean Doolittle, Danny Hultzen and Adam Haseley who have all been recognized by CBN for their versatility. On the mound, Ortiz went 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched. The righthander struck out 37 batters and walked only three in nine total appearances. He started all 58 games for the Cavaliers and established career-highs in nearly every offensive category. Ortiz batted .286 with (62-for-217) with 12 doubles, seven home runs and 47 RBI. He is also a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.

Gelof, who already has earned All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, broke the school record for RBI with 81, the sixth-most nationally. The Cavalier third baseman was a semifinalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, two of College Baseball’s most coveted honors. Gelof batted a team-best .377 and hit 21 home runs, one shy of the single-season program record.

As a graduate student, Tappen put together his best collegiate season, posting career-bests in every offensive category. Tappen, also a First Team All-ACC selection, batted .366 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI. He became just the third Cavalier ever to eclipse the 70 RBI mark in a single season. He was named to the Greenville Regional All-Tournament team after going 7-for-13 (.538) with three runs scored and an RBI in three games. He matched a UVA postseason record for hits in game with four in UVA’s season finale against Coastal Carolina.

O’Ferrall started and led off all 58 games this season as a true freshman for the Cavaliers. He posted a .308 average 56 runs scored, two home runs and 39 RBI. He also swiped a team-best 17 bases, tied for the third most by a Cavalier freshman since 2004. O’Ferrall was recognized on the ACC All-Freshman team earlier this year and was one of six freshman to be included on the Brooks Wallace Award (Most Outstanding College Shortstop) midway through the year.

Saucke began his collegiate career with a hit in the first 21 games, the longest by a UVA first year and the second longest by any UVA hitter since 2000. He continued his success at the plate and finished the year with the team’s third-highest batting average (.360) with seven home runs and 46 RBI. Saucke was recognized on the ACC All-Freshman Team at the end of the regular season.

Woolfolk turned out to be one of Virginia’s most reliable arms out of the bullpen. The hard throwing righthander tied for a team best with 28 relief appearances. In 37.2 innings pitched he fanned 55 batters while opponents hit .211 off him. Woolfolk boasted a 2.87 ERA, pitched in three of UVA’s seven shutouts and recorded wins over Boston College (March 20), Georgetown (April 20) and North Carolina (April 22).

Gelof, Tappen also named to ABCA All-Region team

On Wednesday, Gelof and Tappen were each named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region First Team. It marks the second-straight season UVA has produced two first-teamers.

The ABCA Atlantic Region is comprised of 40 schools along the East Coast. As first team honorees, Gelof and Tappen are now eligible for the ABCA All-America team scheduled to be announced later this summer.

Multiple Cavaliers have been placed on the first team seven times, including each of the last two seasons. UVA has had a representative on the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region team in 14 of the last 15 years a team has been selected. Under head coach Brian O’Connor, 32 Cavaliers have garnered All-Region accolades and 15 have gone on to earn All-America honors.

Gelof and Tappen finished the season as the most prolific run producing duo in Virginia baseball history, combining for 152 RBI. The next closest pair to drive in more runs in a single season was Pavin Smith and Adam Haseley who linked up to drive in 134 RBI in 2017.

All-Time Virginia All-Region Selections (Since 2003)
2022 – 3B – Jake Gelof (1st Team)
2022 – OF – Alex Tappen (1st Team)
2021 – SP – Andrew Abbott (1st Team)
2021 – RP – Blake Bales (1st Team)
2019 – 2B – Nic Kent (1st Team)**
2018 – 2B – Andy Weber (1st Team)
2017 – OF – Adam Haseley (1st Team)
2017 – 1B – Pavin Smith (2nd Team)
2017 – RP – Tommy Doyle (2nd Team)
2016 – SP – Connor Jones (1st Team)
2016 – C – Matt Thaiss (2nd Team)
2015 – RP – Josh Sborz (2nd Team)
2014 – SP – Nathan Kirby (1st Team)
2014 – RP – Nick Howard (1st Team)
2014 – 1B – Mike Papi (1st Team)
2013 – OF – Mike Papi (1st Team)
2013 – RP – Kyle Crockett (2nd Team)
2011 – C – John Hicks (1st Team)
2011 – SP – Danny Hultzen (1st Team)
2011 – RP – Branden Kline (1st Team)
2011 – SP – Will Roberts (2nd Team)
2010 – SP – Danny Hultzen (1st Team)
2010 – RP – Kevin Arico (1st Team)
2010 – OF – Phil Gosselin (2nd Team)
2009 – OF – Jarrett Parker (1st Team)
2009 – SP – Danny Hultzen (1st Team) **
2008 – RP – Michael Schwimer (1st Team)
2007 – DH – Greg Miclat (1st Team)
2007 – SP – Jacob Thompson (1st Team)
2007 – OF – Brandon Guyer (2nd Team)
2005 – 3B – Ryan Zimmerman (2nd Team)
2005 – SP – Jeff Kamrath (2nd Team)
** Indicates Freshman Season
No All-Region Team was named in 2020 (CoVID19)