Gelof, Tappen Named to ABCA All-Region Team
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Third baseman Jake Gelof and outfielder Alex Tappen were each named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/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.
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.
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)