ORLANDO – Four UCF baseball players have earned 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team honors, as announced by College Sports Communicators this week.
Seniors Andrew Brait and Ben Vespi, junior Dominic Castellano, and redshirt sophomore Kris Sosnowski all received the prestigious recognition for the 2023-24 academic year. The honor marked the first for Brait, Vespi, and Sosnowski, but the second career recognition for Castellano, as he previously earned Academic All-District honors for the 2022-23 academic campaign.
The 2023-24 Academic All-District Baseball Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. To be eligible, one must hold a 3.50 cumulative GPA or better, as well as be a key contributor on the field. Of the group, Castellano will be eligible for consideration on the CSC Academic All-American ballot, which will be announced July 2.
Junior left-handed pitcher Castellano was named Academic All-District for the second time after being one of the top relief pitchers in the Big 12 Conference this season. Castellano finished his junior campaign with a perfect 7-0 record and a 2.83 ERA. He also recorded three saves and struck out 68 batters in 60.1 innings. The southpaw limited opposing hitters to just a .164 batting average on the season.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Castellano also received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors for the season. For the 2024 season, Castellano ranks fifth nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (5.07), 14th in WHIP (0.98), and 24th in ERA (2.83).
The senior infielder Brait received Academic All-District honors for the first time in his career after slashing .275/.328/.409. He also recorded seven extra-base hits, 42 runs scored, and 23 runs batted in. The fifth-year senior captain led the club in stolen bases on the season by going 10-for-11 as well as walks (37) and sacrifice hits (10). Brait hails from nearby Melbourne, Florida.
Senior right-handed pitcher Vespi too earned Academic All-District accolades for the first time after going 4-4 with a 4.62 ERA on the year. UCF’s Friday night starter in 2024, Vespi led the team in strikeouts and innings pitched with respective tallies of 75 and 78.0. With 16 games started on the year, the senior currently ranks 12th nationally in that category. Vespi hails from Boynton Beach, Florida, and will leave UCF ranked in the top 10 of the program’s all-time appearances, as he’s tied for eighth 76 appearances for his career.
Redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Sosnowski was named Academic All-District for the first time after 1-0 on the season with a 3.38 ERA and six saves. The closer down the stretch for the Knights, the right-hander recorded all six saves over the final 34 days of the season. A native of Lutz, Florida, Sosnowski also earned both a win and a save just last weekend at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. For the season, he recorded 40 strikeouts over 40.1 innings and limited opposing hitters to just a .239 average.
To view the full 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team, click here.