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Rays will play Spartans

TAMPA -- The University of Tampa prides itself on playing a tough baseball schedule each season as it prepares for what seems like its annual trip to the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.

This year, the Spartans are going one step further.

When the Tampa Bay Devil Rays open spring training March 1 at Florida Power Park, the Spartans will be in the visitors' dugout.

"It's a huge deal for us," Tampa pitching coach Sam Militello said. "All of our players are excited about the opportunity to play against a professional team and guys they've been watching on TV."

Militello said the game is a result of the Rays wanting to get more involved with local colleges and the Spartans being able to fit them into the schedule. UT begins its season Jan. 31 and will have played 10 games by the time it meets the Rays.

"It's a great situation," Militello said. "... Hopefully it will create some interest on both sides of the bay. Hopefully, we can do this every year."

Tampa has appeared in eight Division II World Series, including last season, winning titles in 1992, 1993 and 1998. The Spartans finished 49-10 last year. The Devil Rays were 62-100.

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