Coming off the most historic year in Virginia baseball history, the 2016 Step Up to the
Plate event was also one for the history books. Held at the John Paul Jones Arena on Jan. 30,
the sold-out program broke a record in auction sales, raising just over $68,000 between the
live and silent auction events. This special evening for Cavalier fans and the baseball team
included the players' ring ceremony, which commemorated their 2015 College World Series
championship.
Channing Poole, the play-by-play man for the Cavaliers, emceed the evening that is now
in its 14th year. Head coach Brian O'Connor
thanked the crowd for their support during the
whirlwind season. O'Connor then introduced
the current 2016 team and gave each player
on the 2015 College World Series team their
national championship ring.
The evening concluded with a panel of six
Cavalier alumni from the 2015 national cham-
pionship team — including Nathan Kirby, Joe
McCarthy, Josh Sborz, Kenny Towns, Brand
on Waddell and Thomas Woodruff — discuss-
ing their historic season, what it's like to win
the College World Series and life after becom-
ing national champions.
EVENT RECAPS
2016 STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND
2015 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RING CEREMONY
Assisted by athletics director Craig Lit-
tlepage, head coach Brian O'Connor pres-
ents Kenny Towns with his national cham-
pionship ring.
