Slugger Esteban Puerta is back to anchor the FAU lineup again (Aaron Fitt)

Fall Report: Florida Atlantic

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Florida Atlantic’s run to the Conference USA regular-season championship was one of the best stories of 2016. A year ago at this time, FAU head coach John McCormack was partway through 30 treatments of radiation and 12 rounds of chemotherapy after a tumor was discovered in his parotid gland, in his right cheek. Then in early December, starting catcher Kevin Abraham was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after a tumor was discovered in his right arm.

But in the face of that incredible adversity, the Owls pulled together and rallied. There was an emotional team[…]