TUCSON, Ariz. – In the first of many preseason polls, the 2020 Nova Southeastern baseball team has garnered its initial preseason ranking at 16th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. Coming off their fifth consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, the Sharks open the next slate under the guidance of first-year head coach
Laz Gutierrez, who was hired in December to replace
Greg Brown. Meanwhile, a pair of Sharks also have drawn early Regional notice from the publication.
The Sharks again will begin the season with a national ranking for the fourth straight year, coming off a 34-17 finish last season in a tie for the top conference record in the Sunshine State Conference. The season ended for the Sharks in the NCAA South Regional final at Tampa against eventual National Champion, the Tampa Spartans.
In addition, a pair of Sharks players drew high regards from the prominent national publication. Senior right-handed pitcher
JP Williams was named among the South Region Players to Watch. The Melbourne, Fla. native who came to NSU via Eastern Florida State was a standout reliever for the Sharks in 2019, going 4-1 with two saves and a 3.58 ERA in 18 appearances. In 37.2 innings, Williams struck out 43 with just 11 walks. Over the summer, Williams appeared in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gatemen, allowing just one run on two hits and two walks in 6.2 innings of work – notching a 1.35 ERA and 0.60 WHIP, striking out seven of the 27 batters he faced.
Projected as one of the best new additions to the Region, junior transfer outfielder
Adan Fernandez was named among South Region Newcomers to Watch by CBN. A Miramar, Fla. native and transfer from Florida International, Fernandez started 78-of-94 games in his two years at FIU under Mervyl Melendez, hitting .225 with 15 home runs and a .418 slugging percentage. He also was part of three high school State titles while at Archbishop McCarthy. He spent this past summer in the Northwoods League for the Mankato Moondogs after starting out in the Cod League. Despite only playing in half of his team's 72 games, Fernandez put up some of the best numbers throughout the league. Arriving in southern Minnesota in late June after appearing six Cape Cod League games for the Chatham Anglers, Fernandez wasted no time, beginning a 12-game hitting streak in his first start. In addition to doubles (36), Fernandez also led his team in average (.323), triples (2), slugging (.598) and OPS (1.003), was second in on-base percentage (.404), tied for third in homers (6) and fourth in RBI (27). His OPS was the fourth-best mark in the league among all hitters with at least 100 plate appearances and he would have led the league in slugging if he had enough plate appearances to qualify.
Looking for their sixth consecutive postseason and eighth in the last 10 years, the Sharks will kick off their 2020 season like much of the NCAA DII membership on January 31.
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