PEMBROKE, N.C. – Just two days after the All-Region teams were released with a first-team nod, sophomore Nova Southeastern baseball utility player Duncan Pastore added to his preseason accolades, as officials from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) tabbed the Tampa, Fla. native for preseason All-America honorable mention. The writer's association also listed the Sharks at No. 16 in its preseason national poll.

Reigning National Champion Tampa and next week's NSU opponent Colorado Mesa sit in the top two slots of the national poll after ending last season in the final. The Sharks recorded 180 points in the poll to list at 16th in the first year under coach Laz Gutierrez, after ending the 2019 season receiving votes.

Entering his sophomore campaign, the former Wharton High School standout garnered his first All-American nod. Pastore earned D2CCA All-Region honors last season after being honored as the Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year; also with a slot on the All-SSC second team. Splitting time between the mound, third base and the outfield, Pastore batted .344 in his debut season, racking up 26 runs and 13 RBI in only 33 games, while also putting six doubles in play. Featuring the team's third-best on-base percentage (.420), Pastore walked 14 times to go with his 43 hits – going on to rack up 12-of-16 stolen bases to rank third for the Sharks. On top of all that, Pastore made 13 pitching appearances with eight starts, collecting a 4-0 record with a starters-best 2.51 ERA, striking out 33 with just 12 walks in 43 innings pitched – allowing opponents only a .211 average against.
 
The 16th-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks open their 2020 season on Friday, January 31 at home against No. 7 North Greenville at the NSU Baseball Complex. Saturday, February 1, the Sharks will follow up against Tusculum and close out the weekend with a local matchup against St. Thomas on Sunday, February 2.