NSU Sharks News
NSU Baseball Standouts J.D. Martinez & Michael Fiers Selected As NCBWA All-Americans
Outfielder J.D. Martinez Becomes 2nd Shark In Program History To Earn 1st Team All-America Selection
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (June 9, 2009) Nova Southeastern University baseball players J.D. Martinez and Michael Fiers were listed as NCBWA All-Americans, it was announced on Monday afternoon. Martinez (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was selected to the first team, marking the third All-America team he has made this off-season. He was previously selected 3rd team ABCA/Rawlings All-America and 2nd team Daktronics All-America. Martinez has also earned 2nd team All-SSC, 1st Team ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region, 1st team NCBWA All-South Region and 1st team DAKTRONICS All-South Region honors.
He had one of the best single seasons at the plate in NSU Baseball history, batting .428 with 15 home runs and 57 runs batted in. He set a single season program record in runs scored (73) while placing second in batting average. He landed in the top ten in slugging percentage (.770), hits (80), home runs (15), RBI's (57), total bases (144) and walks (41). He set the NSU career home run record on April 17th vs. Barry University by hitting his 31st home run of his career.
Fiers (Sr., Pompano Beach, Fla.) was selected to the third team, which was his second All-America team he has been honored on this season. He was previously named a 3rd team ABCA/Rawlings All-American. Fiers had already been named 2nd team All-SSC, 1st team ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region, 1st team NCBWA All-South Region and 2nd team DAKTRONICS All-South Region for his season. He was 10-3 on the mound with a 2.65 earned run average in 108.2 innings pitched and led the nation (setting a new NSU single season record) with 145 strikeouts on the season. He compiled three shutouts while holding opposing batters to a .209 batting average. Fiers pitched at least six innings with allowing two runs or less in nine starts in 2009.
Since joining the NCAA Division II in 2002, Nova Southeastern has had five previous baseball All-America selections. Martinez and Fiers join first baseman Bryan Cook (2008- Second Team All-American), centerfielder Matt Mindick (2007-Second Team All-American) and pitchers Kyle Ruwe (2003-Second Team All-American), Derek Antelo (2005-First Team All-American) and Antony Bello (2006-Third Team All-American).
The Sharks set a new program record with 37 NCAA victories in one season in 2009 and concluded the season 37-19.
