OMAHA, NE - Over one hundred thirty exceptional student-athletes comprise the initial watch list for the 2012 Tino Martinez Award for the most outstanding player in DII college baseball. The annual honor is named after the former University of Tampa Spartan, Olympian and MLB All-Star, Tino Martinez.
Nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information contacts and media members.
Barry University baseball standouts Corey Witkowski, Lyndon Coleman, and Adrian English have all been named to the 2012 Tino Martinez Award Watch List.
Witkowski finished 2011 with an 11-1 record and a 1.48 ERA. Among his many accolades, the senior southpaw earned First Team All-Sunshine State Conference, First Team All-South Region by Daktronics, South Region Pitcher of the Year and Second Team All-American. This spring, Witkowski was named preseason All-South Region first team as well as preseason All-American.
Coleman started in 44 games for the Bucs last spring, hitting .294 with three homeruns and 32 RBI. A force in the middle of the lineup, Coleman looks to pick up where he left off from last spring’s end of the year hot-streak.
Lastly, sophomore shortstop Adrian English will look to improve upon his outstanding rookie campaign. English started 55 games, primarily at shortstop and finished second on the team hitting .330 to go along with 40 runs and 26 RBI. English joins Witkowski as a preseason All-South Region selection in 2012.
Former Buccaneer, Dean Green was a finalist for the award in 2011. Green had one of the best single seasons by any Buccaneer in program history. Green finished with a .400 batting average, 22 doubles, 19 homeruns, and 77 RBI on his way to being named SSC Player of the Year. Green was also earned All-South Region and All-American accolades with his spectacular season on the diamond. Green was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers, becoming 14th Buccaneer drafted and third highest in program history.
The list will be updated with a mid-season release mid April. Semi-finalists are scheduled to be announced on May 7th with the finalists to be named on May 21st.
After the finalists are named fans will be once again invited to vote online at tinoaward.com to help determine the winner. The winner will be announced after the conclusion of the DII Baseball Championship held in Cary, NC from May 26th to June 2nd.
For more information on the Tino Award go to www.tinoaward.com.