FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern baseball players
Carlos Asuaje (So., Weston, Fla.) and
Areo Regoli (Sr., Homestead, Fla.) have been named semifinalists for the Tino Martinez Award, given to the top NCAA Division-II baseball player in the nation.
After taking Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year honors last season, Asuaje has taken the next step in his sophomore campaign. The leadoff hitter ranks in the top-10 nationally with a .427 batting average. He has hit the third-most doubles in the nation with 23, one shy of Guillermo Munoz’s single-season NSU record set in 1991.
Regoli has taken huge strides in his senior year and has established himself as one of the nation’s elite power hitters. Regoli has hit 15 home runs on the season and ranks sixth in the country with 0.35 home runs per game. Regoli is two homers away from the NSU single-season record, which is held by both Brian Cook (2008) and Ed Mackie (1993).
The Tino Martinez Award is named after the former Tampa Spartan, United States Olympian, first round draft pick and MLB All-Star.
The fifty-five semifinalists represent forty-eight different schools from across the nation. Seven schools, Grand Valley State, Mercyhurst, North Alabama, NSU, St. Anselm, St. Mary's and Western Oregon each had two players on the list.
Each of the eight geographic regions are represented, with a minimum of six players selected from each area. Six players comprise the semi-finalists from the Atlantic, Central, East and West Regions, seven student-athletes make up the list from the Midwest and South Central, eight from the Southeast and nine players have been included from the South.
Initial nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information contacts and media members. A panel of media, coaches and sports information officers will be polled to finalize the candidates. The group will once again vote on the finalists, with a fan Internet vote also contributing to the crowning of the winner.
The finalists are scheduled to be named Monday, May 21st. The winner will be announced after the conclusion of the D-II Baseball Championship held in Cary, N.C. from May 26th to June 2th.
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