May 27, 2011
San Antonio – When you post a 0.22 ERA and give up one run all season, you’re bound to win some awards. Still, never did St. Mary’s star closer Sammy Rivas expect Friday’s announcement.
Rivas, a senior from Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, has been named to a second-team Division II All-American by Daktronics.
“Wow. I’m in shock,” Rivas said when told of the news. “I don’t know what to say.”
The honor is just the latest in a long line of awards bestowed upon Rivas since he helped lead the Rattlers to a memorable season in which they finished with the highest winning percentage (.825) in coach Charlie Migl’s 25 years at the helm.
Rivas was also named to the inaugural College Baseball Lineup D-II All-Star team and was a semifinalist for the prestigious Tino Martinez award, handed out annually to the nation’s most outstanding D-II player. In addition, he was voted First-Team All-Region by both Daktronics and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and was also named the Heartland Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year.
Rivas went 5-0 with 14 saves, the most on record in the program’s history, and posted a 41-10 strikeout-walk ratio.
The Rattlers, who were ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation during the season, won the Heartland Conference regular season and tournament championships en route to advancing to the South Central Regional Baseball Championship.