May 9, 2012
San Antonio – The No. 1-ranked St. Mary’s baseball team has two semifinalists for the 2012 Tino Martinez Award.
Standout closer Jonathan Perez (Jr., San Antonio) and starting pitcher Rene Solis (So., San Antonio) made the cut, it was announced Wednesday by College Baseball Lineup, who hands out the annual honor.
Perez set a single-season St. Mary’s record with 15 saves this season to go along with a 0.69 ERA en route to establishing himself as one of the top closers in the nation. Making 22 appearances, he has averaged more than a strikeout per inning with 27 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched.
Solis, No. 2 in the Rattlers’ rotation but every bit as good as any ace going, is 11-2 on the season and leads the team in strikeouts and ERA among starting pitchers. He has 93 strikeouts to go along with a 1.65 ERA in 13 starts.
The Tino Martinez Award is presented by College Baseball Lineup to the most outstanding NCAA Division II baseball player in the country. The award is named after former Major League Baseball All-Star Tino Martinez, a former University of Tampa star.
Perez and Solis were two of 55 semifinalists unveiled. The Rattlers (41-8) were one of only seven schools to have multiple players on the list. Former St. Mary’s star closer Sammy Rivas was a semifinalist for the award last season.