Laz Gutierrez/Head Coach | Nova Southeastern University
Laz Gutierrez/Head Coach | Nova Southeastern University
As the Nova Southeastern Sharks Baseball team continues to prepare for the 2023 season, the Sunshine State Conference released its preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday morning. NSU was chosen to finish second in the league and received one first place vote.
The Sharks come into the 2023 season following the most successful season of the Head Coach Laz Gutierrez-era, winning 36 games and advancing to the championship game of the NCAA Regional Tournament.
Nova Southeastern returns key contributors to both the lineup and pitching staff, including Duncan Pastore, Daniel Irisarri, Adam Frank, Carlos Rey and Michael Dillon. The trio of Pastore, Irisarri, and Frank anchored the NSU lineup during the 2022 campaign. Pastore led the Sharks in batting average (0.370), hits (71), doubles (14) and RBI (57). Additionally, Irisarri hit 0.340 for the Sharks, totaling 67 hits, 42 RBIs, 19 steals and 14 doubles, while Frank hit at a 0.333-clip, adding 47 RBIs and eight home runs and seven stolen bases.
The tandem of Rey and Dillon formed a dominant tandem on the mound for NSU, as both pitchers established themselves as premier options for the Sharks pitching staff. Rey ended last season with an earned run average of 1.40, pitching in 51.1 innings and struck out 76. Dillon, the Sharks shutdown closer, earned 14 saves on the year and held a 1.73 ERA across 26 innings of work.
2023 SSC BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
| Rank | School (FPV) | Total Points |
| 1 | Tampa (10) | 100 |
| 2 | Nova Southeastern (1) | 83 |
| 3 | Saint Leo | 78 |
| 4 | Rollins | 75 |
| 5 | Florida Southern | 71 |
| 6 | Lynn | 49 |
| 7 | Florida Tech | 48 |
| 8 | Embry-Riddle | 37 |
| 9 | Eckerd | 27 |
| 10 | Barry | 26 |
| 11 | Palm Beach Atlantic | 11 |
NSU returns to the diamond on February 3, taking on Lane from the NSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Original source can be found here.
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