Baseball's Nolan Fontana Named CB360 Primetime Player of the Week
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 | Baseball
University of Florida sophomore shortstop Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.) was named as the Primetime Player of the Week produced by CollegeBaseball360.com on Wednesday. This marks the second time in school history that a Gator has received the award, as outfielder Matt den Dekker was recognized for his efforts during the week of Feb. 19-21, 2010.
Fontana was a consistent but somewhat subtle factor behind top-ranked Florida's impressive week that included a 5-4, 10-inning win over No. 4 Florida State, avenging a loss two weeks earlier, and then a sweep at No. 5 LSU (5-4, 1-0, 7-3; the Gators' first-ever sweep of the Tigers in Baton Rouge). Over the course of those four games, the Gators' leadoff batter reached base in half of his plate appearances (10-of-20; hit 5-for-15 (.333) with five walks), factored into five of his team's runs (three RBI, two runs) and played error-free (12 fielding chances) during the tension-packed week.
In addition to the quantity of his effective plate appearances during the week, the 5-11, 190-pound left-handed hitter also had several clutch plays that helped deliver narrow victories (it's not often you see a player hit two triples in the same week … but that's another highlight of Fontana's six-day stretch).
In the showdown with in-state rival Florida State on March 15 – as the teams entered the game with a 29-3 combined record – Fontana reached base three times (triple, two walks) and scored the winning run. With one out in the bottom of the 10th, the game suddenly was on the brink of ending when Fontana sent a 1-2 pitch from Seminole right-hander Mike McGee down the right-field line. Junior Daniel Pigott (Ormond Beach, Fla.) followed with a single into center field, ending the game for the excited McKethan Stadium faithful.
Three days later, a raucous Alex Box Stadium crowd of 12,000-plus was sensing victory, with LSU leading 3-2 entering the ninth. Sophomore Mike Zunino's (Cape Coral, Fla.) one-out home run tied the game, but it was Fontana who had the eventual winning hit off closer Matty Ott, pulling a bases-loaded, full-count pitch through the right side of the infield for a two-run single that scored sophomore Kamm Washington (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and senior Josh Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.). It was only the third time in 11 visits to Baton Rouge that Florida had won the first game of the series.
More drama awaited in the game-two pitchers' duel. Fontana, who struck out only twice all week, opened the game with a full-count walk versus LSU freshman righty Kevin Gausman and motored around to score on Pigott's double – accounting for the only scoring in that thriller. It marked the first time that the Tigers have been shut out at the new Alex Box Stadium and is only the second time that the Gators have held LSU scoreless.
Fontana then went 2-for-4 with another base-on-balls in the series finale (he also had a walk in the opener). The speedster capped Florida's five-run fourth with a two-out, RBI triple into the right-center gap, sending the Gators onto the historic sweep. The triumph also gave the Gators a lofty 18-2 record at the 20-game mark.
Primetime Performer Award Criteria (not based solely on raw stats, but rather … )
• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings) or performed a high level in games that could be key to a team's conference/NCAA postseason qualification; made significant contribution to team's postseason positioning (single-game wins, “quality” wins, series wins, road wins, etc.).
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, key defensive efforts, etc.
• Performed at a top level against a team rated highly nationally (or within its conference), with bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field and vs. traditional rivals.
• Overcame adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
• Any accomplishment that is rare, historic, record-setting, etc., on a national level.
Texas A&M junior right-hander Ross Stripling was the Primetime Pitcher of the Week. Stripling posted two wins versus nationally-ranked opponents during the past week, helping lift the Aggies to #8 in the CB360 Composite National Rankings. The 6-3, 190-pound right-hander totaled 12 strikeouts in his 13 combined innings during the week, allowing only two runs (1.38 ERA) on 10 hits and two walks.
CB360 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll #5
(week of March 14-20, 2011; presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
Greg Annarummo (Rhode Island … LF … Sr./Jr. … Lincoln, RI … 6-0/200 … Bats: R … 6-hole/cleanup… #23)
*Nolan Fontana (FLORIDA … SS … So. … Winter Garden, FL … 5-11/190 … Bats: L … leadoff … #4)
Aaron Gates (Pepperdine … LHP … Jr … Villa Park, CA … 6-1/205 … Bats: L … #2)
John Hicks (Virginia … C/RF … Jr. … Sandy Hook, VA … 6-2/205 … Bats: R … 3-hole … #8)
John McCambridge (Xaver … CF … Sr. … Columbus, OH … 6-2/210 … Bats: R .. leadoff … #4)
Casey McElroy (Auburn … SS … Jr. … Orlando. FL … 6-8/180 … Bats: L … 3-hole … #23)
Jared Stafford (Dallas Baptist … RHP … Sr. … Keller, TX … 5-11/190 … #18)
*Ross Stripling (Texas A&M … RHP … Jr. … Southlake, TX … 6-3/190 … #36)
Andre Wheeler (Texas Tech … LF … Fr. … Austin, TX … 6-0/175 … Bats: L … 8-hole … #36)
* Fontana is the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Stripling the Primetime Pitcher of the Week - CollegeBaseball360 link
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