MELBOURNE, Fla. – Entering the 2021 season ranked No. 19 nationally, the Nova Southeastern baseball team was picked fourth in the Preseason Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Coaches Poll, league officials announced Wednesday. The Sharks received 46 points in the poll.
With the second year on the horizon under Laz Gutierrez, the Sharks return 30 players from a year ago, when NSU split at 11-11 before the season was ultimately cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. After a challenging start to a season that saw 14-of-22 games against ranked opponents, the Sharks had won both Sunshine State Conference series on the road – clinching victory in five of the final seven outings.
The Sharks were in the top tier of the SSC in league win percentage, aided by aggressive baserunning that topped the SSC and ranked fourth nationally with 65 stolen bases (2.95/game). A steady force in 2020 for the Sharks was also a heady defense, ranking 14th in the NCAA with 19 double plays (0.86/game). The Sharks also ranked fourth in the SSC with a .292 average, coming up 21st nationally with 21 doubles and 17th nationally with 230 hits. NSU retained all but one of its 2020 senior class for an additional year, providing the Sharks with a deep roster and depth at every position – including a list of 25 pitching options on staff.
The Sharks were selected as the Preseason No. 2 last year in the SSC and ended the shortened season in a three-way tie for second place in league play.
Ranked as high as No. 2 nationally in the polls, Tampa leads the 2021 SSC Coaches Poll with 64 points and 8-of-9 first-place votes, ahead of a 51-point tie between Barry and Florida Southern. After the Sharks, the poll lists Lynn (31 points), Rollins (30 points), Palm Beach Atlantic (19 points), then Florida Tech and Saint Leo (both at 16 points).
The full Nova Southeastern baseball schedule for 2021 has not been officially released at this time, but stay tuned to NSUSharks.com for schedule updates to come.
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