Concord's Ryan Johnston Named to Tino Martinez Watch List - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Concord's Ryan Johnston Named to Tino Martinez Watch List

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OMAHA, Neb. -

Concord University sophomore Ryan Johnston has been named to the watch list for the fourth annual Tino Martinez Division II Player of the Year Award. The list includes 151 of the top athletes from across the nation.

The award is presented to the most outstanding player in DII college baseball. The annual honor is named after the former University of Tampa Spartan, United States Olympian, first round draft pick and MLB All-Star, Tino Martinez.

Johnston busted onto the college baseball radar as a freshman in 2012, hitting .343 (58-for-169) with 36 runs, 10 home runs and 51 RBI in addition slugging .609 as well as posting a .412 on-base percentage and five stolen bases. In the field, he earned a Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove after registering a .997 fielding percentage. In three games this season, Johnston has driven in two runs and scored another.

Initial nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information contacts, coaches and media members. A panel of media, coaches and sports information officers was polled to finalize the candidates and determine the winner. A fan Internet vote also contributes to the final vote.

Past winners of the Award included Nathan Minnich (Shepherd), Chase Larsson (Cameron) and Bryan Fogle (Erskine).

Johnston and the rest of the Mountain Lion baseball team will take part in the CIAA-WVIAC Challenge this weekend. Concord will play Chowan 4:00 p.m. Friday followed by St. Augustine's on Saturday and Winston-Salem State on Sunday.

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