Former Indians named to initial Tino Award watch list

Former ICC Indian standouts Jake Sloan (Hatley) and Ladarrius Cole (Nettleton) have been named to the initial watch list for the 2012 Tino Award for the most outstanding player in DII college baseball.

Sloan, a junior DH from North Alabama, batted .359 with a .605 slugging percentage and .409 on-base percentage. He scored 38 runs and driving in a team-high 51 to go along with his 20 doubles and seven home runs while successfully steal 14 of 17 attempts. He led the team with 16 multiple-hit games and had the longest hit streak of the season recording a hit in seven-straight games.

Cole, a junior outfielder at West Alabama, started in all 41 games last season for the Tigers. He had a team-high 59 hits and 47 runs scored in 166 at-bats. He finished third on the team with a .440 slugging percentage and second with a .432 on-base percentage while successfully stealing 21 bases on 21 attempts.

"We are excited for both these guys," said ICC head baseball coach Rick Collier. "It's a great honor for them to be recognized for this award, but it comes as no surprise because of their work ethic and dedication to the game of baseball both on and off the field."

Nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information contacts and media members.

The list will be updated with a mid-season release in April. Semi-finalists are scheduled to be announced in early May with the finalist to be named later that month. After the finalists are named fans will be invited to vote online to help determine the winner, which will be announced after the conclusion of the DII Baseball Championship. 

The annual honor is named after former University of Tampa standout, Olympian and MLB All-State, Tino Martinez.