Donica secures All-America honors
6/1/2017 12:26:00 PM | Baseball
All-America Player Listing
LUBBOCK – Sam Houston State's return to national prowess over the previous two seasons can be attributed to a number of reasons. Near the top of that list will be Heath Donica.
The right-hander has been named Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the publication announced Thursday. Donica becomes the sixth Bearkat to receive the honor and first since Nick Zaleski was named honorable mention in 2009.
“First of all, Heater is an All-American in every facet of his life,” third-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “He's a great worker and teammate. He is a self-made player that gets the most out of what God gave him. To see him work as hard as he has and to capitalize and be honored this way is just awesome. I can't think of a kid more deserving than Heath Donica. We're really proud of him.”
The Corsicana product ranks 11th nationally in ERA (1.69), 20th in victories (9) and 21st in WHIP (0.95). Donica became the first Sam Houston Division I pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts in a season and has an opportunity to add on this weekend at the NCAA Lubbock Regional.
Donica set the tone on Opening Day, racking up a Division I program-best 14 strikeouts against Nevada but arguably has been even better down the stretch. Over his last four starts – spanning 31 innings – the righty owns a 0.87 ERA, holding opponents to a .150 average while fanning 28.
Sam Houston opens the NCAA Lubbock Regional on Friday with a 6 p.m. tilt against Arizona in what will be a rematch of last year's first-round pairing. The postseason trip is the fifth in the last six years and second consecutive; a feat helped by the ace.
“We've 80-plus games in his two years and he has won 20 of them,” Deggs said. “He's been a cornerstone to what we've done. Without him and without several other of these kids it doesn't get done.”
