Belen baseball program to retire Martinez’s No. 21
Nick Martinez, who attended Belen Jesuit from sixth through 12th grades, remembers devouring his lunch as quickly as possible so he and his friends could rush out to the patio and play stickball, using a broomstick or a lead pipe to swat tennis balls for home runs.
On Saturday, Martinez will be back at Belen to receive an impressive honor, becoming the first baseball player in school history to have his jersey number retired.
Martinez, who wore No. 21 at Belen, became the first Wolverines alumnus to make it to the major leagues when he pitched for the Texas Rangers on April 5, 2014.
“This is an incredible honor,” said Martinez, 25, a 6-1, 200-pound right-hander. “I’m proud to call myself a Belen alumnus.”
Martinez, who grew up a Miami Hurricanes fan, had no scholarship offers from Florida colleges coming out of high school.
Then again, he admits to being a “late bloomer” who didn’t even start until his senior year at Belen — and he did that as a shortstop.
He went on to Fordham University in New York City, where he majored in finance. He started at second base for three years and asked his coach to let him get some innings on the mound.
It was there where he flashed a fastball that topped out at 94 mph, helping convince the Rangers to draft him in the 18th round in 2011.
Martinez, who is about one year away from earning a bachelor’s degree, went 5-12 with a 4.55 as a big-league rookie in 2014 and 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA for Texas last season.
Along the way, he’s had some amazing thrills, including:
▪ His first big-league win, at the Detroit Tigers on May 24, 2014;
▪ Beating his hometown Marlins 5-4 at Marlins Park on August 20, 2014, striking out a season-high seven batters in six innings.
▪ Beating the famed New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium with all his ex-Fordham teammates in attendance on May 23, 2015.
Now comes another thrill. He visits Belen a few times a year, but this trip will be special.
“Any one of the kids at Belen now can do what I’m doing,” said Martinez, whose ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on the baseball field. “That’s the message I want to leave them with.”
WALTER VILLA
ALL-COUNTY
▪ The following players from North Broward Prep earned All-Broward Class 5A-Independents football honorable mention — David Vozzola, Kevin Austin, Logan Shooster, Dymitri McKenzie, Kallen Jennings and Troy Efird.
▪ Westminster Christian kicker Nick Auerbacher earned third-team All-Dade 5A-Independents football honors.
▪ Goleman football players — Tyler Moore, Antonio Rodriguez, Ramon Ruiz, Derrick Hall and Daryn Jones each earned All-Dade 8A-6A honorable mention.
▪ Homestead football players Isaac Lipscomb and Rashad Smith each earned All-Dade 8A-6A honorable mention.
ANDRE FERNANDEZ
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FINALS
▪ District 15-4A — Booker T. Washington 46, Pace 43: BTW: O. Manhertz 4, L. Durant 15, C. Pressley 12, M. Leite 6, J. Pierre-Louise 2, K. Godwin 2, P. Burke 5. MP: D. Louis 16, P. Thomcar 3, J. Johnson 12, S. Nairin 10. Rebounds: C. Pressley 15. Steals: C. Pressley 7, M. Leite 7. Assists: M. Leite 6.
▪ District 14-8A — Miami High 40, Hialeah 28: MIA: Angulo 11, Sweeting 7, Richard 5, Rodriguez 6, Weldon 4, Wilson 2, Troup bishop 1, Rachel 1, Jackson 4. HIA: Jones 14, Berries 7, Celestine 7. Steals: Sweeting 4. Assists: Richard 4. Rebounds: Jackson 10. Three-pointers:Rodriguez 2
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
▪ Hebrew Academy 61, Westwood Christian 52: HA (11-7): Tal 21, Esformes 22, Kahn 7, Bixon 11. WC: Osceola 10, Monel 14, Mejias 6, Molina 5, Ametape 9, Taveres 1, Quitan 7. Rebounds: Bixon 15. Assist: Tal 8. Three-Pointers:Esformes 6. HT: 36-26 HA.
▪ Champagnant 69, Schoolhouse Prep 63: CHA: Brennan 15, Oquendo 4, Cortijo 13, Johnson 3, Ferguson 20, Muraida 2, Garcia 2, Coleman 2, Jeravro 9. SHP (13-11): Cail 25, Tompkins 13, Ramos 19, Machado 4, O’Riley 2. HT: 40-28 CHA.
▪ Hialeah Educational 67, Latin Builders 36: HEA (15-10): Cedeno 15, Lara 11, Bruno 10, Carrea 9, St. Clair 8, Castro 6, Carlos 5, Nadal 2, Torres 1. LBA: Gazmuri 9, William 7, Soto 6, Brito 6, Triana 4, Gomez 2, Larroude 2.
▪ Ferguson 65, TERRA 42: FER: D. Gonzalez 14, Fernandez 11, Perez 10, Hernandez 8, Mayor 6, Arrietta 4, R. Gonzalez 2, Osceola 2, Adan 2, Smith 2, Lopez 2, B. Gonzalez 2. TER: Swihart 16, Chambless 8, Cueto 5, Caporale 3, SanAntonio 3, Chutkan 3, Velazquez 2, Bacall 2. HT: FER 34-21. Three-pointers: Hernandez 2, Mayor 2. Assists: R. Gonzalez 6. Rebounds: Perez 12. Steals: Osceola 5.
▪ Doral 47, La Salle 43: DA (17-7): Menendez 17, Nunez 12, Cobas 8, Castellano 3, Enriquez 2, Fernandez 2, Lopez 2, Cobas 1. LS: Cruz 11, Contreras 11, Cruz 8, Gaeten 7, Gali 4, Pita 2. HT: 25-24 DA. Rebounds: Menendez 8. Assists: Nunez 4. Steals: Nunez 4.
▪ Westminster Christian 65, Palmer 30: PT: Z. Friedland 2, W. Alston 7, C. Devine 5, M. Montalvo 10, S. Mishra 3, J. Waldman 1, M. Arango 2. WC (17-7): J. Brown 18, J. Raine 9, K. Paicely 10, R. Stewart 3, J. Wright 1, J. Avery 8, T. Halfaker 13, A. Schaefer 3. HT: 28-15 WC. Three-pointers: M. Montalvo 2, J. Raine 2, J. Avery 2. Rebounds: R. Stewart 5, J. Raine 5. Assist: K. Paicely 7. Steals: J. Avery 3.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
GMAC championship at South Miami: Norland vs. Central, 7
BCAA Big 8 semifinals at Fort Lauderdale: Nova vs. Blanche Ely, 6:30; McArthur vs. Dillard, 8
GIRLS’ SOCCER FINALS
Region 4-5A: Lourdes at Cypress Bay, 7
Region 4-4A: Aquinas at Stuart South Fork, 7
Region 4-3A: N.Fort Myers at A.Heritage, 7
Region 4-2A: Pine Crest at Gulliver, 3:30
Region 4-1A: Marathon at Westminster Aca., 7
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FINALS
District 11-8A at Deerfield Beach: 7
District 15-8A at Coral Park: 7:30
District 14-7A at Blanche Ely: 7
District 14-6A at Dillard: 7
District 16-6A at Jackson: 7
District 16-5A at Hallandale: 7:30
District 13-4A at B.Raton St.Andrew’s:7
District 16-4A at Gulliver: 7
District 12-3A at Westminster Aca.: 7
District 13-3A at Posnack: 4
District 15-3A at Riviera Prep: 7
District 16-2A at Island Christian: 7
CHEERLEADING
State championships at USF Sun Dome: Small non-tumbling, small and medium varsity competitions
This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 11:32 PM with the headline "Belen baseball program to retire Martinez’s No. 21."