Horizons Fall 2016

11-10 nearly halfway through the regular season. Things started to change in March, just before the Sunshine State Conference schedule began. Brown talked to junior out- fielder Teft Hill , who rarely plays, but is a leader because of his team-first attitude. “You know what we are?” Brown asked Hill, who recently graduated with a degree in business administration from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepre- neurship. “We’re red hot.” The Sharks were only 7-7 at the time. They didn’t take off until March 15, when they began what became a 33-6 close to their season. But the “red hot” talk was the beginning of a new mind- set. Hill took some red licorice twists and threw them at his teammates. When he said “red,” they said “hot.’’ The more they said it, the more the players believed it. Until they actually were red hot. Soon, the players started filling their dugout with hot sauce, tomatoes, and anything else red they could find. During doubleheader days, they would eat sandwiches with hot sauce. The inspired Sharks caught fire, going 11-2 against Top-20 teams. During the regular season, they beat No. 2 Tampa and No. 18 Florida Southern, taking two out of three games in each series, both on the road. They also beat No. 11 Southern New Hampshire. In the playoffs, NSU went 6-0 against top-20 teams, including two straight against No. 1 Millersville, which finished 52-7 with win streaks of 10, 14, and 22 games. But Millersville was no match for the Sharks. NSU closer Devin Raftery , who recently graduated with a degree in communications from NSU’s College of Arts, Hu- manities, and Social Sciences, was named the MVP of the World Series, compiling one win and three saves. He was also the MVP of the South Region playoffs with three saves. For next season, NSU will have to replace virtually its entire pitching staff. In addition to Raftery, who signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros, Alex Mateo , a criminal justice major, was drafted in the 22nd round by the Miami Marlins. Alex Kline , an environmental studies major, was selected in the 29th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Even though third baseman Zardon was drafted in the 17th round by the Phillies, the Sharks will return seven of the nine starters. “We have our work cut out to replace the pitching we lost,” Brown said. “There will be a lot of challenges, but I expect us to be in national contention again in 2017.” The NSU Sharks, above, believe that teamwork helped make them number one. The baseball team now looks forward to a new season. NSU Sharks, left, celebrate taking the Division II World Series. 51 NSU HORIZONS