Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Alex Fonseca Signs with Baseball
11/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 21, 2001
BOCA RATON - Alex Fonseca has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Florida Atlantic University, announced John McCormack, FAU's Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
"Alex is one of the finest shortstops in the State," says McCormack. "We are excited to have him join our program."
The Godby High School prepster was a member of the 2001 State Championship team, at the 4A level. The Cougars finished the season with a 31-4 record and were led by Fonseca, who ended the season with a school record .628 on base percentage and a school record 50 runs scored after hitting .485 with a team leading five homers, 10 doubles and 28 stolen bases. For his efforts, the junior earned the team's Offensive Player of the Year honors as well as the team's Most Valuable Player honors. He also donned the 2001 Tallahassee Democrat's "Big Bend Baseball Player of the Year" honors.
Fonseca, who posted a .532 regular-season batting average, is projected to follow current FAU shortstop Bobby Spano. Spano played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Florida State, but transferred to FAU for his junior and senior seasons.
"Alex is from a nice family," said FAU Head Coach Kevin Cooney. "He will be a nice fit for our team and will join the team with the opportunity to make an impact right away at a very high profile position."
While FAU is one of the younger institutions in the state system, the program is experienced with grooming outstanding shortstops and has risen to national prominence through solid play up the middle.
Nick Presto was the first shortstop to take the position as a true freshman, under Cooney's reign. Presto, undrafted out of high school ended his four-year career as a fifth-round choice by the Cincinnati Reds. He was followed by Tommy Murphy, who was drafted in the late rounds out of high school, but developed into a third-round draftee in the 1999 draft. Sanwiched in between was Rich Ozarowski and Dickie Hart. Both undrafted out of high school and both played professional baseball following their collegiate careers.
Murphy was one of nine FAU players signed in the 2000 draft, FAU led all state schools in 2000 with players taken by major league baseball and it was just one year removed from the squad tying a 28-year record for 34 consecutive wins.
