Round 27 - RHP - Randy Fontanez

http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/03/3  ... 6-march-30 - Randy Fontanez fired the first 9-inning no-hitter in Division I baseball this season, during his team’s BIG EAST Conference opening 4-0 win over visiting Notre Dame (sparking the Bulls to a series sweep, as they look to challenge Louisville for the conference title). The 6-1, 195-pound righthander racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts, with only two walks, while throwing 80 of his 119 pitches (67%) for strikes. Fontanez did not allow a runner to reach second base until there was one out in the top of the 9th (thanks to the second catchers-interference call of the game). The gem is the third no-hitter in USF history and the first since 1992. Over the course of the nine innings, Fontanez faced 31 batters and allowed only three balls to reach the outfield - as his 27 outs includedthe 12 Ks (at least one every inning; half of them “looking”) along with 10 groundouts, a foulout to first base, a popup to the shortstop and three flyouts (leftfielder Junior Carlin never had to touch the ball in the game). Veteran outfielder Ryan Connolly (3-hole hitter) was the only Notre Dame batter that reached base multiple times and was ND’s only baserunner until the 9th.

The Big East Conference projected him as the preseason pitcher of the year in 2010. He failed to live up to the lofty expectations but still had a solid season with a 3.59 ERA but was not able to get the decisions in his outing as his record slipped to 5-7 in 15 starts. Fontanez did improve on his strikeout totals as he had 105 while only walking 28. He was able to toss a no-hitter against Notre Dame on March 26th which led to him being named College Baseball Daily’s Player of the Week for March 30th. (Link). He was also able to toss a complete game shutout win against Villanova on April 23rd. At the end of the year, he was named to the All-Big East Second Team. He was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He went to the Cape Cod Baseball League to help improve his negotitating power and was adequate with teh Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. He finished the season with a 2-0 record with a 2.95 ERA in seven games (six starts) while striking out 25 batters and walking 12. After negotiating with the Reds, he decided to come back to South Florida to finish off his collegiate career. -

http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2010/11/25/top-100-countdown-55-randy-fontanez-south-florida/