There was no shortage of senior stars in the North Coast Section but in the end the numbers De La Salle star Anthony Martinez produced and his leadership skills on a team that achieved all its goals won out in a crowded field.

The biggest star on the NCS Division I and state CIF Northern Regional Division I champions, and the State Team of the Year and No. 1 team in the final Cal-Hi Sports state rankings, is now a freshman student-athlete at UC Irvine. However, it’s still not too late to honor Martinez for what he accomplished in his senior season at De La Salle.

Now, after being named Cal-Hi Sports all-state first team, Bay Area News Group Player of the Year, San Francisco Chronicle all-Metro First Team and Contra Costa County Player of the Year, and all-East Bay Athletic League first team, Martinez completes his postseason honors by being named the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Senior of the Year.

“Thank you. I appreciate you guys picking me for this award,” Martinez said. “It feels amazing to get all this recognition but that’s not what I did it for. I just wanted to help me team win as much as I could.”

On the season the 6-2, 235-pound power-hitting catcher put up some of the most impressive numbers in the state and he did it on a Spartans team that arguably played the state’s toughest competition.

Martinez hit for a whopping, team-leading .411 batting average, stroked a school-record 10 home runs, plus he had six doubles, 44 RBIs and 21 runs scored. The batting average was tops in the ultra-tough EBAL and the top mark for large school programs in the NCS, the home runs was tops in the NCS and tied for the No. 9 reported mark in the state, and the RBIs tied for No. 11 in the state and was the top mark for NCS large schools. Another amazing fact is in 124 plate appearances Martinez only struck out twice and walked 23 times.

De La Salle head coach David Jeans has had some great players, and in fact his 2019 team was the top team in not only California but the entire nation, and Martinez takes his place as among the best Spartans players ever.

“His approach at the plate was professional,” Jeans said. “He took walks when pitchers were pitching around him, and he hit when they got behind.”

“He has a pro approach and was a leader in his at-bats,” Jeans continued. “He showed guys what team is all about.”

The team is utmost at De La Salle in all sports, and while Martinez knew what his role was, it was still about the team.

“I was a big part of the lineup for sure, but having all of these talented players hitting in front of and behind me really helped take the pressure off me,” Martinez said. “It definitely made me more comfortable because I knew if I didn’t execute there were eight other guys that could pick me up.”

De La Salle had some pitchers that really stepped up this past season, and as valuable as Martinez was with his bat, he was equally effective handling the pitching staff, and that is key to a top-notch team’s success. Jeans acknowledged that as well.

“He was more valuable as a steady influence on the pitchers,” Jeans said. “The guys knew he had their best interests in mind and they trusted him implicitly.”

Martinez is now at UC Irvine - how does Jeans feel he will fit in the Anteaters lineup.

“I don’t know where he will end up defensively. That’s up to him and how hard he wants to work,” Jeans responded. “He is a pro hitter, maybe the best hitter to come out of De La Salle. He is going to a great program at UCI with a great coach. They will find a way to get the best out of him.”

When asked what his expectations are and the expectations of the coaches at UC Irvine, Martinez had this response.

“Mt coaches and I expect the same things,” Martinez said. “They want me to be the best player and person I can be on and off the field, and for me to help contribute to the team just like I did at De La Salle

What the Anteaters are getting is the much honored and well-deserved Prep2Prep North Coast Section Senior of the Year. Congratulations to Anthony Martinez.

Other players considered for this award include: Foothill’s Jack Basseer, College Park’s Michael Barnett, California’s Nic Bronzini, De La Salle’s Donovan Chriss, and Foothill’s Tyler Gebb.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of NCS baseball.