Gator Country

Despite being a true freshman Florida's Richie Martin already has cemented a spot at shortstop and at the top of the batting order. / Gator Country photo by Mike Capshaw

Despite never playing a college game together, folks around McKethan Stadium already are raving about Florida’s middle-infield duo this season, which begins Feb. 15 with a three-game home series against Duke.

The Florida Gators were stingy a year ago with shortstop Nolan Fontana and second baseman Casey Turgeon backhanding hard grounders in the hole or knocking down high-hoppers up the middle to turn would-be base hits into putouts.

When Fontana signed with the Houston Astros after being selected in the second-round of last June’s draft, it left a gaping hole at shortstop, one of the key spots in the infield. It also meant the Gators would need to find another leadoff man to ignite the offense.

Enter Richie Martin.

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