Mark Martinez completed his third season on Metro State's coaching staff in 2014 under head coach Jerrid Oates.
The 2014 squad went 14-29 overall and 12-26 in the RMAC, but was a victim of a 2-9 record in one-run games. Despite the losing record, the Roadrunners ranked second in the RMAC in ERA and third in lowest opponent batting average. Junior catcher Darryl Baca was named all-region after leading the conference in home runs and batting .366. A highlight in the season included a 9-7 win over nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa, which went on to reach the national championship game.
The Roadrunners were a much improved team in 2013, Martinez's second season. The most notable improvement came in the pitching department. The team ERA went from 7.25 in 2012 to 5.62 in 2013, leading to a 20-27 record, five more wins than the previous season, and a berth in the RMAC tournament. MSU Denver entered the conference tournament winning six of its final eight games, but was eliminated by the two RMAC teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament.
Senior third baseman Jacob Nelson was named honorable mention All-America after batting .370 and leading the region with 12 home runs.
Despite a 15-31 record in 2012 in his first season, Metro State won four of its final seven games to finish on a strong note, batting .403 over those final seven games.
Five players were named academic all-RMAC as well.
The Roadrunners were led by Darryl Baca, who was named RMAC freshman of the year and earned first team all-region honors. Two more freshmen put together some outstanding feats as Mitch Gibbons and Mike Thill were the first Metro State freshmen to earn RMAC player or pitcher of the week honors in school history. Baca batted .372 with 52 runs batted in and 11 home runs, leading the team in all three categories. Gibbons hit .340 with 28 runs and 24 RBIs and Thill led the team with a 4-5 record and a 6.75 ERA.
Martinez joined the Roadrunners after spending the previous 17 years as an assistant at Colorado School of Mines, serving four years under Oates.
He also has coaching experience at Arvada High School (1990-94) and Arvada West High School (1985-90). The Arvada, Colo., native played baseball collegiately at Trinidad State Junior College, playing in the Junior College World Series in 1985, helping his team to a sixth-place finish. He earned his associates degree from Trinidad State in data processing in 1985.
Martinez and his wife Pam have a daughter, Megan, and a son, Brandon. He is an avid hunter and enjoys boating, camping, fishing, golfing and traveling.
