Virginia Tech junior third baseman Carson DeMartini had a week to remember.
The former Ocean Lakes High standout batted .600 (9 for 15) with seven home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs during the Hokies’ 3-1 week that included its first series win at Louisville since 1995. He also recorded three multi-homer games during each of the Hokies’ victories and extended his hitting streak to six consecutive games heading into Tuesday’s game against East Tennessee State.
For his production, he was named ACC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week by D1Baseball.
“It’s nice to get recognized. All the work we’ve put in from the fall and all the way through the winter, it’s nice,” DeMartini said this week in a telephone interview. “But it’s not about my awards or my accolades. It’s what we’re doing as a team. We’re ranked and it’s the best start we’ve had in the ACC so far … I think ever. That’s the biggest takeaway from last week was how good we’re doing right now as a team.”
DeMartini has led the Hokies (14-4) to the program’s best six-game start in the ACC, best 18-game start to a season since 2012 and a No. 19 ranking in this week’s D1Baseball poll. They currently sit in second place in the ACC Coastal Division with a 5-1 record.
For the season, he is hitting .368 with 12 home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 25 hits. He also has a .985 slugging percentage. He’s second in the ACC in runs, home runs and slugging percentage and fourth nationally in home runs and slugging percentage.
“I think it’s the most home runs I’ve hit this early,” he said. “I hit 15 my freshman year, but at this point in the season, this is the most.”
What made last week even more special is that his father, Tommy, was there to witness it.
“It’s super special. Me and him have a very tight, close-knit relationship,” Carson said. “We’ve done baseball ever since I can remember. And for him to be at those moments for me and share those moments — because he’s put in so much time and effort into my game as I have — it’s really, really special to see him out there.”
𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙏𝙃 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙆𝙀𝙉𝘿 🔨
» @CarsonDemartini #Hokies 🦃⚾️ pic.twitter.com/zC5cMCtahI
— Virginia Tech Baseball (@HokiesBaseball) March 17, 2024
The elder DeMartini can’t make the games during the week, but makes it to every weekend series.
“It’s really exciting to watch. And it’s the best feeling to see him get the benefits of all the work he puts in and all that work is paying off,” he said. “He’s a boy playing a boy’s game, and he’s real good at it. He loves it so much and he’s so passionate about it. As a dad, you just love to see your kid succeed at what they love to do.”
He said seeing his son get the ACC and national honors has also been nice.
“It brings national recognition and national attention, and in my opinion, it’s rightly deserved,” DeMartini said about his son, who is rated the No. 35 overall prospect by Perfect Game and No. 18 college prospect by D1Baseball. “He’s one of the best players in the country, and he’s worked to be one of the best players in the country.”
Carson DeMartini said his work is far from done. He wants to see the Hokies have continued success this season.
“The Hokies are hot and rolling,” said DeMartini, who was a consensus freshman All-American. “The best part about our team is that it’s a bunch of blue-collar players. We’re not a bunch of blue-chip players like UNC, Florida State and Miami. It’s a bunch of guys who have been slept on their entire life, who have now been put together and playing some good baseball.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
