Pittsfield American Defenders Signs 3 Players
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Pittsfield American Defenders General Manager, Jon Tosches announced today that his club has signed infielder Ernesto Ortiz, a freshman from Gonzaga; first baseman/catcher Anthony Bona, a freshman from San Jose State; and Casey Lytle, a sophomore outfielder from Kansas University, to spend the 2009 season in scenic western Massachusetts at Historic Wahconah Park."The weather may suggest otherwise, but baseball season is right around the corner and we feel these players will prove to be valuable additions to our ball club," said Tosches, whose Defenders will kick off their inaugural season in early June.
Ortiz, a Phoenix, Arizona native played his way into a starting spot as a freshman on the Gonzaga squad this year. School staff members expect him to be a leader on the Zags, and have an immediate impact in the West Coast Conference. He graduated from Chaparral High, where he was a four-year letter winner in baseball and named to the All-Region second team all four years, finishing out his high school career with a .330 average, 20 doubles, 11 triples and 58 RBI.
Anthony Bona, who hails from Union City, CA, is expected to be a strong asset at San Jose State this year, seeing time at both first base and behind the plate. His offense is sure to get him noticed. He graduated in 2008 from James Logan High School in Union City, where he was a three-year varsity letter winner in baseball, earning second-team All-Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) honors as a utility player in his senior season, after making the first-team All-MVAL as an outfielder and catcher. He hit .592 with two home runs his senior season.
Lytle, who like Ortiz is a Phoenix native played last year for the San Luis Obispo Rattlers of the California Collegiate League, hitting .303 with nine doubles, a triple and 18 RBIs. He hit .429 as a freshman in 2008 in 7 games at Kansas University, and is expected to have a standout season this spring. In high school he lettered twice in baseball for head coach Jerry Dawson at Chaparral High School, and was named to first team All-State, first team all-region and 2006 Team Arizona as a junior. As a three-sport star he led his team (ranked fourth overall by Baseball America and 19th in USA Today) to an Arizona 4A State championship, hitting .433 with a pair of homers and 29 RBI during his junior year.
About The Pittsfield American Defenders
The Pittsfield American Defenders will debut in 2009 as a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, one of the premier NCAA sanctioned and MLB supported summer leagues in the country. Pittsfield is one of five teams operated by the Boston Baseball All-Stars (BBAS) that represent the most unique baseball enterprise in the world. As one of the oldest geographical locations in North America with historical connections to the Hall of Fame it also serves as the spring training home of the U.S. Military All-Stars "Red, White and Blue Tour." The organization is dedicated to helping people reach the next level. BBAS teams include:
- American Defenders of New Hampshire - Can-Am Professional Baseball League
- Latin Stars Tour
- Military All-Stars - 20th Annual "Red, White and Blue Tour"
- International Baseball Diplomacy Tour
