Bonilla, Tuccio and Local Talent Signed by Westerners
June 3, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Danbury Westerners News Release
Danbury, CT- June 3, 2014: The Danbury Westerners, the longest tenured team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, are proud to announce the return of 2013 teammates Brandon Bonilla and Alex Tuccio, and 2014 local residents Joe Burns, Chris DelDebbio and Edgard Santiago.
Brandon Bonilla (Sarasota, FL) is a left-hander for Grand Canyon University, who pitched for the Westerners in 2013. As a Westerner, Bonilla appeared in 10 games, with one start. He averaged nearly 14 strikeouts per nine innings, as he whiffed 30 batters in 19.1 innings of work. Brandon did not pitch in 2014, but in 2013 he tossed 22.2 innings in 23 relief appearances. He had a 2-0 record with a 3.57 ERA and struck out 26 batters. Brandon was drafted in the 2011 First Year Players Draft by the Colorado Rockies in the 37th round. Brandon's father, Bobby Bonilla played in the Majors for 16 seasons with for eight different teams, including the 1997 World Series Champion Florida Marlins.
Alex Tuccio (Ridgefield, CT) is a sophomore infielder for the Siena College Saints. Last year Tuccio appeared in 39 games for the Westerners, hitting .254 with 32 hits and 14 RBI. Tuccio was second on the club with eight doubles. At Siena this spring Alex saw limited action, amassing eight hits and 3 RBI.
Joe Burns (Shelton, CT) catches for St. John's University. Burns appeared in 30 games this season for the Red Storm, starting ten. He had nine hits, including three doubles, and drove in seven runs. In 2013 Burns had 14 appearances, including two starts, scoring two runs scored and committing only one error.
Chris DelDebbio (Danbury, CT) is an outfielder for the University of Hartford. DelDebbio started all 54 games this season, and has started all 107 games in his collegiate career. In 2014 he was 2nd on the team with 34 runs scored, and 3rd on team with 54 hits and seven stolen bases. DelDebbio led the team with a .991 fielding percentage. In 2013 he finished the season second on the team with a .279 batting average, chipping in 53 hits, second most on the team, and was named to the America East All-Rookie team.
Edgard Santiago (New London, CT) is a left handed pitcher for Western Connecticut State University. In 2014 Santiago started seven games, and appeared in one game in relief, posting a 4-2 record, including two complete games. In 52.0 innings, Sanitago posted a 3.98 ERA, struck out 44 batters and did not allow a home run all season. Prior to joining Western Connecticut, Santiago pitched for the University of Connecticut- Avery Point, where he averaged over a strikeout per inning.
Paul Schaffer, President of the Danbury Westerns, commented, "The Westerners are thrilled to bring Brandon and Alex back. We expect them to be important contributors this season. Adding local talent like Burns, DelDebbio and Santiago should excite our local fans who have seen these ballplayers develop."
On June 14th the Danbury Westerners will be hosting a pre-game festival to commemorate 20 years of summer collegiate baseball. Starting at 3:00, fans are invited to come out to Rogers Park for an afternoon of music and entertainment. The Westerners will be providing free hot dogs to all guests, while supplies last. A pre-game ceremony will be held prior to the first pitch at 6:30.
The Danbury Westerners are also pleased to announce the return of their summer baseball camps program. Sessions will be held on July 7-10, July 14-17 and July 21-24. Managed by 21st Century Sports, the Danbury Westerners baseball camps offer an affordable and unique program, as these camps are led by the ballplayers themselves. To enroll please visit www.21csonline.com; early registration discounts are available for a limited time.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 3, 2014
- Bonilla, Tuccio and Local Talent Signed by Westerners - Danbury Westerners
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