Friendly Faces Sign Back With Colts
May 26, 2010 - United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
San Angelo, Texas-A day before their season is to begin, the Colts ended spring training with a trio of signings involving some familiar names. Pitchers Ezequiel Astacio and Brian Henschel, as well as centerfielder Ronnie Gaines, all members of last year's squad, will be back with the 2010 team.
Astacio, a right-hander from Hato Mayor del Ray Dominican Republic, will begin his second season with the Colts. Last year, he went 8-1 for San Angelo in 14 starts with a 4.26 ERA. Before San Angelo, Astacio pitched in the minors for the Phillies, Cubs, Reds, Rangers and Astros organizations. He got to the majors with the Astros and pitched for them from 2005-2006. He also appeared for Houston in the 2005 World Series. He was signed by the Cubs at mid-season last year and played for their AAA team in Iowa.
Brian Henschel is entering his fourth year in professional baseball, all with the Colts. The right-hander led the Colts in wins last year while going 11-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 16 starts. He is also the Colts career-leader in wins with a 28-13 record and a 3.77 ERA. He played collegiately at UW-Wisconsin Whitewater. He's a native of Hartland, WI.
This will be Gaines' fifth season in professional baseball and fourth with the Colts. The former Angelo State Ram hit .275 with nine homers and 42 RBIs last season in 74 games. The year before, Gaines was with the Chicago White Sox organization where he played for low-A Kannapolis and high-A Winston-Salem. Gaines' first full season in professional baseball was in 2007 when he won the United League's Rookie of the Year Award by hitting .343 with 19 homers and 53 RBIs.
The Colts season opener is tomorrow against the defending UBL Champion Amarillo Dillas. First pitch is at 7:05 and the first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of Double Dave's. Thursday is also Thirsty Thursday at Foster Field as fans can purchase draft beer for just $1 throughout the evening. You can catch all the action on KSAA 1260 AM with the pregame show beginning at 6:50.
The Colts will close out their brief two-game series against Amarillo with a Fireworks Night presented by First Community FCU on Friday, May 28. The game is set for 7:05 with the fireworks show to follow afterward.
• Discuss this story on the United League Baseball message board...
United League Baseball Stories from May 26, 2010
- Friendly Faces Sign Back With Colts - San Angelo Colts
- WhiteWings Set Opening Day Roster - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Dillas host Colts Saturday With Four-Game Series To Open Home Schedule - Amarillo Dillas
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
