RailCats Add Catcher Hank Lanto To Mix This Summer
March 16, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - The Gary SouthShore RailCats added to their open catching competition Tuesday, coming to terms with third-year pro Hank Lanto on a contract for the 2010 season and making the California native the second backstop to ink a deal with the Northern League club.
Lanto, 25, may be a familiar name to die-hard RailCats fans, who first got a look at the left-handed hitting Lanto during Spring Training 2008. After failing to latch on with the 'Cats that spring, Lanto joined the Schaumburg Flyers and finished the season strong with a.280 average and two home runs in 32 games. Lanto enjoyed an especially impressive July in 2008, hitting.342 with 13 hits in 11 contests.
Last season, Lanto played in one game for the Winnipeg Goldeyes before closing out the year with the United League's San Angelo Colts, leading his team to the league championship series. Lanto played in more game than any other Colts catcher in 2009, seeing time in 48 regular season games and driving in a career-high 21 runs.
A native of Modesto, California, Lanto played two seasons at Modesto Junior College before closing his amateur career at NAIA William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. Lanto was a Second Team All-Conference selection for the Cardinal in 2006 as a senior.
Lanto becomes the 17th RailCats player to sign a contract for the upcoming season, joining catcher Matt Lenski; infielders Jeff Beachum, Chris Carrara, Louis Ott, Jay Pecci and Mike Rohde; outfielders Caleb Curry, Cristian Guerrero, Adam Klein and Mike Massaro; pitchers Aaron Cook, Willie Glen, Zach McClellan, Andy Paulun, J.J. Potrikus and Andy Shipman. The RailCats will have at least 28 players in camp on May 6 when Spring Training begins at U. S. Steel Yard.
The RailCats will open the 2010 season Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard against the Kansas City T-Bones. Season tickets, group outings, mini-plans and flex packages are on sale now by calling the RailCats at 219.882.2255. For more information on the upcoming season, check out www.railcatsbaseball.com.
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Northern League Stories from March 16, 2010
- RailCats Add Catcher Hank Lanto To Mix This Summer - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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