Two Former Otters on Preliminary World Baseball Classic Rosters
Published on January 24, 2006 under Frontier League (FL)
Evansville Otters News Release
Evansville, IN-Two former Evansville Otters are among the nine Frontier League alumni to have made preliminary rosters for the upcoming inaugural World Baseball Classic, with Matt Ceriani and Dustin Delucchi both on the initial list for Italy.
Matt Ceriani, a catcher, was signed by Evansville in 1998 following a career at the University of Mississippi that saw him selected as Best Defensive Catcher in the Southeastern Conference. Cerinai was named to the U.S. Olympic Team's 50-man roster in 1997. For the Otters in 1998, Ceriani hit .203 with five doubles, one home run, and 11 RBI in 29 games prior to having his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. Ceriani climbed as high as Double-A baseball in both the Milwaukee and the Arizona Diamondbacks organizations.
Dustin Delucchi, an outfielder, was signed by the Otters in 2000 out of San Francisco State University. Delucchi had previously played at Arizona State University, whom he helped lead to a runner-up finish in the 1998 College World Series. Delucchi appeared in 50 games for Evansville in 2000, compiling a .307 batting average with 24 doubles and 11 stolen bases in helping the Otters advance to the Frontier League Championship Series. He returned to the Frontier League in 2001 with the Dubois County Dragons, leading the franchise to their first division title with a league-leading .465 on-base percentage, .331 batting average, six home runs, 41 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. The Seattle Mariners signed Delucchi following the 2002 season, and he split 2005 between their Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma and the San Diego Padres Double-A team in Moblie and Triple-A team in Portland, Oregon, compiling for a .285 batting average with 3 home runs, 28 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.
Joining Ceriani and Delucchi on the preliminary rosters for the World Baseball Classic are former Frontier League players Marc Cerbone (RHP, Johnstown Johnnies, 1999-2000, Italy), Matthew Kent (C, Kalamazoo Kings, 2001-03, Australia), Chris Oxspring (RHP, Cook County Cheetahs, 2000, Australia), Ben Risinger (3B, Springfield Capitals, 1998, Australia), Chris Rojas (RHP, Canton Crocodiles, 1998, Puerto Rico), Jason Simontacchi (RHP, Springfield Capitals, 1998, Italy), and Andrew Utting (C, Cook County Cheetahs, 1999-2000, Australia).
"The entire Frontier League is proud of these nine players and how their careers have progressed," commented Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee. "Their selections show the strength of the caliber of play in the Frontier League, and I'm glad that they will get to showcase their talents on an international stage."
"Ceriani and Delucchi were both key components in division-winning teams during their time in Evansville," said Otters' vice president/general manager Steve Tahsler. "We are proud that the Otters were able to give them the start to their professional baseball careers."
The Evansville Otters were voted a Platinum Winner in the Evansville Courier & Press Reader's Choice Awards and Best Sporting Event by the readers of Evansville Living magazine in 2005. The Otters open the 2006 home schedule on Saturday, May 27 against the Gateway Grizzlies.
More information may be obtained by contacting the Evansville Otters at ottersbb@evansville.net or 812-435-8686.
Frontier League Stories from January 24, 2006
- Wild Things Make Roster Changes - Washington Wild Things
- Freedom's Thurman Gets Signed by Brewers - OSC Original by Andrew Kappes
- Beach Bums add coach - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Former Otters On Rosters - Evansville Otters
- Two Former Otters on Preliminary World Baseball Classic Rosters - Evansville Otters
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