Athletic Outfielder And Towering Pitcher Announced As Signees
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are pleased to announce the inclusion of Cal State Dominguez Hills product Brandon Polizzi and Millersville University right-handed pitcher Eric Ligda to their 2016 roster.
OF – Brandon Polizzi, 5’9” 157, (R/R), Sophomore, Cal State Dominguez Hills
At the close of Polizzi’s sophomore campaign for the Toros, the decorated outfielder will trek to the Midwest for his inaugural taste of Northwoods League baseball. Following his prep career at Bellflower High School that culminated with back-to-back all-league honors, Polizzi selected Cal State Dominguez Hills from a field of interested programs that included Cal State Fullerton and UCSB among others. A year ago as a true freshman, the outfielder wasted no time in asserting himself as a key figure in the Toro lineup, winning a starting position and appearing on the lineup card as a starter in all 54 games in route to an All-Conference honorable mention campaign. Defined by his ability to consistently make contact, Polizzi roped the ball at a .305 clip in his first season, scored 44 runs, and led the Toros with nine stolen bases. Seeking an encore to his successful freshman season, Polizzi has built upon his success through 34 games by starting each contest and delivering a .404 batting average, 11 RBI, 32 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in eleven attempts. Originally born in Neptune, New Jersey, Polizzi calls Bellflower, California home.
RHP – Eric Ligda, 6’5” 205, (R/R), Redshirt Freshman, Millersville University
Joining Polizzi in Wisconsin Rapids will be massive right-handed pitcher Eric Ligda, who is currently in the midst of his first season of collegiate baseball. Ligda, a native of West Grove, Pennsylvania, redshirted last spring in his first year at Millsersville following an illustrious career as a prep athlete at Avon Grove High School, where he earned a total of 11 varsity letters across three sports. In the process of adjusting to collegiate baseball, the right-handed hurler has appeared in five games out of the bullpen, allowing five hits, three earned runs, and a pair of walks throughout 5.2 innings on the rubber. The redshirt freshman does not have a record and owns a 4.76 ERA and two strikeouts. Within the Ligda family, Eric is not the first individual to letter as a collegiate athlete, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Bob Ligda, who was a kicker for the Butler football team before breaking into the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.
The home opener for the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters is June 1st at 7:05 against the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Solarus Founders Club, bleacher 9-Game ticket packages, and group outing packages are on sale now. Call 715-424-5400 or stop by the Rafters Front Office Monday-Friday from 9-5 to purchase a ticket package or book a group outing.
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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 140 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.