Wausau, WI – University of California, Santa Barbara pitcher Nick Capito has signed on for his first season of Wisconsin Woodchucks baseball. The 21-year-old Artesia, California native is enjoying his first season at UCSB after spending the first two years of his collegiate career at highly regarded Santa Ana Junior College.
The transition from junior college to Big West ball can be difficult for anyone, not to mention left-handed pitchers. But if Capito’s first impressions resonate, it looks like he should be just fine. In Capito’s first start at Santa Barbara last week, he managed to pick up a loss while giving up one run over a strong seven-and-one-third innings of work.
The 6’2” Capito will try to carry on the Santa Barbara legacy, following in the footsteps of noted alumnus, former Oakland Athletics star, and his personal favorite major league player – Barry Zito.
While attending Santa Ana College, Capito crossed paths with the Dons’ pitching coach Tim Matz, who will also be joining the Woodchucks this season as an assistant coach. Hopefully the duo can team back up and reproduce Capito’s prolific numbers he enjoyed with the Dons. In 103.1 innings as a sophomore last spring, under Matz’ tutelage, Capito posted a 12-2 record with a 2.70 earned run average-while striking out 78 batters.
More impressively, Capito led the Dons to an Orange Empire League title in both of his seasons at SAC, while leading the team to the super regionals as a freshman and the state championship finals as a sophomore.
Capito, an English major, assembled a 24-5 career record at La Quinta High School while being a part of three conference championship teams. He would go on to be named all-conference as a junior and senior, while posting his first career no hitter as a high school sophomore.
The Woodchucks 2010 home opener is on Thursday, June 3rd as they take on the Madison Mallards. For group outing/ticket information contact the Woodchucks office at 715-845-5055 or visit the Woodchucks website at www.woodchucks.com.
– provided by Casey Olbrantz, Woodchucks Media Relations Department
