(Photo Courtesy UC Santa Barbara Media Relations: LHP Domenic Mazza posted a 3.78 last season as a freshman.)

Wisconsin Rapids, WI- Thursday, February 6th. The Rafters have announced that they have partnered with the University of California, Santa Barbara to bring players to Wisconsin Rapids this summer.  Left-handed pitcher Domenic Mazza and right-hander Hector Lujan have both signed contracts for 2014.

LHP- Domenic Mazza, 6’1” 190 lbs, Sophomore
Mazza will provide the Rafters with a crafty lefty with a vicious pick-off move, which he prominently displayed during his freshman season when he tallied 7 assists, 4 runners caught stealing, and two put outs. In 33.1 innings pitched he logged 27 strikeouts and finished with a 3.78 ERA.  Prior to attending UC Santa Barbara, Mazza pitched at Clayton Valley High School in California where he posted a 1.60 ERA his senior year with 75 strikeouts. In addition to his skills on the baseball diamond, Mazza has also displayed excellence on the golf course.  His most memorable sports moment came when he finished 2nd at the Re/Max World Long Drive Championships when he was just 16 years old.  He is a native of Concord, California.

RHP- Hector Lujan, 6’3”, 235 lbs, Sophomore
Lujan is entering his second season with the Gauchos this spring following a successful freshman season and strong summer with the Medford Rogues of the West Coast Summer Collegiate League. With the Rogues, Lujan posted a record of 3-0 and recorded 4 saves. In 15 innings pitched, he notched 21 strikeouts while posting a 2.40 ERA. Lujan attended Jurupa Valley High School in California, winning 21 games and amassing 200 strikeouts during his junior and senior seasons. He is a native of Mira Loma, California.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.  For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.

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