Pack baseball adds 10 for 2009

The CSU-Pueblo baseball program added ten new signees for the 2009 season, Pack coach Stan Sanchez announced Tuesday.  The pitching-rich 2009 class includes nine junior college transfers, as well as J.T. Greenhood, a Pueblo County High School graduate, who is one of the most celebrated prep standouts to ever come out of Pueblo.

Greenhood was named the South Central League Most Valuable Player after leading the Hornets to the SCL Championship in 2008.  He was a two-time first-team all-league selection at two different positions - he was all-league at second base as a junior before garnering all-league honors at catcher.  Greenhood was a three-sport star at County, helping the Hornets' football team to a state championship berth in 2006 and an appearance in the quarterfinals in 2007.  As a basketball player, Greenhood was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a senior.  In 2008, he was also the recipient of the "Sam Solano Award," given to County High's top male athlete.

"J.T. is one of the finest baseball players to ever come out of Pueblo," Sanchez said.  "We think he'll have an opportunity to flourish in our program and make our program one of the finest in conference and the country."

Greenhood is joined by nine other new signees, all junior college transfers, who have a chance to figure into the Pack's lineup right away. 

Leading that group is a quartet of signees from Pierce Community College in Los Angeles, Calif., headed by three pitchers: J.C. Urso, Nate Perlitch and Carter Whitman.

Pierce, which logged the most wins in school history in 2008, relied heavily on the arms of Urso, Perlitch and Whitman to carry them to that point.  Whitman, a righty, was a first-team all-Western State South Conference selection, while Perlitch and Urso, both southpaws, helped solidify a rotation that was among the state of California's best.  Urso, Sanchez said, has a tremendous upside and an outstanding arm, and could emerge as the gem of this impressive group.

Also joining the ThunderWolves from Pierce is utility player, Eric Bloom.

"The group from Pierce could come in right away and contribute for us," Sanchez said.  "These guys flew under the radar a little, but their ability is apparent to us, and I have no doubt that they will thrive in our program."

The Pack also added four additional pitchers, two of which have Colorado ties. 

Dillon Meaney, an Otero Junior College graduate and Westminster native, as well as Northglenn native Kevin McDonald, most recently of Dodge City Community College in Kansas, give the Pack some workhorse righties on their staff.

Rounding out the pitching pickups are Cerro Cosa reliever Wes Oliver, who logged five saves in 2008 while boasting a 2.84 ERA, and Kyle Maynor, a Midland Community College (Tex.) grad who has been the team's top pitcher for both his freshman and junior seasons.

"We need help pitching, and we are very excited about the pitchers we are bringing in," Sanchez said.  "These guys have shown at the junior college level that they are consistent, and we have no doubt that they will continue their consistency at CSU-Pueblo.

Finally, the Pack's class of ten closes with another under-the-radar pickup, Mt. San Jacinto Junior College (Calif.) graduate, Bryant Veiga.  Veiga was an all-conference selection at MSJJC, and Sanchez said he has the ability to come to CSU-Pueblo and become one of the top players in the conference - and maybe more.

"Veiga is the kind of player that is capable of getting some looks in the draft after just one season here," Sanchez said.  "We are hopeful that before the pros see what he can offer, he can help deliver a national championship to Pueblo."

PACK SIGNEES
Eric Bloom, UT (Reseda, Calif.), L.A. Pierce Community College (CA)
J.T. Greenhood, UT (Pueblo, Colo.), Pueblo County High School
Kyle Maynor, LHP (Midland, Tex.), Midland Community College (TX)
Dillon Meaney, RHP (Westminster, Colo.), Otero Junior College (CO)
Kevin McDonald, RHP (Northglenn, Colo.), Dodge City Community College (KS)
Wes Oliver, RHP (Ridgecrest, Calif.), Cerro Cosa Community College (CA)
Nate Perlitch, LHP (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), L.A. Pierce Community College (CA)
J.C. Urso, LHP (Saugas, Calif.), L.A. Pierce Community College (CA)
Bryant Veiga, UT (Hemet, Calif.), Mt. San Jacinto Junior College (CA)
Carter Whitman, RHP (Bell Canyon, Calif.), L.A. Pierce Community College (CA)