Ex-SCC baseball players sign pro contracts

ROCKVILLE — It’s going be a busy summer for a number of former Solano Community College baseball players.

A trio of ex-Falcons have signed contracts with independent professional teams, two of them becoming official on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Former Solano and Fairfield High first baseman Daniel Baptista signed with the Frontier Greys of the independent Frontier League.

As of Thursday evening, the 6-foot, 4-inch, 278-pound Baptista had been added to the Greys’ roster on the league’s website.

After finishing his college baseball career at Oklahoma Baptist, Baptista went undrafted and unsigned after the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

That wasn’t a huge surprise to Solano Coach Scott Stover, Baptista’s coach from 2009-10.

“I think they tend to draft more athletic type bodies as opposed to baseball players,” Stover said.

Baptista put up a .990 fielding percentage for Oklahoma Baptist last spring, committing just four errors in 419 chances and recording 391 putouts.

Offensively, the Greys may have a beast on their hands. Baptista hit .375 for the Bison last year with 18 home runs, 18 doubles and 82 RBIs – leading the team in all three categories.

“It took him a while to develop his power,” Stover said, but that shouldn’t deter teams now from wanting Baptista.

Stover added that Baptista had been working out with the Falcons while trying to find a place to play this year.

“He worked out with us before he left and I told him to keep going to school,” Stover said, adding that he’ll do anything he can to help his former players. “We tell them, ‘Go out and play as long as you can.’ ”

Also heading off to play professionally is current Solano pitching coach Dustin Crenshaw – he won’t leave until May, so the Falcons will have him for the whole season.

Creshaw inked a contract with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League.

“Dustin, was playing for the Sonoma (County) Grapes and the season ended and he went and played for Quebec,” Stover said.

Stover said the 2013 season was barely a week old when Crenshaw heard that Quebec wanted to offer him a contract.

“He joined that league late and put up the second or third best ERA in the league,” Stover said of Crenshaw’s time in Sonoma. “He’s still working out with us. He threw live to hitters (Wednesday).”

In Sonoma, Crenshaw started 11 games, went the distance three times, struck out 54 in 74 2-3 innings and recorded a team-best 2.17 ERA.

He was 2-1 in three starts for the Capitales in the 2012 regular season, getting eight strikeouts in 20 1-3 innings with a 4.42 ERA. He also earned a win in the playoffs with a relief appearance.

Stover also said former Solano righty Vic Ferrante, who was also working out with the Falcons this year, signed with the El Paso Diablos of the American Association.

“He and Dustin have been working out together,” Stover said. “We support all of our guys in whatever they want to do. They keep coming back and getting the help they need.”

Reach Mike Corpos at 427-6979 or mcorpos@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mcorposdr.