University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Baseball Position Preview: Infielders
2/12/2021 3:44:00 PM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Baseball is set to begin its 2021 season on Friday, Feb. 19, at Tulane. Leading up to Opening Day, RaginCajuns.com will preview each position group for this year's team. Up next is Part One of the infielders.
#1 Brett Borgogno – Junior – 5-11/165 – Chino Hills, Calif.
One of three four-year college transfers in Louisiana's recruiting class, Brett Borgogno played in 118 games over the course of three years for Cal State Fullerton. Borgogno hit a career .223/.287/.299 with 18 doubles, one triple and three home runs. He had his best season at the plate his freshman season when he batted .246, which included 42 hits in 171 at-bats.
#5 Sam Bianco – Freshman – 6-0/180 – Oxford, Miss.
Sam Bianco is one of two true freshmen in the infield this season for Louisiana. During his junior season in high school, Bianco hit .395 in 118 plate appearances. He also added 38 runs, 14 RBI and seven extra-base hits to his stat line. Bianco is the son of current Ole Miss Baseball head coach Mike Bianco.
#7 Kevin Fitzgerald – Sophomore – 6-0/190 – Sacramento, Calif.
The long-beard California native Kevin Fitzgerald will see most his time at third base this upcoming season. Fitzgerald is one of two Californians on the active team and slashed a career .288/.403/.511, which included nine doubles, two triples and two home runs at San Joaquin Delta JC.
#8 Ben Fitzgerald – Junior – 6-1/186 – Mason City, Iowa
Ben Fitzgerald started to heat up towards the end of the 17-game 2020 season, going 6-for-10 (.600) with a double, triple, two home runs and six RBI in his last three games. Fitzgerald was one of just two players in the Sun Belt to record two triples, two home runs and bring in over 10 runners last season. The Mason City, Iowa, native slashed .208/.263/.434 and led Louisiana in triples (2), home runs (2), RBI (13), total bases (13) and slugging percentage (.434).
#9 Bobby Lada – Sophomore – 6-0/182 – Richmond, Texas
Bobby Lada, a super athletic middle infielder with a strong, accurate arm, makes his way to Louisiana from Bossier Parish CC. While playing in the JUCO ranks, Lada hit a career .321/.362/.494 with 17 doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBI. Lada was also selected to play in the Texas-New Mexico JUCO All-Star Game.
#12 Sam Riola – Sophomore – 6-0/172 – Ham Lake, Minn.
Sam Riola, from Hamm Lake, Minn., is the first Minnesota native on the roster since Tim Beasley in 2006. Beasley also coached Riola at Bethel University before Riola made his way to Iowa Western JC and then transferred to Louisiana. Riola spent last season at Iowa Western CC, hitting .371/.444/.452 during the shortened season, while owning 23 hits with five doubles and 14 RBI. He also tossed in 34.2 innings at Bethel University in 2018, owning a 1.30 ERA.
#18 Anthony Catalano – Sophomore – 6-0/193 – Arlington Heights, Ill.
After spending two seasons at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, Anthony Catalano joined his fellow JUCO teammate, Ben Fitzgerald, at Louisiana. While at NIACC, Catalano batted a career .335/.438/.480 with 14 doubles and three home runs. In his seven-game 2020 season, Catalano was hitting .480 with six runs scored and five stolen bags. Hailing from suburban Chicago, Catalano also won a hockey state championship in high school.
#19 Clayton Dean – Freshman – 6-0/180 – Tomball, Texas
Dean has a compact, mature build who fits into the third and second base mold. The Tomball, Texas, native, attended Cypress Christian High School where he was a three-time First Team All-District member and a 2018 High School State Champion
#23 Brandon Talley – Junior – 6-3/227 – Princeton, Texas
Brandon Talley was primarily used as a two-way player in 2020, making five appearances on the mound and six starts in the field. At the plate, Talley hit .095/.269/.143 during 2020, but started to barrel the baseball towards the end of the 2020 season, notching a pair of base hits in the final two games. Talley put up insane numbers at Grayson College, slashing .353/.498/.688 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI in 2019. Look for Talley to still get time on the mound and at first base in 2021.
#26 Jonathan Brandon – Redshirt Junior – 5-11/183 – Bossier City, La.
After missing all of last season with an injury, there are high expectations for Jonathan Brandon this year. Prior to getting hurt, Brandon played at Murray State JC where he batted .313 after playing in 53 of the teams 54 games. He finished the 2019 season as the team's leader in runs (56), walks (44) and stolen bases (23) and also added four home runs to go along with 44 RBI.
#44 CJ Willis – Sophomore – 6-3/200 – Ruston, La.
CJ Willis is the type of player that can play at any position. From seeing Willis at third base, second base, first base and even in the outfield leading up to the first week of the season, the LSU-transfer offers tremendous versatility in the lineup. A 39th round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, Willis played in 28 games at LSU prior to transferring to Louisiana. During his freshman year, Willis saw time in 24 games and started in 11 contests, tallying 11 hits, four doubles and seven RBI.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and social distanced seating, the capacity for Russo Park will be extremely limited (this is subject to change with guidance from state and local officials regarding social distancing and venue capacity). Season Ticket Holders will not be able to sit in their normal season ticket locations. Because of this, we will be re-seating Season Ticket Holders for the 2021 Baseball season in priority order by RCAF Investor Rank.
Mobile ticketing is newly available this season to fans who download the #GeauxCajuns app on iOS and Android platforms, as well as online. Please contact the Louisiana Ticket Office at the CAJUNDOME for more information by phone at (337) 265-2170.
Consistent with other ticketed sport season ticket policies, the Department of Athletics does not offer refunds on season tickets for canceled games due to weather, pandemics, or an event beyond reasonable control of the University, unless it is a fully canceled season. For more information please contact the Ragin' Cajuns Ticket Office located at the CAJUNDOME.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
#1 Brett Borgogno – Junior – 5-11/165 – Chino Hills, Calif.
One of three four-year college transfers in Louisiana's recruiting class, Brett Borgogno played in 118 games over the course of three years for Cal State Fullerton. Borgogno hit a career .223/.287/.299 with 18 doubles, one triple and three home runs. He had his best season at the plate his freshman season when he batted .246, which included 42 hits in 171 at-bats.
#5 Sam Bianco – Freshman – 6-0/180 – Oxford, Miss.
Sam Bianco is one of two true freshmen in the infield this season for Louisiana. During his junior season in high school, Bianco hit .395 in 118 plate appearances. He also added 38 runs, 14 RBI and seven extra-base hits to his stat line. Bianco is the son of current Ole Miss Baseball head coach Mike Bianco.
#7 Kevin Fitzgerald – Sophomore – 6-0/190 – Sacramento, Calif.
The long-beard California native Kevin Fitzgerald will see most his time at third base this upcoming season. Fitzgerald is one of two Californians on the active team and slashed a career .288/.403/.511, which included nine doubles, two triples and two home runs at San Joaquin Delta JC.
#8 Ben Fitzgerald – Junior – 6-1/186 – Mason City, Iowa
Ben Fitzgerald started to heat up towards the end of the 17-game 2020 season, going 6-for-10 (.600) with a double, triple, two home runs and six RBI in his last three games. Fitzgerald was one of just two players in the Sun Belt to record two triples, two home runs and bring in over 10 runners last season. The Mason City, Iowa, native slashed .208/.263/.434 and led Louisiana in triples (2), home runs (2), RBI (13), total bases (13) and slugging percentage (.434).
#9 Bobby Lada – Sophomore – 6-0/182 – Richmond, Texas
Bobby Lada, a super athletic middle infielder with a strong, accurate arm, makes his way to Louisiana from Bossier Parish CC. While playing in the JUCO ranks, Lada hit a career .321/.362/.494 with 17 doubles, eight home runs and 32 RBI. Lada was also selected to play in the Texas-New Mexico JUCO All-Star Game.
#12 Sam Riola – Sophomore – 6-0/172 – Ham Lake, Minn.
Sam Riola, from Hamm Lake, Minn., is the first Minnesota native on the roster since Tim Beasley in 2006. Beasley also coached Riola at Bethel University before Riola made his way to Iowa Western JC and then transferred to Louisiana. Riola spent last season at Iowa Western CC, hitting .371/.444/.452 during the shortened season, while owning 23 hits with five doubles and 14 RBI. He also tossed in 34.2 innings at Bethel University in 2018, owning a 1.30 ERA.
#18 Anthony Catalano – Sophomore – 6-0/193 – Arlington Heights, Ill.
After spending two seasons at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, Anthony Catalano joined his fellow JUCO teammate, Ben Fitzgerald, at Louisiana. While at NIACC, Catalano batted a career .335/.438/.480 with 14 doubles and three home runs. In his seven-game 2020 season, Catalano was hitting .480 with six runs scored and five stolen bags. Hailing from suburban Chicago, Catalano also won a hockey state championship in high school.
#19 Clayton Dean – Freshman – 6-0/180 – Tomball, Texas
Dean has a compact, mature build who fits into the third and second base mold. The Tomball, Texas, native, attended Cypress Christian High School where he was a three-time First Team All-District member and a 2018 High School State Champion
#23 Brandon Talley – Junior – 6-3/227 – Princeton, Texas
Brandon Talley was primarily used as a two-way player in 2020, making five appearances on the mound and six starts in the field. At the plate, Talley hit .095/.269/.143 during 2020, but started to barrel the baseball towards the end of the 2020 season, notching a pair of base hits in the final two games. Talley put up insane numbers at Grayson College, slashing .353/.498/.688 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI in 2019. Look for Talley to still get time on the mound and at first base in 2021.
#26 Jonathan Brandon – Redshirt Junior – 5-11/183 – Bossier City, La.
After missing all of last season with an injury, there are high expectations for Jonathan Brandon this year. Prior to getting hurt, Brandon played at Murray State JC where he batted .313 after playing in 53 of the teams 54 games. He finished the 2019 season as the team's leader in runs (56), walks (44) and stolen bases (23) and also added four home runs to go along with 44 RBI.
#44 CJ Willis – Sophomore – 6-3/200 – Ruston, La.
CJ Willis is the type of player that can play at any position. From seeing Willis at third base, second base, first base and even in the outfield leading up to the first week of the season, the LSU-transfer offers tremendous versatility in the lineup. A 39th round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018, Willis played in 28 games at LSU prior to transferring to Louisiana. During his freshman year, Willis saw time in 24 games and started in 11 contests, tallying 11 hits, four doubles and seven RBI.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and social distanced seating, the capacity for Russo Park will be extremely limited (this is subject to change with guidance from state and local officials regarding social distancing and venue capacity). Season Ticket Holders will not be able to sit in their normal season ticket locations. Because of this, we will be re-seating Season Ticket Holders for the 2021 Baseball season in priority order by RCAF Investor Rank.
Mobile ticketing is newly available this season to fans who download the #GeauxCajuns app on iOS and Android platforms, as well as online. Please contact the Louisiana Ticket Office at the CAJUNDOME for more information by phone at (337) 265-2170.
Consistent with other ticketed sport season ticket policies, the Department of Athletics does not offer refunds on season tickets for canceled games due to weather, pandemics, or an event beyond reasonable control of the University, unless it is a fully canceled season. For more information please contact the Ragin' Cajuns Ticket Office located at the CAJUNDOME.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
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