June 16, 2010
Bronx, N.Y. -
Though the Fordham baseball team did not have a Major League Baseball draft pick this year for the first time since 2005, the Rams did have two players sign as free agents this past weekend as catcher Angelo Ponte (Old Tappan, N.J./Old Tappan) signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and infielder Ryan McCrann (Needham, Mass./Needham) signed with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Both major league baseball clubs continue their ties to Fordham University with the two recent signings. In 2007, Tampa Bay drafted then-Fordham catcher John Mollicone, who spent over two years in the Tampa Bay minor league system. While in 1950, the Dodgers made former Fordham outfielder and WFUV broadcaster Vin Scully their play-by-play broadcaster, which he still serves as today.
A two-year captain for the Rams, Ponte signed with the Dodgers late last week following a career-best season with Fordham in 2010. He set career-highs this past season with a .326 batting average, 46 hits, and 26 RBI. In mid-March, Ponte was a one-person wrecking crew against nationally ranked Miami (Fla.), driving in five runs in the two-game set, including three in a 4-3 win over Miami on March 16th. It was Fordham's first victory over a ranked opponent since 2005.
For his efforts against Miami, Ponte was recognized as a weekly Primetime Performer by CollegeBaseball360.com.
Ponte ended his career at Fordham with a .283 batting average 40 runs scored, 17 doubles, four home runs, and 50 RBI in 92 games. He graduated in May with a degree in Sociology with a minor in Business Administration.
McCrann signed with the Rays over the weekend, after putting together his finest season at Rose Hill in 2010. He put together a career-high .355 batting average to go with 44 runs scored, 78 hits, 13 doubles, five home runs, 34 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. His totals for runs, hits, home runs, RBI, and stolen bases were also career-bests, as was his team-best 27 multi-hit games.
McCrann tied for the team lead in runs scored and stolen bases as well, while being second on the squad in batting average, hits, doubles, and home runs. His 78 hits in 2010 was the fourth highest single-season total in school history, behind only Mike Marchiano (102 - 1997), Eric Reese (81 - 2007), and Chris Walker (81 - 2010).
McCrann ended his four-year career at Fordham with a .333 batting average, 90 runs scored, 163 hits, 35 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, 78 RBI, and 26 stolen bases in 138 games. He is tied for 15th in career doubles at Fordham, while ranking in the top 20 all-time batting averages. He graduated in May with a degree in Business Administration.
Both Ponte and McCrann will now report to their respective team's spring training sites for team assignments.
