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News Release

Baseball Inks Five for 2013 Season

1/5/2012

Head Coach Bob Mumma

BALTIMORE – First year head coach Bob Mumma announced an incoming class of five student-athletes for the 2012-2013 school year.  The class includes catcher Manny Colon, shortstop Kevin Lachance, outfielder Jesse Smith, and pitchers Bobby Applegate and Gabe Togna.

“This class is very exciting for me because not only is it my first class, but I believe they have the potential to be one of the best incoming classes that we’ve had here in a number of years,” Mumma said.  “Our goal is always to keep improving and to fill in the needs of our ballclub and I think these guys will help us do that.”

Colon, a 5-11 catcher from Williamstown, N.J., has already been named to the all-conference first team twice as well as leading his high school, Buena Regional, to the Diamond Classic championship in 2011.  As a junior, Colon hit .398 with nine homeruns and 39 RBIs.  He has been named a Baseball Factory Pre-season All-American in both 2011 and 2012.

“As a former catcher, I’m very excited to sign a catcher in my first class,” said coach Mumma.  “He’s one of the best defensive catchers I’ve seen in awhile, and I think he’ll be able to call games, receive and block at an all-conference level very early on.”

Lachance, a 6-3 shortstop from Clifton, Va., helped lead his high school team to the regular season district championship in 2010, tying the school record for regular season wins in the process.  After being named to the First Team All-Concorde District team, LaChance was selected to the North Team for the Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia, leading his team to the championship.

“Kevin comes in having played on winning teams,” coach Mumma said.  “He’s learned how to win through hard work and I love the way that he plays the game.

Smith, a 5-11 outfielder from Mechanicsville, Va., is an accomplished student-athlete who has earned the Academic All-District Award in both his sophomore and junior years.  He is also a standout football player at Lee-Davis High School, earning a VHSL AAA Honorable Mention as the team’s tight end.

In addition to the three field players, the Retrievers signed two pitchers, Bobby Applegate and Gabe Togna.  Applegate, a 6-3 right-handed pitcher from Somerdale, N.J., is a four-year letter winner who helped his high school win its conference as well as the Carpenter Cup during both his junior and senior seasons.  While playing at Gloucester Community College, Applegate helped lead the Roadrunners to the national championship game.

Togna, a 6-0 lefty from Chester, Va. is a two-time all-district performer with two quality offspeed pitches.  In 2011, he threw a complete game shutout against Colonial Heights High School to gain a berth in the District playoffs.

“Both of these guys come in as refined pitchers who know how to pitch and get guys out,” said coach Mumma.  “Bobby comes in with great experience from GCC, while Gabe looks ready to make an impact when he arrives on campus.”