Head Coach Beauford Sanders announced yesterday that shortstop Nick Bertolucci would be joining the Tiger Baseball program in 2009.  Sanders is thrilled about the addition of Bertolucci who not only brings a lot to the table offensively, many coaches and scouts on the west coast have reffered to Bertolucci as one of the state's finest defensive shortstops.  He is the third player to sign out of West Valley Community College (Los Gatos, CA) joining teammates Ian Pick and Tyler Derby.  Bertolucci is 5'10, 165 pounds and he hits from the left side.  He has gap to gap power and is a major base stealing threat.

Bertolucci served as West Valley's sparkplug in their run during the state championship.  He was their everyday shortstop in the state tournament and made just one error in the postseason where West Valley made it to the state's final four.  Offensively, he was their best weapon as he was 15 for 30, good for a .500 batting average.  In regional play, he hit just under .700.  Bertolucci also pitchced for West Valley.  He served out of the Viking bullpen with a mid 80's fastball.

Bertolucci will be looked at to make an instant impact with the bat and defensively in the Tiger lineup in 2009.

-Coach Sanders on the signing of Nick Bertolucci: "Adding Berto is huge for the program.  He is very consistent defensively and he can do a lot with the bat.  He runs as well as anyone we have signed and should be a sparkplug in our lineup."