February 13, 2014 – As the 2014 Texas Collegiate League season draws near, the Victoria Generals continue to add players that will help them on their quest for another league championship. This week, the Generals have announced the addition of two players from Lehigh University. Justin Pacchioli and John Elson will join the Generals for the 2014 Season.
“We look forward to having Justin and John join our ball club and expect great things from both of them,” commented Mike Yokum, the GM for the Victoria Generals. “Lehigh has always exceeded our expectation with the quality players that they have sent to our team. Brendan McGaheran and Andy Russell , both from Lehigh, joined the Generals in the 2009 inaugural season and also returned for a second season in 2010 and helped the Generals win their first league championship.”
Justin Pacchioli, a junior outfielder from Easton, Pennsylvania, was the Patriot League batting champ with a .366 batting average in 2013. He is the preseason pick as the Patriot League Player of the Year for the 2014 season. Justin is ranked as the third-best Patriot League prospect for the 2014-2015 drafts by Baseball America prior to the season. Pacchioli led the team with a .441 on base percentage and has great speed. Justin was signed by the Generals in 2013 but was unable to join the team due to injury.
John Elson, a middle infielder from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, started 46 of 47 games at short stop for Lehigh and led the Mountain Hawks in at bats (183) and RBI (29). John was also named to the All-Patriot League Second Team in 2013.
“With Justin and John’s ability to get on base along with their great speed will be huge for us as top-of-the-order type hitters,” commented Yokum. “Both guys will be on base for our big hitters and will be in position to score a lot of runs for us.”
