The Mannheim Tornados have signed a new shortstop. Ian MATTIACE will join the team on March 21st, a few days before their trip to Tenerife for a training camp.
MATTIACE was one of the best players in the history of the Jefferson High School in Cedar Springs, Iowa. He still holds school records for batting average, homeruns and runs scored. He went on to the University of Iowa (Division I), batting .347 (OBP .438/SLG .570) with eight homeruns, 51 runs scored, 38 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 55 games in 2002, while playing third base. He was selected to the All-Big-Ten-Team twice in 2001 and 2002. Last year MATTIACE played in an independent league in South California. He is also the member of a baseball family.
Ian’s father Mick was with three major league organizations, playing as high as triple A. His brother Colin was a pitcher selected in the 33rd round of the 1992 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and is working currently as a therapist with the Chicago White Sox. His cousin Nathan A. TROSKY is familiar with Europe and especially with Germany. In the past he served as the head coach of the Cologne Dodgers, winning the European Cup (A-pool) in 2003 and the national championship in 1998. He also was the pitching coach of the German National Team. At the moment he is an assistant coach for the Croatian National Team.