BELLEVUE, Neb. – Former Bellevue University right-handed pitcher Steve Sarcone (Utica, N.Y.) signed a professional baseball contract with the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
Sarcone earned numerous honors as a Second Team All-American, MCAC co-Pitcher of the Year, and First Team All-MCAC pick in 2015. In 2014 he was a two-time MCAC Pitcher of the Week and a Second Team All-MCAC selection.
Sarcone dominated on the bump this season, going 10-1 with a miniscule 1.51 earned run average in 101.1 innings. The Bruins' game one starter made 14 appearances, including 13 starts, striking out 118 batters for an average of 10.48 per nine innings while limiting opponents to just 68 hits and less than a base-runner an inning. His lone relief appearance came in the NAIA Opening Round Championship Game where we worked 5.2 innings of relief, striking out seven, walking one, allowing four hits, and surrendering just one unearned run.
In his two seasons with the Bruins Sarcone appeared in 32 games (19 starts) and posted a 17-4 record with four saves to go along with a 1.62 ERA. He struck out 179 batters in 166.2 innings of work which saw him toss 10 complete games.
Sarcone is slated to make his professional debut next week during the T-Bones' series at Sioux City.
He becomes the third former Bruin to sign a professional contract this season following the signings of Stephan Meyer (West Virginia Black Bears, New York-Penn League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, A-) and Ozzy Gonzalez (Florence Freedom, Frontier League).
Bellevue now has seven former players that are playing in the professional ranks; Sarcone, Meyer, Gonzalez, Matt Johnson (Sioux City Explorers, American Association of Independent Baseball), Brennan Henry (Lexington Legends, South Atlantic League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, A), Kyle Kinman (Carolina Mudcats, Carolina League Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, A+), and Galli Cribbs (Hillsboro Hops, Northwest League Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, A-).
The Bruins finished the season ranked No. 16 in the NAIA with a 46-15 overall record and an 18-6 mark in the MCAC while winning the MCAC Tournament Championship and hosting the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round, reaching the championship game.
