Opening Day for the Niagara Falls Americans is just 11 days away! With the 2025 PGCBL season quickly approaching, the Americans would like to start spotlighting our players for the summer. Each day from now until Opening Days, we will highlight several of our players, telling you more about them on and off the field. Our first spotlights will be of some of our returning 2024 Americans!
Luke Blandino:
Blandino is a 6’5”, 180 pound right handed pitcher and Mechanical Engineering student from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He pitched to a 4-3 record and 3.58 ERA with the Americans as a starting pitcher last summer. Fun facts about Luke are that he plays both the piano and trumpet.
Dalton Harper:
Harper is a 5’9”, 215 pound catcher, entering his sophomore year in SUNY Niagara’s Sports Management program. Last season with the Americans, Harper recorded a .269 batting average, an OPS of .765, and 17 RBIs. This spring with SUNY Niagara, Dalton is batting .453 with 38 RBIs. Off the field, Harper can be found listening to Revolving Doors by Tate McRae, his favorite song.
Jake Hollins:
Hollins is a 5’10”, 175 pound outfielder. He majors in Business Administration at D’Youville University, and will enter his senior year after the summer. Last summer, Hollins was a starting center fielder for the Americans, batting .280 with 16 RBIs. Jake enjoys movies in his free time, and can recite lines and entire scenes in some of his favorites.
CJ Hurley:
Hurley is a 6’2”, 185 pound left handed pitcher. He attends Niagara University, and will enter his sophomore year in the fall. Last year with the Americans, Hurley pitched 6.1 innings, striking out 10 and posting a 1.42 ERA. In his most recent college appearance, CJ pitched 2.2 shutout innings. Prior to enrolling at Niagara, Hurley attended Amherst Central High School, the same as Texas Rangers Gold Glove winning catcher Jonah Heim.
Want to witness the action? Join us for our home opener on Friday June 6th at 6:30pm, when we host the Niagara-Canada Ironbacks! Stay through the game and enjoy a fireworks show presented by Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. To purchase single-game or season tickers, call 716-215-6161 or visit niagarafallsamericans.com for more information. Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans, or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.
All WNY is a media sponsor of the Niagara Falls Americans.