Eastern Connecticut State University

Basilio “Bo” Ortiz, an electrifying defensive centerfielder who hit for power and average and led the Warriors to the 1990 national baseball championship,  is generally regarded as the finest centerfielder – and among the best half-dozen position players at any position– in program history. The 5-foot-11 inch, 170-pound Hartford native enjoyed a celebrated career that culminated in 1991 NCAA Division III first-team All-America honors and recognition as the NCAA Division III national Player-of-the-Year. That year, the right-handed hitter batted .448 with 78 hits, 12 home runs, 62 RBI, 62 runs, and 138 total bases. As a sophomore leadoff hitter in 1990, Ortiz batted a team-leading .370 in post-season play when the Warriors won seven straight tournament games en route to the NCAA Division III national title. Overall that year, he batted .434 with 76 hits, 68 runs, 11 home runs, 41 RBI and 134 total bases en route to first-team Division III All-America laurels. Today, Ortiz still ranks 13^th all-time with 204 career hits (in three years), second all-time in career batting average (.415), first in slugging percentage (.729), fifth in home runs (29) and runs (180), sixth in doubles (43), tied for sixth in stolen bases (63), and seventh in total bases (358). At the conclusion of his career, head coach Bill Holowaty praised Ortiz as “the best player we’ve ever had.” In addition to earning Division III Player-of-the-Year honors as a junior, Ortiz was also recognized as New England Division III Athlete-of-the-Year, and that June was drafted in the 30^th round of the First Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles.