MOUNT VERNON – Cornell College 2023 graduate Daulton Montagna is making the most of his start in professional baseball this summer in the Pecos League.
 
Shortly after completing a successful spring season with the Rams, the left-handed pitcher signed a professional contract with the Tucson Saguaros. Now, only six weeks into pro ball, Montagna is an all-star.
 
Montagna has been selected to play in the Pecos League Mountain Division All-Star Game Sunday, July 16 in Alpine, Texas. First pitch is 6 p.m. at Kokernot Field.
 
Montagna, of Pennsville, N.J., has impressed in 17 appearances on the mound for the 27-9 Saguaros. He's 2-0 with a 2.84 earned run average and 31 strikeouts over 31.2 innings pitched. Montagna has recorded two saves and issued only eight walks.
 
Montagna earned the win in his most recent outing July 13, striking out three and allowing one run in two innings of relief. In his only pitching start June 24, Montagna struck out a season-high nine batters over 7.1 innings and yielded just two earned runs.
 
The Pecos League is an independent professional baseball league which operates in cities in desert mountain regions throughout California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas, Texas and Colorado. Montagna plays in the eight-team Mountain Division.
 
Montagna made an instant impact in his only season at Cornell for coach Robbie Dombrowski's Rams (21-19), after transferring from NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University. He pitched in 14 games – including seven starts – and went 2-2 with a 4.60 ERA. Montagna posted 45 strikeouts – second-most on the team – in 47 innings.