Randy Palmer
December 16th, 2022
Senior standout brings plenty of offence to Moose Jaw after receiving conference all-star honourable mention
The Moose Jaw Miller Express recently announced their second signing for the upcoming Western Canadian Baseball League, and he brings all sorts of offensive pop and plenty of speed on the basepaths to the team’s line-up.
Keystone College senior Julio Acosta is coming off a solid season with his NCAA Division III Colonial States Athletic Conference school, one where the Elizabeth, N.J. product received an honourable mention in the CSAC year-end all-star honours.
And for good reason.
Acosta hit .313 and knocked in 31 runs while putting together a solid .877 on-base-plus-slugging-percentage for the Giants, who put together a 10-2 record in CSAC play and finished 26-20 overall. Keystone reached the NCAA Division III regional final before falling to Ithaca College.
Acosta was dangerous when he was on base, too, as he finished the season with 14 steals on 18 attempts.
The fact the Miller Express had such a solid campaign and aim to repeat their impressive run this summer played a major role in Acosta deciding to play in Moose Jaw.
“I’ve never been to Canada before and I’m looking forward to playing for Moose Jaw, because this is an amazing program run by some amazing people,” Acosta said in his signing announcement. “Ever since the first conversation I had with the coaches and the way they spoke about not just being satisfied with making it to the championship, they spoke on wanting to win it and wanting to make another run this upcoming summer. They’re focussed on winning, that’s why I’m looking forward to playing for Moose Jaw.”
A 5-foot-10, 190-pound outfielder and catcher, Acosta also showed last season that when he gets on a roll, he can do all sorts of damage. That wasn’t any more apparent than during a streak that saw him record a hit in 18 of 19 games, a run that lasted over a month and saw Acosta hit .433 through that span.
His early season production was impressive as well, including a two-game stint in early March where he went 2-for-5 with a run and four RBI against Fontbonne and a day later 2-for-5 with a run and three RBI.
You can follow Acosta and Keystone College this coming season at www.gokcgiants.com, with their season opener on Mar. 29 against Montclair State University.
The Miller Express open their 2023 WCBL campaign on Friday, May 26 when they host the Weyburn Beavers at Ross Wells Park.