SAN FRANCISCO – Having lost many familiar names from last season and with the 2023 campaign mere days away, its time to meet the new faces that have joined Academy of Art baseball for the 2023 campaign and beyond. The Urban Knights will start the series with sophomore outfielder
Tony Diaz, junior right-handed pitcher
Fernando Dueñas, junior middle infielder
Larry Fonseca, sophomore middle infielder
Chris Fung, and freshman middle infielder
Ronald "RJ" Gay.
Tony Diaz (Richmond, Calif./Marymount California)
Diaz joins ART U as a sophomore after spending the previous season with Marymount California University where the outfielder was the leader in games played with 45 while batting .293 (49-for-167) with 30 runs scored, 19 RBI, 10 doubles, one triple, and one home run. Prior to that, he spent three years with Napa Valley College where he appeared in 68 total contests, batting .303 (83-for-274) with 37 runs scored, 47 RBI, 14 doubles, one triple, and two home runs. His best year came in the shortened 2019-20 season when he was 27-for-72 (.375) with 16 RBI and his only career triple.
Prior to college, the Richmond, Calif. native attended Salesian College Prep where he played baseball all four years prior to graduating in 2018. While at Salesian, he was named to the All-League Team, as well as the league MVP.
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies.
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Tony Diaz can flat out hit," said ART U Head Coach
Dan McDermott. "He played at Napa College under former ART U Assistant Coach Dan Parker and shared his competitive spirit. Tony will play left field for us and hit at the top of the order."
Fernando Dueñas (Montalvin Manor, Calif./Contra Costa College)
Dueñas starts Academy of Art as a junior transfer from Contra Costa College where he posted a 5-4 record, 6.63 ERA, and 60 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched. While primarily a pitcher, the Montalvin Manor, Calif. native was handy at the dish where he recorded a .266 batting average with 43 runs scored, 27 RBI, three doubles, one home run, and seven stolen bases.
Prior to his collegiate career, Dueñas played varsity baseball for Pinole Valley High School for three years, hitting .338 with 26 runs scored, 12 RBI, one home run, four doubles and 18 stolen bases as a senior. For his career he finished with a .310 batting average, 56 runs scored, 40 RBI, five doubles, one home run, and 24 stolen bases as well as a 6-6 record, 3.91 ERA, and 54 strikeouts across 87.2 innings pitched.
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies.
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Fernando Dueñas is a remarkable young man with a strong work ethic and an enthusiastic personality," McDermott said. "He was a two-way player in junior college, however, he will pitch for the Urban Knights. Nando has a rubber arm and commands three different pitches. He will be used as both a starter and in relief early in the season."
Larry Fonseca (San Francisco/Sierra College)
Joining the Knights as a junior after jumping over from Sierra College, Fonseca spent two seasons with the Wolverines where played in 78 total contests, batting .262 (66-for-252) with a .321 slugging percentage to go with 43 runs scored, 45 RBI and 15 doubles. The middle infielder's best season was his second year in which he totaled 44 hits while batting .293 (44-for-150), smacking 10 of his 15 doubles that season.
Prior to college, Fonseca graduated from Galileo High School in his hometown of San Francisco where he was a dual-sport athlete in baseball and soccer. He was named captain of both teams, and was an All-League selection in baseball for three years while also being an All-League selection in soccer for two seasons.
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies.
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Larry Fonseca was the finest shortstop in the city during his high school career," McDermott said. "He spent two years under Coach Rob Wilson at Sierra College until COVID interrupted his career. Now, two years later, he comes to us with the attitude, experience and knowledge to play all three infield positions. Larry is focused and determined to make himself indispensable as a utility man for the program. We look forward to great things from Larry."
Fung starts with the Urban Knights as a sophomore transfer from UC San Diego where he was a CCAA All-Academic selection. Prior to that, the middle infielder played one year at Canada College where he was named Honorable Mention All-League after hitting .314 with four doubles, 24 runs scored, 15 RBI, and nine stolen bases in 36 games.
Prior to college, Fung was a varsity letter winner in baseball at Junipero Serra High School near his hometown of Foster City, Calif., where he helped guide the team to a West Catholic Athletic League Champions Championship as a senior. That season he hit .283 with three doubles, 18 runs scored, eight RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 24 games, and was named team M.V.P. as a sophomore. In addition to his prep career, Fung has competed for the California Bees of the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League, being named the MVP in the summer of 2021.
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies.
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Chris Fung played three seasons for the extremely competitive UCSD program as they transitioned to NCAA Division I," McDermott said. "He has the skills and temperament to be the everyday second baseman for the Knights. Chris was the 2021 MVP for the California Bees of the CCBAA."
Ronald "RJ" Gay (Richmond, Calif./De Anza High School)
Entering ART U as a true freshman, Gay was a three-sport student-athlete at De Anza High School, competing in varsity baseball as well as basketball and football. On the diamond, the Richmond, Calif. native hit .424 with six doubles, two triples, 20 runs scored, 11 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 25 games while helping the team go 21-6 as a senior. Providing two-way value, he posted a 1.00 ERA and 2-0 record with 16 strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched in the same season.
In addition to his prep career, Gay has competed for his club team Triple Crown Baseball Academy, which is coached by former Urban Knight Niko Leite (2011-12).
He is currently enrolled in the School of Communications & Media Technologies.
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Ronald "RJ" Gay is one of the prized freshman recruits in this years recruiting class," McDermott said. "Coming to the program from De Anza High School in Richmond, he profiles well in both middle infield positions. RJ is one of the best athletes in the program and we look for him to be a future core player. He will be redshirting this season to physically mature and to take advantage of his full opportunities."
