Baltimore Blast News Release -- www.baltimoreblast.com
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
BALTIMORE – Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that the team has signed midfielder Tony Donatelli and forward Tino Nunez, pending league approval. The Blast opened training camp earlier this week and will kick off the 2012-13 MISL season on November 3 against the Chicago Soul at 1st Mariner Arena.
Donatelli, who spent two seasons with the Philadelphia KiXX, most recently played for the 2012 USL PRO Champion Charleston Battery. He recorded three goals and four assists (10 points) in the USL PRO regular season en route to the Championship win over the Wilmington Hammerheads. Donatelli previously also played for the Rochester Rhinos (2011), Montreal Impact (2009-10) and Vancouver Whitecaps (2006-08), winning championships with Vancouver in 2006 and Montreal in 2009. He played for the KiXX from 2006 to 2008, recorded 37 goals and 22 assists for 100 points and won a championship in 2007.
Donatelli finished his four-year collegiate career at Temple University tied for first in career assists (20) and eighth in Owls history with 64 points. After his senior season, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team, the All Mid-Atlantic Region First Team and also earned the Philadelphia Soccer Seven Player of the Year award.
Nunez, who is new to indoor soccer, played for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer in 2008 and 2009. Drafted by RSL in the Second Round (17th Overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, Nunez went on to play for the Rochester Rhinos (USSF D-2 Pro League) in 2010, the NSC Minnesota Stars in 2011 and for the USL PRO’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds this summer. He recorded two goals and one assist in 19 games with Pittsburgh.
Nunez started his collegiate career at Compton Community College before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2004. AT UCSB he played on the Gauchos team that lost on penalties to Indiana University in the ‘04 Division I Men's College Cup and was a member of the school’s first-ever NCAA Championship team in 2006.
“Tony has had an outstanding career, winning championships both indoor and outdoor, and is still very much in the prime of his career, ” said Blast head coach Danny Kelly. “He's a player that can both create and score goals, and he is very smart off the ball with his movement. We are a much better team with Tony Donatelli on the squad. Tino Nunez has had a very successful outdoor career, having played in MLS as well as the USL. Although he hasn't played indoor before, I think his skill set will translate well to the indoor game. He can hold guys off and play with his back to the goal, as well as distribute and score goals. Once he becomes comfortable with the game, he will have an immediate impact on our offense.”
Season tickets, five-game mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now through the Blast office. Single-game tickets are also available at the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office and at all TicketMaster outlets including TicketMaster phone charge at 410-547-SEAT. Tickets cost $30, $22, $19 and $16 and can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, call the Blast at 410-73-BLAST.