SUNY Cortland pitcher Nicolas Blanco (Bronx/St. Raymond's) has signed a contract to play with the American Defenders of New Hampshire, one of six teams in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (Can-Am League). Blanco appeared in his first game for the Defenders, who are located in Nashua, N.H., on August 10.

Blanco went 4-3 in 11 appearances at Cortland last spring. He allowed only 36 hits and struck out 39 batters in 43 and two-third innings pitched. Blanco also finished with a 5-1 record and a 1.31 ERA in 10 appearances during his junior season. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Division III New York Regional after earning a victory over RPI in the championship game.

A pitcher at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J., prior to transferring to Cortland, Blanco is the 15th Cortland player to sign a professional baseball contract since 1994 and the fifth in the last three years.