Congrats on your new commitment! What is it about Fairleigh Dickinson that excites you the most?
I am most excited about the future success at Fairleigh Dickinson. With the new coaching staff I believe the team is in great hands. Head Coach Rob DiToma has had a lot of success in his recent years coaching at Fordham. Getting the job he has already brought in a new Pitching Coach, Steve Adkins, and a new Assistant Baseball Coach, Ethan Newton. With their vision and knowledge of the game, they can turn Fairleigh Dickinson into a winning program. Along with the baseball program, the campus is amazing with high end academics at the athletes fingertips. Lastly, I’m excited to meet the other commits and play on the Naimoli Family baseball field.
You have been playing with Top Tier since you were 9. As a matter of fact, you were part of the original 9u program. Tell us about your experience and what it means to wear the TT’s.
It is a true honor and privilege to wear Top Tier across my chest. The many great players that have played for this organization. Basically my whole career has been spent with the great coaches of Top Tier. My great accomplishments and failures while being Top Tier player has taught me life lessons. Wearing the Top Tier across my chest during the games made me feel proud. Without the help and commitment of these coaches and myself I would not be where I am right now. They witnessed my ups and downs, my lows and my highs. The kind words they would talk about me, I am forever grateful. The life lessons that the coaches have taught me, I am forever grateful. I could visit the office and always know a coach would be there to assist me. I will never take wearing the Top Tier for granted. Thank you Top Tier for an awesome career and treating me like family! Never forget! #RollTier
Share one of your favorite Top Tier memories over your career.
I have two top memories from Top Tier over my career. The first happened in Tennessee playing on Top Tier 16u Americans under Coach Griff. One of my best weekends of baseball. I was awarded KRA Sports Performance Player of the Week July 2, 2018. We went a perfect 5-0 in the Music City Classic down in Nashville. I had an amazing weekend batting and pitching. I held a .714 batting average, .750 on-base percentage, and slugged .857. I scored three times and knocked in two RBI’s. My pitching outing was one of my best. A 6-0 victory over the Indiana Bulls. I threw a complete game seven inning shutout.
My other top memory came the same year in Indiana at a Grand Park tourney. It took place at Westfield High School. I was pitching a complete game through seven. In the top of the seventh 1 out, man on first, and a long at-bat going on I turned to my shortstop Tony Livermore and said, “Last pitch, coming inside, it's going to be hit right to you to turn two. Be ready.” He looked at me with a weird and confused face but the next pitch was inside hit right to him to turn two to end the game. He came up to me and said, “That was the craziest play I’ve ever been apart of.”
Talk a little bit about the recruiting process and how everything went down.
The recruiting process for myself started around sophomore year. I had many colleges that wanted to see me grow and turn into the pitcher I am today. Visits started at the end of my sophomore year. I visited the University of Michigan, Xavier University, Miami University, and the University of Akron. My first offer came my junior year on February 2, 2019 where the University of Akron offered me. I chose to play out my junior year before making a decision and that was one of my best decisions. I gained many looks in my high school season posting a winning record and an ERA under 2.5. Western Michigan, Ball State, Brown University, Fordham, Fairleigh Dickinson, University of Illinois-Springfield and Colombia were on the radar. It came down to my last visits, academics, the opportunity, and how much the coach believed in my skills to help the program. The next offer came from the University of Illinois-Springfield and that’s when I knew I was close to making a decision. I had three visits left. I visited the University of Chicago and also went onto visit Fairleigh Dickinson University August 12 and it changed my life. I was amazed at the campus, new coaches, academics, and the baseball program on the rise. I give thanks to all the coaches that recruited me. A huge thank you to Coach Rob DiToma for offering. Coach DiToma recruited me into Fordham then when he got the head coaching job at Fairleigh Dickinson he brought me in. I fell in love with the school and Coach DiToma’s vision for the baseball program. Coach brought in two brand new coaches when he arrived and that's when I knew this was a special group. Fairleigh Dickinson had my major and field of study which helped tremendously. I believe in his works and cannot wait to be playing for him in 2020! A huge future ahead of the Knights!
What were some of the priorities you looked at when deciding where you wanted to commit?
First and foremost was the academics. I wanted to make sure the school had my major and the field of study I was going into. Next was the coaching staff. I want to play under a skilled teaching coaching staff. The vision of winning and bettering the players both on and off the field. Next was the campus itself. I wanted to feel comfortable and have a great college experience while also pursuing my academic and athletic career. I then looked at the stadium and club house. For a full baseball experience to spend time with teammates in the club house before going to war on the field. At Fairleigh Dickinson when exiting the club house you go through a tunnel to get to the baseball field. When I visited I had the chills walking through the tunnel to the field. A home game would be so special. Then I saw an amazing baseball field, I thought.. I am going to be a Knight.
What challenges do you see ahead of you before you get to campus?
The challenges I see are acclimating to the distance from home to Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, New Jersey. It would also be harder for my parents to come out and see me play who are my big supporters. Baseball wise, I need to stay focused on my dreams and goals. Committing to a division 1 school is an honor. I need to work harder than I have ever worked this season to be ready for my senior season and set myself up to have a chance to earn a starting spot in the rotation my freshman year. Nothing is given, but I believe I can work and prepare myself to earn that spot.
What are some of the goals you have set for yourself as a college baseball player?
Some of the goals I have set for myself as a college baseball player is first and foremost to be a scholar-athlete. I want to excel in the classroom. Next, I want to set goals for the season. I am setting a goal that every year I have a winning record on the mound while also holding an ERA under 3.0. I want to break numerous records on the mound which comes with hard work. I also want to post a high strikeout/walk ratio at 8-10 strikeouts/walk. A team goal for the Knights is to end the regular season with a winning record. Next step is to win the Northeast conference and have a ticket to the Regional playoffs. I want to shock the world and continue on that streak to a Super-Regional. The Knights are in great hands and I’m excited for what the future holds in the program.
Is there anybody you would like to give a shout-out or thanks to?
Yes, I would like to give a shout-out to the whole Top Tier organization and a few coaches that have coached me along the way. First off, Seth Kenny who has been my pitching coach since I was 10 years old. He has molded me into the pitcher I am today, and has helped me tremendously with command, efficiency, velocity, etc. Next would be coach Matt Plante who was my youth coach at 12u and 17u. Coach Plante helped me narrow down my choices at college and opened up many doors that I thought could not be opened. He also emphasized on being not only a great baseball player but being a great person. Molding yourself into a great father and husband when you are older. Coach Griffin Phelps was and is my guy. He introduced me to the recruiting process being my 16u Americans coach. The energy and commitment he brought to every game impacted us as players. Coach Phelps is so determined to win at everything in life and that has passed onto myself. Every time I took the mound he wanted me to be the baddest person on the field and I took that into consideration and had one of my most successful years at Top Tier. He also introduced me to the real world. Baseball is a job and if you don't work to keep that job, someone else will. I’d also like to thank Coach Todd Fine. He would bring me in after I got work in and he would sit down talk about life. He’d make sure I was fed that day no matter what. Lastly, I’d like to thank Coach Garz and Yarber for their tremendous support.
I’d like to thank my high school coaches Coach Pete and Adam Lotus. They have taught me discipline and attitude towards the game of baseball. They also provided us the players with multiple chances of getting better throughout the weight room.
Lastly, I would like to give a shout-out to my parents and sisters. None of this would be possible without their endless blessings. My dad taught me how to throw a baseball and I will forever be grateful to him. They have sacrificed so much for my career and I am extremely blessed to have them as my parents.
