And That's All She Wrote

After a lifetime filled with baseball, my career has finally come to a close.  After a 5-3 loss against Lasell College in the Quarterfinals of the GNAC tournament, my college baseball career was officially done.  The realization that it was all over did not hit me, until our whole team came together in right field for what normally results in a postgame speech.  On this occasion my teammates and coaches surrounded myself and our other seniors, giving out hugs and handshakes, as the end was now here. 

I cannot believe that my college baseball career has already finished.  It seems it was just yesterday that I was playing Junior College baseball in New Jersey, being recruited by coach Brian Leighton to come here to Albertus.  Albertus Magnus College and the New Haven community, have turned into a second home for me, and have managed to make me feel welcome from day one.  This school has bestowed me with my nickname, "Sunshine", and has accepted me from the very beginning, even with my gorgeous mustache, and flowing golden hair. 

You just have to love a small college community, like the one here at Albertus Magnus College, because it provides students with a real close-knit community.  It allows students a chance to learn and be more than just a number, and it provides athletes with a chance to be successful on and off the field of play.  So as my career as a college baseball player, and more importantly my time here at Albertus come to a close, I'd just like to thank my teammates and everyone else at Albertus, for making this school the wonderful community that it is. 

Playoffs?!

Ladies and gentleman your Albertus Magnus College baseball squad has officially qualified for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Playoffs.  After a strong conference season which included a huge 2-game sweep of the conference's top team, Johnson and Wales University, your Falcons have earned a 5 seed in the playoffs.  This season has been a roller coaster ride, for myself and my teammates as there have been some very high, highs, and some low, lows throughout our campaign.

The team we are putting out on the field is young, as a squad of 27 players, encompasses only 4 seniors.  At times, we have encountered some "growing pains" and have lost a few close games we probably should have won.  But despite, a few struggles, we have managed to do what we set out to do from the beginning of the season; get in the playoffs.  Any team in any sport, at any level, will tell you, that the playoffs are like a whole new season.  Regular season stats, and records no longer matter, as one bad game can cost the best team a chance at a title. 

Game one of our playoff run will be held at Brandeis University in Massachusetts as we take on the Lasers of Lasell College.  We dropped two close games early this season against the Lasers, and will look to avenge the losses as our ace, Mike Barrilaro takes the hill.  The playoffs will prove to be a tough challenge for your Falcons, but in a tournament format like the GNAC playoffs, anything can happen, as your Falcons plan on being the Cinderella Story of the Division III world, and earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Senior Day

So after 20 years of my life spent, playing the game of baseball, my college "Senior Day" was Monday.  This was a bitter sweet day, as my mother was able to make it up from New Jersey for the big day, but the day also meant my college baseball career is coming to a close.  I have had the honor of playing with some great baseball teams throughout my lifetime at all different levels, and I'm very proud to have called myself a Falcon for the past two seasons.

In between a doubleheader with St. Joe's Maine, our five seniors were recognized for their accomplishments on and off the field.  Allan "BigAl" Matthieu was the first senior honored, as he has been the team's public address announcer for the past four seasons.  He is a staple at all Falcon's home games and has been a huge part of the success of the baseball program.

Next to be honored was senior relief pitcher Richard McLain, or as the baseball team knows him, "Ricky Ross."  Ricky has been a leader on and off the field for the program, and is always a solid lefty option out of the pen.

Dan "Sunshine" Kmiechick (wait that's me), was then announced by coach Brian Leighton.  I burst out of the dugout and immediately gave a chest bump to right fielder Anthony Pellegrino, to announce my presence with authority.  As a captain my senior year I have been able to pitch to a 2-0 record on the hill, which has brought my career win total to 17.

Center fielder Rob "Mozz" "Gamby" Gambardella was the next senior to be honored, as he has spent the past four seasons patrolling the outfield for the Falcons.  He recently smacked his 100th career hit in a game at Western Connecticut State last week.  He is another captain on the Falcons squad, and has played a large leadership role for the team his past two seasons.

The final senior honored was two-time captain and one-time Joel Hanrahan look-a-like contest winner, Matt "Fink" Finkenzeller.  Fink has been a captain the last two years, and a staple in the Falcon pitching staff the past four.  He has had a wonderful career playing at Albertus and has been a stabling force in the clubhouse this season.

It was truly an honor playing at Albertus for the past two seasons, and I was very proud to celebrate my senior day beside such great ballplayers and people.  Senior Day may spell the end of a baseball playing career, but graduation will just be a beginning to a whole new exciting chapter in my life.

Big Win

In my first official start of the 2013 baseball season for your Falcons, I earned my first win of the season, and the 16th of my collegiate career.  Just having the opportunity to play college baseball is enough for me, but to look back on 16 career wins, makes my four year experience even better. 

Tuesday night at Quigley Stadium, I took the hill against Mt. St. Mary's College (NY), in a nine-inning contest.  After a 1-2-3 top of the 1st, our offense managed to push across two runs, handing me an early 2-0 lead.  We would maintain our lead till the 5th inning, when things got a bit shaky.  I allowed the first two batters to reach on singles to start the fifth, then hit the third batter with a knuckleball to load the bases, with no one out.  We were leading 5-2 at the time, and I knew I couldn't let the inning get out of hand.  With a first pitch 2-seam fastball, I was able to induce a huge, 4-6-3 double play.  With a runner now on third and 2 outs, a great sequence of fastball, changeup, fastball, was able to earn a strikeout to get out of the jam with a 5-3 lead still in tact. 

Moment seemed to swing in out favor immediately following that huge escape, as our offense took over scoring 12 runs over the next three innings.  I would eventually leave the game in the 8th inning with 2 outs and a wonderful 14-3 lead!  Senior relief pitcher Richard "Ricky Ross" McLain, would close out the win for me as the final score was 17-5. 

In case you were wondering, there is nothing better than pitching with the immense run support I received on Tuesday night.  It not only takes pressure off the pitcher on the mound, but it allows me to throw nothing but strikes, lowering my pitch count, and speeding up the game.  A big thanks goes out to my fellow Falcons on offense, as well as junior first baseman Zak Sokolis and freshman outfielder Tyler Graziano who made a couple outstanding plays on defense. 

In addition to great offense and defense, came the wonderful work behind the plate by my "battery mate" Arber Mehmedi.  With pitching coach BJ Senna unable to make the game, we were left to call the pitches ourselves, and Arber did an impeccable job, as I only had to shake him off once (which is when a pitcher disagrees with a pitch call and asks for another).  The huge win also came on Arber's birthday, as there is no better way to celebrate a birthday then with a blowout win.

Be at Quigley Stadium on Saturday at 1PM as the Falcons will celebrate their Senior Day, and take on conference rival, and nationally ranked, St. Joe's College (Maine).

First Place in the GNAC

Ladies and gentleman your Falcons are the number one team in the GNAC conference.  After a pair of huge wins over conference rival Johnson and Wales University the Falcons have taken over sole possession of first place.  Although the weather at Quigley Stadium in West Haven, CT was frigid, the Falcons managed to stay hot winning their fifth straight game, while improving to 4-0 in conference play.

The doubleheader with Johnson and Wales was a heated battle between two very solid baseball programs, and luckily we came out on top.  In game one pitcher Mike Barillaro pitched 8 innings allowing only three runs to a potent JWU offense.  Down 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th we had one last chance at bat, and after loading the bases with one out, Freshman Mike Anastasio ripped a two-RBI walk off single to right, sending the crowd and the Falcons into a frenzy.  I don't think I have felt that pumped about a win in a long time.

The momentum of game one carried over into game two as we rolled over Johnson and Wales en route to a 3-1 victory.  Pitcher Ryan Fowler threw an absolute gem, striking out 9 JWU batters and allowing only one run in the contest. 

Now that your Falcons are in first place, they control their destiny the rest of the way.  On Saturday, we will be taking on Lasell College in a huge GNAC doubleheader, as Lasell recently upset top 25 ranked St. Joe's (Maine).  We need you out there Falcons fans, so be there, and be loud.

Two Big Wins

On Saturday March 30th, the Albertus Magnus College baseball team, including myself, opened up GNAC conference play with a home doubleheader against the Cadets of Norwich University.  We entered the game coming off a hard fought split doubleheader against Coast Guard Academy, where we lost the first game 1-0 and won the second 3-2.  Confidence was sky-high entering the double dip at Quigley Stadium on Saturday as senior pitcher and one of my fellow captains Matt Finkenzeller took the hill in game 1.

Finkenzeller threw a complete game, allowing only one unearned run, as with the help of a 9 run outburst by our offense, we were able to grab a dominating 9-1 victory.  One of the shining moments of game 1, was when newcomer Jack Pritchard blasted a two run homer to left center that still hasn't landed yet.  Last I heard, it was flying somewhere over my hometown in New Jersey, and showing an in-flight movie.

We got off to a slow start in game 2, allowing 4 runs in the top of the 1st, before scoring one back in the bottom half of the frame.  Our team never got down on ourselves though, as junior pitcher Brian Levchuk steadied himself out and threw a scoreless second inning before the Falcons offense had yet another outburst.  In the bottom of the second following a lead off single by catcher Arber Mehmedi, the Falcons would piece together 6 runs and bat around in the frame.  We went on to win the contest 10-7 and freshman relief pitcher/shortstop Tyler Donnan was able to earn his first win of his young collegiate career.  Freshman Ryan Fowler also earned his first career save.

With the doubleheader sweep your Falcons are now in a three way tie for first place in the GNAC conference with Suffolk University and Johnson and Wales.  On Monday April 1st, we will be taking on Elms College in Massachusetts with yours truly on the mound.  Following that we will be taking on conference rival Johnson and Wales in a home double-dip at Quigley Stadium starting at 4 PM on Tuesday April 2.  Be there Falcons fans, and cheer on your Falcons on their quest for a GNAC title. 

Weathering the Weather

I hate to keep making blogs that deal with weather related issues, but when you play an outdoor sport like baseball, weather plays a huge role in your life.  Due to recent snow, rain, hail, ice, sleet, and basically everything else mother nature can throw at us our baseball team has now had games postponed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, costing our team a total of 4 games this week.  Although I would love to be playing the game I love right now there definitely is one thing this horrid weather and these cancelled games are good for; homework completion!

One of the biggest issues for any student-athlete is finding the time to complete homework, while attempting to be the very best athlete they can be on the field of competition.  This week's bountiful amount of rain and snow outs, has allowed me to schedule out my time effectively and complete all of the homework, assigned to me for the next week.  This luxury of time afforded to me by this terrible weather has been a huge help, and has put me ahead of the game as far as my homework goes.

These postponed games may take away our chance to play on certain days, but they allow us to remember the key fact, that we are STUDENT-athletes and not the other way around.  Classes and schoolwork come first, and with this extra time off, I have found real success in the student portion of being a student-athlete.

Snow, Really?

Looking out the window this morning I really had to ask Mother Nature if this late March snow is necessary.  As a resident of Southern New Jersey, our snowstorms usually come to a hault around the end of February, with a freak winter blast coming from time to time every handful of years. 

This year, I have truly learned the meaning of being a resident of New England, as snow has impacted the area all winter long.  We even encountered a blizzard this year, which dumped 40 plus inches on the pristine Albertus campus. 

Usually I am an advocate of snow fall, as it provides me with days off from school, beautiful scenery, and perfect sledding conditions.  But when snow starts effecting baseball season, I draw the line.  Already this year, snow has postponed one game, and cancelled a doubleheader that would have been played against Eastern Connecticut State; now it is going after even more games.  After receiving 6 inches of snow, Mt. St. Mary's had to postpone our contest against them on Wednesday afternoon, and there is still no way to tell if the snow will affect our Thursday game at Westfield State. 

Nothing is better than snow in the winter, but nothing is worse than a game being "snowed" out.  So I ask Mother Nature to please take it easy on the snow, because the Falcons have some baseball games to win.

Spring Break?

Students and faculty at colleges all over the country celebrate the arrival of Spring Break each and every Spring Semester.  At Albertus Magnus College Spring Break will be taking place next week, as students return home for a week with friends and family, or possibly head off on vacations. 

But for baseball and softball players, there is no such thing as a Spring Break.  During the upcoming week both the baseball and softball teams will be heading down to sunny, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a week filled with games, to kick off their seasons. 

As a baseball player, I have been looking forward to this trip all year, and although game days are all business, after the games end, the team has an awesome time.  Our trip will begin on Saturday morning as we head to Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, New York for a doubleheader with in-state rival Eastern Connecticut State University.  The doubleheader should prove to be a tough test for our young team, as ECSU comes into the matchup ranked nationally, in the top 25 for Division III.

Following our Saturday games, we will be heading down to Myrtle Beach, where we will play doubleheaders on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  We expect nothing less than to leave South Carolina with a winning record, as we prepare ourselves for what looks to be a very promising 2013 campaign. 

Following our four day stay in Myrtle Beach, we will be hopping right back on the bus and heading north to Salisbury, Maryland for a nine inning game against nationally ranked Salisbury University.  Salisbury handed us a tough loss last season to end our spring trip and we will look to return the favor this year, with a very confident team. 

For any collegiate baseball player, spring break does not exist, but they know, that they wouldn't want it anyother way. 

MidTerms and Mini-All-Nighters?

As midterms have come, and midterm grades are soon due, students all over Albertus Magnus College are cramming and working hard to ensure they do their very best.  With my 4 online courses and one on-site class, I have found midterm week to be a very different experience than ever before. 
Although I still feel the stresses and pressure every college student encounters during this time, my online courses allow me to choose when and where to do my work.  I find this to be a very liberating experience, which takes a huge weight off my shoulders during such trying times.  Tonight following my baseball practice which ends at 5 PM, I will be pulling what I call a mini-all-nighter.  This work accomplishing strategy is something I have created in order to cope with my very busy 5 course schedule, mixed with blogging duties, athletic department work, and my baseball schedule, which has now become more hectic than ever since the season started this weekend. 
To begin my mini-all-nighter I will be getting a delicious meal from the school's dining hall, which will serve as my fuel keeping me awake throughout the process.  Next, I will make a short trip to Dunkin Donuts on Dixwell Avenue, to get some delicious Caramel coffee, to assist my dinner in keeping me awake.  After my quick trip off campus, I will return to the quiet sactitude of my dorm room in Mccauliffe, where the fun will all begin.  Some of the work I will be completing tonight includes a play review for Introduction to Theatre, work on my very own screenplay for my Screenwriting course, and a short paper discussing technology and the arts, for Technology and the Arts.  I find that the best way to keep working hard throughout a mini-all-nighter is to reward yourself for a job well done, so taking breaks in between assignment completion is vital to making this a successful academic experience. 
The key to making my experience a mini-all-nighter, is the fact that I have a course load that includes 4 online classes and only one on-site course which meets on Wednesday.  This means that no matter how late I stay up tonight to finish my homework, I won't wind up oversleeping a class on Tuesday, because I have no official class meetings!  This work completion strategy has paid dividends for me and will surely show up wonderfully on my midterm grades report, which I hope will be "swimming" in A's. 

Falcons GNAC Champs Again!

For the third time in the last four years the Falcons men's basketball team has captured the GNAC title and will be moving on to the Division III NCAA Tournament.  The Falcons were led by junior Darius Watson who tallied 34 points and earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the GNAC Tournament.  The men's basketball title is not the only success we've seen from the Albertus Athletic Department this year; in fact there's been tons of it.

The Falcons' title adds even more success to a school year which has seen stellar performances from all of Albertus Magnus's athletic programs.  The Falcons have had one of the most successful years of any athletic program in the GNAC, and have both a men's soccer GNAC title and men's basketball GNAC title to show for it.  In addition to those successful seasons the Falcons saw amazing campaigns from the women's soccer, women's volleyball, and women's basketball teams.

Women's soccer tallied one of their best records in program history with a 11-7-2 mark on the year.  The team also saw senior star D.J. Figueroa break the program's all-time records in goals, assists and points in a career.  Their success on the field earned them a berth in both the GNAC playoffs, in which they reached the Quarterfinals and the ECAC tournament, which they had never before appeared in.

Our women's volleyball team posted the best record in Albertus's recorded volleyball history this year, as they grabbed 12 wins on the season.  Led by senior captain Kristen LaBissoniere the girls earned an ECAC tournament bid, and posted a stellar home record of 5-2 on the year.

Women's basketball found immense success this season, as they posted a 20-7 record, including a 10-2 mark at home.  Led by junior guard Lianna Carrero and senior center Kendrea Walker the Falcons dominated the majority of opponents they played.  The Falcons made it to the GNAC Semifinals before being ousted by the number 1 ranked team in the GNAC conference, Emmanuel.  The girls will have to wait and see if any postseason bids are waiting for them following a season, riddled with success.  Judging by their record and deep roster, I believe they will find their way into some type of postseason tournament.

This year has already seen two GNAC titles and remarkable success from all the Falcons athletic programs, and yet their is still plenty more success to come.  The spring season is already underway as the men's volleyball team has posted an early, yet strong 6-3 record.  In addition to men's volleyball, both the baseball and softball teams  return many talented athletes, and have brought in some strong recruits to bolster already solid rosters.  The Falcons are stronger than ever, and the seasons posted by athletic programs this season, is truly proving it.

One more Week

After an extremely long offseason that involved me breaking a bone in my throwing arm, and spending two months rehabbing, the light at the end of the tunnel has finally appeared.  Baseball season starts next Sunday!

There may be a foot of snow still left on the ground from Nemo, and it may be 20 degrees outside tonight but baseball season is finally upon us.  On February 24th the Albertus men's baseball squad will head out to New York for a doubleheader against St. Joe's Brooklyn.  The matchup should prove to be an exciting one as we open up the season earlier than we ever have before.

The fact that baseball season is starting is already exciting enough, but after the injury I suffered in the fall, this season is even more special.  This will also be my final season of college baseball, and the amount of work I put into getting into playing shape for this season makes me more ready for success than ever before.

Our team is entering the season as an underdog in the GNAC conference this season, but that is exactly how we want it.  The additions the team has made, along with the returning players that were key contributors last season are the perfect recipe for success.  For those of you who are tired of the winter and snow, don't you fear, because the "Boys of Summer" are almost back for another wonderful baseball season.

SNOW

In case you haven't looked out your window since Thursday, we got over 34 inches of snow dumped on us by the blizzard Nemo.  Nemo did not live up to its namesake, as I found it very easy to find Nemo, unlike the fish version depicted in the Disney hit, "Finding Nemo."  If there is one thing 34 to 40 inches of snow can do, its close down schools and put a hault on outdoor activities.  Nemo has proven to be skillful at doing both those things as our campus has been shut down for four days and I haven't had a baseball practice in the same amount of time. 

Nemo is not all bad though as it gives us college students something we never seem to encounter, extra time!  Extra time to do your homework, catch some much needed Z's, to hang with friends, or anything else you may need to accomplish.  I have made the most of this time over the past four days, as I accomplished all my homework for the next two weeks, studied for my upcoming GRE test, watched some sports and movies, caught up on sleep, and most importantly, sledded for hours all over campus. 

My car is covered in feet of snow, and seems like it will still be stuck for a few more days as snow cleanup has proven to be close to impossible, due to the massive amounts of accumulation.  We can only hope that this day of rain will melt away enough snow for our lives to be returned to some normalcy, because all of us students here at Albertus are beginning to get a slight case of Cabin Fever. 

The Addams Family

In an attempt to gain an understanding of theatre, I decided to enroll in Professor Matthew Quinn Martin's Intro to Theatre class.  This course allows students to gather knowledge of the theatre and its inner workings, something I have wanted for a long time.  The class is also intended to get students comfortable within the theatre, at shows and in them. 

Along with class work, reading and papers to be written, our class has the requirement of attending at least two plays during the semester.  With my busy schedule including baseball practice and upcoming baseball games, four online classes, one class on-site, a blogger duty, and my role as the "Voice of the Falcons" at basketball games, I thought this requirement may be tough to fulfill.  Boy was I wrong!

As an out-of-state student and a newcomer to the New Haven area, I had no grasp on all the wonderful opportunities provided to students who wanted to attend the theatre.  In my search for a live performance to attend, I stumbled upon the historic Shubert Theatre located in New Haven.  It had shows playing all year around with tickets available, but only one that I truly had to see.  This past weekend "The Addams Family" was in town at the Shubert Theatre, as they left Broadway for a country-wide tour.  The tour gives audiences from all over America the chance to get the "Broadway-experience" without the impossibly expensive trip into New York City. 

I purchased two tickets for the show at $12 a piece and decided to make my "class requirement" into a date night for my girlfriend and I.  We absolutely loved the show, as the cast and the surrounding theatre came together for the perfect combination.  The play encompassed some updated quips about today's pop culture stars, and even had a hilarious joke worked into a song that attacked Charlie Sheen. 

The theatre is just 2 miles away from campus, as all it takes to get there is a short drive down Whitney Road.  Students can get there by walking if they really needed to, but the Yale Shuttle, and even a taxi ride are plausible options because of the theatre's location so close to campus.  I decided to drive my girlfriend and I to the play, and found parking next to the Shubert Theatre in the Crown Street Garage for a flat rate of $8. 

After the show my I took my girlfriend out for a late night meal at the Acroplis Diner in Hamden, so we could unwind, and eat some late night breakfast.  I recommend a trip to the Shubert Theatre for any guy looking to take his girlfriend out for a night on the town.  Its an inexpensive alternative to a trip to Broadway, that gives the audience and most importantly your girlfriend, the same thrills for a quarter of the price. 

Online Classes

This semester has been like no other so far due to the course selections I made.  As we all know, technology has taken the world by storm, and nowadays it is more taboo to not have a personal computer than the other way around.  All different types of working fields have incorporated technology into their daily practices, school's much like our own are all over social media and the internet, and every individual person has an opportunity to go online and voice their opinion about anything.  Due to this excessive need of competence pertaining to computers I have decided to submerge myself in the technological world in as many ways as possible.  I currently have a Twitter and Facebook account, operate my own blog which you are reading right now, and have taken on many more online endeavors over the years.

My most recent online endeavor has been taking online courses here at Albertus Magnus College.  Leading into this semester I had dabbled in a few online classes here or there and enjoyed the learning experience it provided.  My past success in these courses, led me to take four different online courses this semester.  The courses are all taught 100% online and allow me to decide when and where I want to complete my assignments and learning prior to due dates.  This learning freedom, really allows me to absorb information that I may have never learned under the regular restraints of lecture classes. 

In addition to the freedom allotted to students in an online course is, the ability to fit the courses into any schedule.  This semester is filled with obligations, volunteer work, sports, blog writing, preparing for after graduation and much more, so the flexibility of online courses has really taken a burden off my scheduling issues.  Now I get to choose when to accomplish my work, and if I have a baseball game, I do not have to worry about missing class and having to make up any missed assignments.

The option of taking online courses afforded to students by Albertus Magnus College, has to be one of the best aspects of the learning program here.  I recommend online courses to anyone and everyone who finds that their schedule is just too busy to show up to five courses a week or more.  The one key to being successful in these courses is self-discipline.  If students can keep on top of their studies and accomplish work prior to due dates without being in a classroom, then I believe online courses at Albertus are the perfect choice for you!

Carrero Nets 46!!!

In a thrilling 75-73 victory for the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team over Norwich University, guard Lianna Carrero scored a career-high 46 points!  The Falcons played the most exciting game of their season on Saturday January, 26th at the Nest, right here on campus and left the crowd in a frenzy when the final buzzer sounded.  With 4.1 seconds on the clock, Norwich imbounded from the baseline with a chance to tie the game with a 2 or win it with a 3.  Before they could even get a shot off, Forward Annie Raucci came up with a huge block, and time expired.

In my mind, this was the most exciting sporting event of the year on campus and left me on the edge of my seat while announcing from my sideline perch.  The only event that may have surpassed this intense showdown of GNAC foes, would the men's soccer GNAC title game in which goalkeeper Donato Piroscafo made a tremendous diving save to secure a Falcons' victory in penalty kicks.  Concidentally both of those games matched the Falcons up against the Cadets of Norwich University, as Albertus may have found itself yet another rivalry in conference play.

The real amazing part of Saturday's game was watching Lianna Carrero shoot 16-25 from the field and total 46 points in a game.  Scoring two points in a game proves hard enough for most basketball players, yet Lianna continually got herself good looks at the basket throughout the entirety of the game, willing the Falcons to a huge victory.  In addition to her tremendous shooting from inside the arc, Carrero was a perfect 3 for 3 from three point range, adding an exclamation point to an already stellar game.  After being at almost all of the Falcons' home contests this season, it is hard to believe that Lianna will not have some postseason accolades coming her way for her dominance on the court this season.

The women's basketball team is now 15-3 on the year with a 5-2 mark in GNAC play.  This season has been one filled with great success for the Falcons as they hope to find themselves in the GNAC playoffs this year, and if their outstanding play keeps up; possibly the GNAC Championship.

Baseball Begins

After a long fall and winter waiting for my broken arm to heel and watching my fellow teammates going through fall practices without me, I constantly dreamed about Monday, January 21^st, the first day of practice.  Not only because it was the first day of practice, but it would be the first time I was able to step back on the field and play alongside my teammates.

When professional players get injured badly, they are placed on the disabled list where they have time to heel injuries, rehab, and eventually work their way back to the big leagues.  Although I wasn’t on the so-called “disabled list” I might as well have been as m injury kept me from any participation in team activities in the fall. 

I once heard Derek Jeter refer to the disabled list as “athlete purgatory,” where one finds themselves stuck between never playing again and getting back on the field.  It is a tense time where you want recovery to happen fast, but must wait for everything to be properly rehabilitated.  I certainly understood what Jeter meant when he describe this “athlete purgatory,” and now that I am heeled and in my final collegiate season, I never want to know what it feels like again.

To say I was enthusiastic about our team’s first practice would be a gross understatement, and it seemed that all my teammates and coaches shared my enthusiasm from the very beginning.  Energy levels were high, and work ethics were even higher as the Albertus Magnus College Falcons Baseball Team took their very first step towards a GNAC title, but more importantly their very first step towards a win in game one of the season a little over a month from now. 

With nine mid-year transfers making their way onto the team, a handful of new Freshman, and a solid base of a strong Falcon team last year, things are looking up for our squad.  The Pitching staff is stocked with strong arms like Brian Levchuck, Matt Finkenzeller, Mike Barillaro, Ryan Fowler and many more including yours truly; Mr. Sunshine himself!  Our batting order and defense will be just as strong led by Senior outfielder, Rob Gambardella and Junior shortstop Pat Dornfried. 

Falcons fans are in for a very exciting season from their baseball team, and will hopefully be showing up to all the team’s home games at Quigley Stadium, in droves.  An already stellar year for Albertus athletics, will soon get even better!

I'm Back

Now that all of my bags have been unpacked and I have moved back on to campus, I can begin the final semester here at the wonderful Albertus Magnus College.  I hope that this semester will be filled with fun, excitement, and success as graduation nears. 
Along with this being my final semester of school, it is also my final season of college baseball.  I have been playing baseball since I was about three years old, and cannot believe that my playing career will come to an end in just a few months.  Although I am sad to see my time playing college baseball  come to a close, I am honored to be able to play my final season here at Albertus Magnus College.  This season looks very promising for the Albertus baseball team as coach Brian Leighton has been able to bring in some great talent to help compliment the already deep squad we boast this year. 
In addition to playing baseball during the spring semester, I will also return to my post as "Voice of the Falcons" as I continue doing in-game public address announcing for both men's and women's home basketball games.  I hope my month away from the microphone will not effect my ability to liven up the crowd, as I make my return to the Falcons' Nest on Saturday for both the men's and women's basketball contests.
This semester looks to be one filled with all kinds of excitement and opportunity, and plenty of topics for my glorious blog, "Fun Times with Sunshine."  I hope everyone had a wonderful break and I wish you all luck with your upcoming spring semester!!!