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April 3, 2008

What changes have you seen personally and with your fellow seniors with skills throughout your time here at Bonas?

Throughout my four years at St. Bonaventure, I have seen my teammates as well as myself grow into selfless players and develop both physically and mentally in the sport of baseball. We have enhanced many skills while learning to play as a team.

What first attracted you to St. Bonaventure and how has Coach Sudbrook and his staff shaped you as a player?

I was first introduced to St. Bonaventure by my grandfather, Joseph Moley, who was a SBU alum. I also heard of the baseball program through media as well as other players during baseball camps and summer leagues. Coach Sudbrook is a very intelligent coach and gave me much needed information and skills to be successful in both academics and athletics. Coach's love and attitude for the game helps bring out the best of an individual by pushing you to your limits and studying the game.

You've experienced plenty of success early this season and are among the nation's best in multiple batting categories, what do you attribute to that?

I have worked hard in the four years I have been here with the help of Coach Sudbrook and Coach Fiske (Strength & Conditioning). They are always trying to help every player improve. I came into the program as a leadoff hitter attempting to hit hard grounders and line drives while taking any opportunity to get on base. Before entering my senior year I received help from Rick Lancellotti (owner of the Buffalo School of Baseball) and fixed my swing so that I was more balanced and could hit for gaps/power. I knew someone was going to have to step up and fill the shoes of Joe Rizzo and Brian Pellegrini, so I did everything possible to do so and all the hard work has paid off so far.

It's well-known that there was a pretty large gap left in the offense following Brian (Pellegrini) and Joe's (Rizzo) graduation. Did you push yourself even harder in the off-season to try to fill that void in the lineup?

I wouldn't say I pushed myself harder because I believe in working hard all the time. That is one regret I will never have. The difference I made was focusing on everything that Joe and Brian have taught me, while tweaking my swing to adapt to the 3 and 4 holes in the line-up.

With such an experienced pitching staff, does the offense feel as much pressure to perform consistently? Do you think they are feeling the pressure to provide a boost to such an otherwise young group?

Our offense was at first pressured, but after playing this season we are well aware of what we are possible of. We have won some games, but for the most part we have been very aggressive and hit very well with a few exceptions. Our pitching staff is excellent and I only see them getting better as the year goes on.

The team found success against the ACC again this season after you beat Boston College in a wild extra innings game. After getting five hits the game before and then smacking six more against the Eagles, how do you think that two-game stretch has helped your confidence at the plate and your confidence in the team's offensive potential?

It has helped my confidence to a large extent. I feel dominant at the plate. When I walk up to the dish at any at-bat of a game, I pretend it's my first opportunity to hit. I think to myself, "I am going to get on base somehow and this pitcher is not going to stop me from that." With support from the team and their confidence in me, I try my best to lead by example and give every effort possible on each pitch. Hitting is almost contagious and what I do can spark our offense to get hot. Our team is doing well at the plate and many guys are underrated. There is much potential in our team and I believe we are going to tap into it to get us into the A-10 Tournament.

After getting a solid series against Fordham, the team seemed to hit a wall against Duquesne. What was the team's mindset going into the series against the Dukes and has it changed at all?

We play one game at a time. That's what we have been doing and will continue to do. The game at hand is the only thing we have control of and we focus our efforts on it. Once we pulled away from Fordham, it was in the past and our next target was game one against Duquesne. There were many positive things that came out of Duquesne, while there were also many negatives. We are going to work on our mistakes so that we can prepare for our next game. Losing to Duquesne may be a good thing, so that we don't get too high. It is only going to cause us to work harder and be more intense for our next series.

With so much youth in the batting order, what do you as a senior try to teach them when it comes to scouting pitchers and finding their niche in the lineup?

I talk to every player whenever I get the chance. I tell them things they can do to help the team. It may be dropping a bunt for a hit, moving up in the box, expecting certain pitches or getting deep in the count. I not only help them, but they help me as well with what they know and what they think. We work as a team and I try to pass as much information through experience as I can so that they can be successful in helping our team win games. They catch on very quick.

For as much success as you've had on the field, you've had even more off it after being named the A-10's Student Athlete of the Year. What were your feelings on the award?

I was honored to receive this award as it was the first in the program's history. I work hard for my grades and I try to help my fellow teammates succeed in the classroom as well. I give as much advice as I can. I am also pleased to receive the award under Coach Sudbrook. He pushes his players to attend class and keep their marks up. So by receiving this award, he deserves a lot of credit as well.

Who do you see on the team that could hold the key to the team's success for the rest of the season?

There is no individual that is going to make or break this season. For us to have success, we have to play as a team. It sounds cliché but our pitchers need to give us a shot at winning, our defense needs to make plays and our offense needs to produce enough run support to get a win. I believe we're going to be able to do this. We are working the kinks out and I see success in this team as we continue our season to make the A-10 Tournament. Teams win games and the team is bigger than the individual. Our team understands this and I believe it is going to be the key factor in us making the playoffs.