Three alumni help local school on historic baseball run
Led by first-year head coach Frank Catalanotto, the NYIT baseball team, along with three Sachem East alumni from the Class of 2015, made its first-ever trip to the Baseball College World Series in Cary, N.Y.
Chris Mott, Nick Tedesco, and Matt Bartnik have helped the Bears on an improbable run. All three players graduated from NYIT two weeks ago, but have a year of baseball eligibility left and will return to the Bears next year as graduate students.
All three took different routes to BYIT. Bartnik signed out of high school. Tedesco committed to Hofstra University, but was redshirted during his freshman year and eventually transferred. Mott committed to Dowling College and was also redshirted during his freshman year, transferred to Suffolk Community College and then again to NYIT.
Tedesco’s week included more than competing in the NCAA Tournament as he also delivered a graduation speech at commencement exercises for the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Education on Sunday. He was selected because he had the highest GPA among the group. Tedesco’s graduation speech focused on the power of giving back.
He has volunteered with the League of YES for the past seven years. The Long Island foundation helps youth with special needs play baseball. Tedesco’s contribution to the group has been so meaningful, the League of YES named its annual award for volunteerism after him. Tedesco, a corner infielder, hit .310 with one homer and seven RBIs in 19 games entering the College World Series.