AMHERST — The college diamond can be an intimidating stage for freshmen who jump into their collegiate careers fresh from high school. For St. John’s Prep alum Frank DiOrio, college baseball has been anything but intimidating.
An Eagles product who graduated from St. John’s last spring, DiOrio’s seeing his success on the diamond carry over into his freshman season with the UMass Amherst baseball team. In 12 games, 11 starts, DiOrio has tallied nine hits, six RBI and six runs scored while posting a .250 batting average. In his collegiate debut, a 13-5 UMass win over St. Peter’s on March 3, DiOrio went 2-for-2 at the plate with a triple and two RBI.
The impressive start to his college baseball career has boosted DiOrio’s confidence.
“Anytime you go out and play good that definitely boosts your confidence,” DiOrio, an outfielder, said. “I don’t see it as anything more than the game of baseball. I don’t look at it as my first Division I game or my first Division I start. I see it as another game of baseball. It keeps the game more relaxed and keeps it fun.”
Pace of play and travel have been the two biggest adjustments DiOrio has had to make as a freshman this spring.
“One difference is the pace of the game,” DiOrio, a Beverly and Rowley native, said. “High school’s a little slower than college. The amount of traveling is another big difference for sure. Going to different states to play is definitely a difference. Learning to adjust when we get off the plane from a late-night flight for an early-morning game. I’ve had to learn what you have to do to get ready for a game.”
Through 18 games this season, the Minutemen are 9-9. UMass has turned things around this year under the direction of first-year coach Matt Reynolds, a South Boston native and former Minutemen infielder. Last season’s team went 15-32.
“We’re still finding ourselves,” DiOrio, a psychology major, said. “One goal is to be better than last year, which is usually a goal for any team. Coach Reynolds is an unbelievable coach. The coaches are pushing us to exceed for our full potential every day. We have to do everything at 100 percent. Winning the Atlantic 10 conference is one of our biggest goals, for sure.”
Thus far, the pitching and energy have been there for the Minutemen in the early stages of the season. With the bats coming around as the year progresses, things look to be moving in the right direction with good timing for UMass as the team’s schedule includes 12 Atlantic 10 conference games in April.
“Our pitching staff has been great,” DiOrio said. “The pitchers have been working hard, getting us out of jams. All our pitchers have been working really hard and putting in a lot of work. Our hitting is starting to come together for sure. Our first weekend series, we needed to get the bugs out. Since then, we’ve found ourselves. We have a lot of work to do but we’re getting there for sure.
“Our pitching is one of our strengths,” DiOrio added. “Our hitting is becoming a strength. Team morale has definitely been a strength. We have the energy and we’re playing our game. In the dugout we’re always keeping the energy up. Sometimes a nine inning game can be a lot.”
In his two seasons with the varsity team at St. John’s, DiOrio was a key catalyst for an Eagles lineup that emerged as one of the more potent offenses in Massachusetts. DiOrio helped lead the team to two runs in the Division 1A “Super 8” state tournament, both times falling one win short of the state championship. DiOrio transferred to St. John’s as a junior after two years at Beverly High.
He still keeps in touch with Eagles head coach Dan Letarte as they each seek advice from one another through texts and phone calls.
“Coach Letarte is great,” DiOrio said. “We didn’t know each other too well when I first transferred but we really connected. The whole team as well, we all gelled together and it was like one big happy family. We had our struggles but we worked through them. Game-wise we always picked one another up when one was down. The coaching staff is one of the best I’ve played for, for sure.
DiOrio added, “I still talk to the coaches today whenever I need to talk to somebody. Coach Letarte, I have him on speed dial. We’re always talking about the game. Coach Letarte’s always asking me about plays and things like that. He’s always learning. Nobody knows the entire game.”
After three consecutive seasons of falling short in the “Super 8” final, DiOrio feels this could the year St. John’s breaks through and brings home a state championship.
“I’m expecting a lot from them this year,” DiOrio said. “The younger guys have experienced second place in the “Super 8″ more than once. They’re going to work hard. I’m expecting them to win this year and I’ll definitely be out there cheering for them.”
DiOrio and the Minutemen visit Boston College this afternoon (4).
