Kyle D’Angela's abilities on the pitcher’s mound and in the classroom have earned him a scholarship in West Virginia.
D’Angela played for the Western New York Prospects team in showcase tournaments in Buffalo, Columbus, Fredonia, and Diamond Nation in Flemington, N.J.
It was at the Columbus tournament when he caught the eye of Justin Thomas, head coach of the Bethany College baseball team.
“He saw me pitch in Columbus and we started to talk,” said D’Angela in an interview with ThoroldNews.
“Thomas told me, 'I like what I see and I have a spot open. There’s potential there',” recounted the young pitcher.
Thomas is in his second year coaching the team at the West Virginia College and, as a former pitcher himself, is building a new pitching program, explained Henry, Kyle’s dad.
Thomas and the D’Angelas stayed in touch and a visit to the college, armed with Kyle’s transcripts from Denis Morris, earned him a full four-year scholarship at the division three private school.
“I’d love to turn baseball into a career but that likely won’t happen. It’s very competitive and tough to make it,” he said frankly.
The scholarship offered was an academic one, noted Henry.
His Denis Morris marks translate to a 3.3 grade average in the U.S. and as long as his grades stay above 2.5 average, he will have the scholarship for four years. A spot on a varsity team hinges on maintaining high grades.
Before being offered the scholarship he had planned on going to Guelph University but his field of study hasn’t changed.
“I will be studying economics with a minor in criminal justice,” said the younger D’Angela.
His spot on the team will depend on his progress on the mound. But the team is losing two senior pitchers from last year and Thomas is looking to fill his roster so D’Angela is arriving with all the right tools in the classroom and on the field.
Besides playing for the WNY Prospects, D’Angela also played for the Thorold Midgets and the DM varsity team this year. The Thorold athlete has stayed busy in his quest to play ball, and spends the off-season working out building his strength and conditioning.
Over the past several years he’s remained very active on the field as well. In just the past two years, he played for the Western New York Prospects Under-18 Show Case Team, Bullet Proof Prospect Fall team, The New Era under-17 Show Case team, the Thorold Athletics and the Denis Morris Varsity team.
Already settled in at the College, D'Angela will join the team and play an exhibition season this fall and begin the regular varsity season in February.
