By: Davin Cheng ‘18
While his peers worry about college applications during the first semester, Joe Ammirato ’18 will simply relax, sit back, and continue to do what he loves: play baseball.
Ammirato finished the application process during the summer, and due to his hard work on and off the field, Ammirato was offered the opportunity to play D1 baseball at the University of California, Berkeley.
Citing the university’s elite academics and dedicated coaching staff, committing to the program was an easy decision for Ammirato.
“Ever since I started playing at 5 years old, the goal has been to move forward and grow. There isn’t a better place to grow than at an elite institution like Cal,” Ammirato said.
In particular, receiving the offer from UC Berkeley was paramount for Ammirato, for both he and his family have always been ardent supporters of the Golden Bears.
“My parents have always been huge fans of the school, especially my dad,” Ammirato said. “I remember watching Cal baseball games with him when I was younger, so it’s great how he can watch on me on the collegiate level soon.”
Though he will contribute heavily to UC Berkeley’s athletic atmosphere, Ammirato will strive to be well-rounded in all parts of his student experience during his time at Cal.
“I have always been committed to both athletics and academics. That being said, I want to study in the Haas School of Business in the future while pursuing the MLB draft,” Ammirato explained.
Ammirato has played on Bellarmine’s varsity baseball team since his sophomore year and has established himself as one of the Bells’ top pitchers. According to MaxPreps, he posted an 8-2 record with a 1.59 ERA last year. His efforts also awarded him a spot on the All-WCAL Second Team. He described himself as a “right-handed power pitcher that throws a two-seam fastball in the high-80s to low-90s, along with a curveball and a change-up.”
Although he would like to play for the Golden Bears as soon as possible, Ammirato still has one more year at Bellarmine. He has very high hopes for this upcoming season.
“We definitely want to win WCAL. We’ve lost a couple of our senior leaders, but we’re going to be competitive and we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” he said
Ammirato is determined to continue working hard in order to show his friends and family the results of their unconditional support.
“There have been so many coaches, teammates, friends, and family members over the years that have helped me reach this point. I can’t thank them enough for supporting me, and I can’t wait to show them what I will do in the future,” Ammirato said.
