Harrison Alumni Report: Charlie Galasso

Charlie Galasso wasn't heavily recruited after his senior year of high school baseball. In fact if it hadn't been for his passion for the game, his baseball career might have ended there.

In his senior season for the Huskies, Galasso was the team's lead-off hitter hitting .508—and one of the best pitchers on the squad. He was also the starting second basemen and the team's captain.

Galasso was one of the better players on the Huskies in 2009 but was not highly recruited. It was up to him to contact the coaching staffs of different colleges and baseball teams. Finally Galasso found Pace University. The school offered him the academic and athletic challenges he was looking for, and it was also close to his home in Silver Lake.

"I had conatcted the coach first but after a while there was definitely a mutual interest," Galasso said.

In his first year with the Pace Setters, Galasso was used primarily off the bench as a utility infielder. In 10 games and only 14 at bats Galasso hit .214 with three runs and two runs batted in. This past season he was used primarily as a defensive replacement for both middle in field positions. At the end of the year he earned a fielding percentage of .900 with only one error all season long.

Galasso admittedly went through some growing pains in his first year at Pace.

"Baseball in college differs because it is just so much faster, everything is faster." Galasso went on to say, "It takes some getting used to but you pick it up pretty fast. Socially you really need to learn what is more important to you and balance your work with baseball and your social life."

The jump from high school to college is difficult for any young adult let alone someone taking on full time athletics as well.

Pace University is graduating nine players from last year's team, so the chance for playing time will be there next year. Galasso will have opportunities to match his offensive game to his defensive play.