Reggio Baseball: Serie A Champions!

I am excited to announce that we completed a successful season and won the championship! After winning a game and losing a game at our home field, we were able to win both games on saturday and win the series 3-1. It was a great series between the two first place teams, and we came out on top. It was an amazing feeling to know that we dominated throughout the regular season and finished the season at the top.

So sadly, this will be my final post. It has been an amazing journey, and I can't believe 6 months are over. Although I won't be home for another month, I will not have my computer and be able to post about my travels. It makes sense to really reminisce about my time here, and evaluate what this has meant to me.

First, baseball. I originally decided to come here because I felt I had something to prove to myself. I love this game, and I wasn't ready to give it up. I sincerely didn't know what to expect, and coming to a different country with a completely different culture wasn't enough to deter me from wanting to play the game I love. I was lucky enough to be on a team with amazing teammates, great talent, and in a great area. I was truly blessed to be taken in by a great organization, and given the opportunity to contribute to a championship. The organization took a chance on me, waiting until the last minute for me to get my Italian passport, and I will always be thankful for that. I have made friends on this team that will be friends for life, and collectively we were able to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a championship.

More than anything, the experience of playing baseball here made me love this game. Don't get me wrong, I loved playing baseball at Quinnipiac, but it is a very different situation. At school, the pressures of both school and baseball, as well as expectations can wear on you. The game is here is at its purest form. Most of these guys play baseball not because they have to, but because they want to. They have regular lives, with regular jobs and families, yet they come out every day and play. This makes the game pure, and it helped me find that true love for the game that had been suppressed over the years. For the first time in a while, I had the greatest time playing baseball. In turn, it effected the way I played, and I had the best statistical year of my career.

Being here has also taught me a lot about the person I am and the world around me. I wanted to come here and challenge myself, both in baseball and in life. I wanted to see if I would be able to step out of my element and adapt to a new culture. I wanted to see if I could make it on my own, and be able to learn and appreciate what I had in the past and what is in my immediate future. I have learned so much since being here, and it has made me a better person. Between living in Reggio Emilia and traveling around Europe, you learn a lot about yourself. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I have changed. I just think I have become a little more cultured, allowing me to be more understanding of others and more open to different views. Most importantly, it just showed me that I can step out of my element and what I'm used to, and be able to succeed.

On the other side, it also made me realize not to take for granted what I have at home. When your away from something long enough, you see things from a different perspective. I am truly blessed that I have a great family at home, both immediate and extended, that loves me and worries about me. My family has been nothing but supportive, and throughout the 6 months have done everything they can to keep in touch. I am truly thankful for that, and it doesn't go unnoticed. I am also lucky to have a group of friends who make me feel as though I haven't been gone at all. Whenever we speak, it's as if we pick up right where we left off. Although there lives are all getting started and moving in different directions, they have not faded away. It's a true testimony to how great of friends they really are. Everybody here also loves New York, and there eyes light up when you say you live there. All of this has made me appreciate where I am from, who I am, and most of all excited for my future.

So now that the season is over, what's next? Well, this is my last week in Reggio-Emilia. I will most likely hang out with my teammates and just enjoy the city for my final stay. I will play a couple of games in the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup), which really has no significance at all. It will be fun to practice with the guys this week for the last time (at least until next season?). On Sunday, we head up to Munich for Oktoberfest. It's the 200th anniversary of the festival, and should be a great, great time. From Oktoberfest, we start our 3 or so weeks of traveling. This includes Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Istanbul, Athens, and Ios (Greek Island). On October 17th, I fly back to Reggio for a couple of days, and finally head home to Long Island on October 19th. I'm very excited for the little tour of Europe, and I look forward to meeting amazing people and seeing amazing cities along the way.

Overall, this experience couldn't have gone any better. I was able to accomplish everything I wanted to. I proved to myself I could still play this game, and I was able to contribute to a championship team. Being here opened the opportunity for me to travel a bit of the world, and expand my network. I am excited to come home and see my family and friends, and get back to life in New York. I would lastly like to thank both my mom and dad. My dad was able to come and visit me and witness the championship. It was great to have him there like he always has been, and I'm glad he got to see us win it all. My mom couldn't make it, but she has supported me no matter what the situation, even if she didn't like it. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here at all. She helped me immensely with getting my paperwork for my passport, and I can't thank her enough. I love all you guys, and I will see you in a month! I hope you enjoyed the blog, and thanks to everybody who supported me! It was truly a pleasure writing the blog, even though I slacked towards the end, and I appreciate everybody that took the time to read it. Anyway, have a great week and talk to you soon!