Published in the December 9, 2015 edition
NICK PASCUCCI
By STEPHEN RYAN
WALTHAM — Former Lynnfield baseball star captain, Nick Pascucci, is making his name known as a freshman at Bentley University.
Nick will be helping the team remain a top contender this year in the NCAA NE10 conference. Pascucci made the varsity baseball team as a pitcher only and with this opportunity comes the rigorous job of coming into the games in the late innings to close it through the pitching skills that he has spent just about his entire lifetime working on.
He will be joining the team on four trips to Florida this spring in preparation for the official baseball season. Pascucci is one of just five freshmen who made the 24-man roster. He looks forward to “the thrill of competing” this year as he faces teams from around New England, including Bentley’s biggest rival, Stonehill College. His main goal for the year is “to try to make an impact on the team as early as possible.”
Pascucci has been playing baseball since he was able to walk and nothing has ever been able to get in his way when it comes to playing on the field. This includes the biggest obstacle that he faces – his size. Nick is just 6 feet and because of this, he is at a disadvantage. When scouts come to games they are always looking for the biggest and tallest pitchers who would be able to improve the team with their size. Most pitchers who get recruited are 6’3” or taller. Pascucci was able to overcome this obstacle by working as hard as possible and not allowing his size to affect him.
This is evident to his new coach, Bob DeFelice, who said, “Nick’s a hard worker and he leaves everything he has out on the field.”
In high school Pascucci played three years on the varsity baseball team, as a starter for two years and was named a captain in his senior year.
His high school coach, John O’Brien, is one of the biggest reasons Nick has continued to succeed. O’Brien was all over him in his junior year trying to get the best performance out of him. This ultimately led to Nick becoming the ace of the Lynnfield baseball team in his senior year along with his newest accomplishment of making the Bentley University baseball team.
However, Nick gives most of the credit to his parents and sister, Olivia, for being where he is today. Their unconditional support always made him want to give his all and make them proud.
Nick graduated from Lynnfield High School in the spring of 2015. At Bentley, he is an intended finance major. Nick is the son of Susan and Mike Pascucci of Lynnfield.
