Plum Grad Continues Focus on the Diamond

After having to pick up and move two miles down the street to continue his baseball and academic pursuits after the 2010 season, Plum graduate Anthony DeFabio continues his focus on taking his game to the next level.  

DeFabio spent his first two years of collegiate ball at Duquesne University, but after the program was eliminated, DeFabio quickly found a new home for his bat and glove only a stones throw away at the University of Pittsburgh.  

“Whatever happened at Duquesne happened,” said DeFabio. “And the coaches were great with helping me transition.” 

His first season with the Pitt Panthers went very well, and he’s certainly happy with the move.  

“Obviously academics were a priority, but the ability to have some playing time was certainly up there as well,” he said.  

And when starting catcher Kevan Smith went down with some knee problems early in Pitt’s season, DeFabio was able to step right in.  He caught 15 games until Smith returned. Even after Smith’s return, DeFabio settled into the designated hitter role as well.  

DeFabio appeared in 38 of Pitt’s 56 games, finishing with a .337 batting average, 25 RBI and eight stolen bases on the season, which included an appearance in the Big East Tournament.  

“The tournament was a great experience. I definitely never experienced anything like that at Duquesne,” he said.

“Certainly an Atlantic 10 tournament would have been great, but the Big East is another level; bigger schools, better competition.” 

He was also fortunate to experience the new facilities that Pitt opened this year at the Charles L. Cost field. And while the team lost the inaugural game on March 16, it’s a first class home for the Panthers.  

“They really did it right,” he said. “We have nice locker rooms and hitting facilities. It’s great to be a part of the first team to play on the new field.”  

Since the end of the collegiate season, the finance major not only is working a full-time internship, but also is hoping to continue to improve his skills on the diamond. DeFabio is going into his third season with the Pittsburgh Pandas, a wood-bat summer collegiate team based out of the North Hills.  

Pitt is certainly going to want his bat in the lineup next spring, but playing time will be hard to come by so he’s trying to put himself in the best position possible to get on the field.  

“I think they were happy with my versatility,” he said. “I’m just trying to focus on as many positions through the summer.”  

In addition to catching and designated hitter duties, DeFabio said that Pitt could look to him to play second or third base, or even corner outfield.

Not to leave out the hitting out of the mix, DeFabio likes the wood bat aspect of the Pandas summer play.  

“It definitely takes some getting used to,” he said. “It really helps you in the long run though because if you’re able to square up and hit with a wooden bat, you won’t have any problems with an aluminum bat. Overall it definitely improves your hitting.”  

DeFabio is currently leading the Pandas with 14 RBI’s.  

Even when he isn’t playing in a wood bat league, DeFabio likes to use the lumber during the regular season in practice.

“I’ve always thought that taking batting practice with a wooden bat is beneficial.”