Sports

Marzi Glad He Didn't Redshirt

Former Berlin pitcher living a dream with the UConn baseball team just two wins from College World Series.

Anthony Marzi went to UConn this fall expecting to redshirt this season due to a shoulder injury.

When a player redshirts, he or she can practice with the team, be part of the team but can't play in games.

With the University of Connecticut arguably enjoying its most spectacular season in school history, Marzi was thrown right into the mix midway through the year and had had his redshirt taken off. 

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He and his Huskies teammates are now just two wins from the college baseball promised land, a trip to Omaha and the College Baseball World Series. 

"Well a few pitchers on the team got suspended after Notre Dame and against Yale we used everybody in our bullpen so after the game coach came up to me and told me I was the most ready to pitch out of the other freshman pitchers," Marzi said. "So he asked me if I would give up my redshirt and get some innings.

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"He told me if I come in and do well I'll get more shots and if I don't then I wouldn’t. It was a chance I wanted to take because I was confident I could go out there and prove myself and against UMass I did. I’ve been getting innings here and there ever since. I'm really glad I did it because I feel more like a part of the team then I did when I was redshirting and this experience is topping our American Legion run two years ago for me."

Marzi pitched in the Big East Tournament in Clearwater, FL. but was not at his best.

"I got a chance to pitch in the Big East tourney and didn’t do my best but it was really fun being able to pitch in that park," he said.

UConn had 10 players drafted by professional teams in the Major League Baseball, including two, George Springer of New Britain and Matt Barnes of Bethel, in the first round. 

UConn was chosen for the NCAA Regionals in Clemson, S.C. The Huskies got pummeled by Coastal Carolina in the first round of the tournament but then reeled off four straight wins to win the regional championship. UConn beat in-state rival Sacred Heart, then came back to beat Coastal Carolina and eliminate the Chants. UConn then would have to beat host Clemson in their own stadium twice in a row to keep its season alive. The Huskies did just that beating Clemson 7-6 and 14-1.

"After losing to Coastal everybody was down but we knew we had the firepower to get it done," Marzi said. "Coach told us to take it one game at a time and we did and now were playing the best baseball we have played all year. Everybody in our lineup stepped up and got big hits in big spots.

"I was also able to get a few innings against Sacred Heart in the regional and that’s an experience I’ll never forget. Taking two from Clemson in front of 6,000 fans all in orange is also something I'll never forget."

UConn will play South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. in a two of three series called a Super Regional. Whichever team wins two games first will advance to the College World Series. The first game is Saturday at 7 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN2. The second game is Sunday at 7 and will be on ESPNU. A third game, if necessary will be played Monday. 

"I've never been a part of something this awesome," said the former BHS lefthander. "Thinking about the fact that were two wins away from Omaha is surreal and if we play the way we have been playing there is no doubt in my mind that we will make it there. All the Clemson fans were telling us how tough of an environment it is at South Carolina but we shut up 6,000 fans all wearing orange twice so we can do it again." 


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