Every once in a while, a player comes around that changes a program. Matt Cantele is one of those players.
After an impressive freshman year, in which he hit .289 with 14 home runs and was awarded All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors, Cantele followed up the season with another one for the record books, batting .365 and knocking out a school-record 23 dingers.
Dismissing any thought of a sophomore slump, Cantele was a crucial component of the 2007 UCSD baseball team that had its best season in program history, advancing to the NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament for the first time ever.
“”It hasn’t even settled in yet,”” Cantele said, referring to his part in leading UCSD to its best season yet. “”It’s an honor given that this program has been around for so many years.””
While many players have come before Cantele, none have shown the power potential that he displayed this year. Besides his record number of homers, Cantele led the team with 60 runs batted in, 155 total bases, a .787 slugging percentage and an unbelievable on-base percentage of .500. He was also in the middle of an offense that broke six school records with exceptional stats in runs, RBIs, hits, home runs, doubles and total bases.
With his statistics and talent, it’s a shock that Cantele is even at a Division-II school, let alone one that has yet to hand over athletic scholarships.
Cantele said that while most of his teammates from Saint Francis High School in Los Altos Hills, Calif., have moved on to Division-I programs or the MLB draft, he does not regret his decision to play with the Tritons.
“”Some of my friends, who are great ballplayers, are riding the bench at D-I schools and not getting at-bats,”” he said. “”So I can’t complain about getting to start and go to the NCAA Tournament.””
While Cantele had nothing bad to say about his role on a Division-II team, he did criticize the school for its less-than-welcoming attitude toward athletics and athletes.
“”It’s tough to play for a school that is full of administrators who don’t appreciate athletes and teachers who refuse to be flexible with tests when we travel,”” Cantele said. “”But I think starting to give athletic scholarships will change everything.””
Even if the state of athletics begins to improve at this school, Cantele will probably not be around to see it. He has two years left, and has no idea what comes next.
“”I hope that baseball is in my future, but right now I am focused on getting my bioengineering degree,”” Cantele said. “”It’s still a dream to play professional baseball, but I’m just playing it by ear for now.””
Whether or not Cantele makes it to the show, he has already left a legacy at this school and has plenty of time and ability to do much more. He hopes to do just that, by taking UCSD to its first Division II College World Series and perhaps a national title.
“”I think that we have the ability to compete for a title,”” he said. “”We were right there this year, we just took a couple of tough losses when we couldn’t afford to lose.””
Cantele is not alone in thinking the Tritons are contenders, but he and the rest of the team will have to overcome the loss of senior stars like outfielder Matt Lawson and catcher David Morehead.
Cantele also singled out senior Bryan Silverman, right behind head coach Dan O’Brien, as someone who helped him out a lot in developing into the player he is today.
“”Silverman was an unbelievable help to me when I first got here,”” he said. “”He’s from Northern California too, so we would practice together over breaks.””
Now it will be Cantele’s role to welcome the incoming transfers and recruits to the team. But he will have help.
“”It’s going to be tough losing those guys, but we still have plenty of people who are coming back,”” Cantele said. “”[Chris] Franco, [CCAA Freshman of the Year Garrett] Imeson and [Vance] Albitz are just some of the tons of players who are going to improve and help out next year.””
Cantele will also have to improve, not necessarily statistically, but in his leadership role on the team. He said that Morehead and Lawson, performances aside, were invaluable to the team’s camaraderie and chemistry.
“”I don’t think I have to be more of a leader,”” Cantele said. “”But I do think that it will help fill the void that Morehead and Lawson are going to leave if I step up. There aren’t going to be many seniors on next year’s team, so as someone who’s been around for a little while, I think I can make a difference.””
No matter what, Cantele will hold the distinction of being UCSD’s single-season home run leader, first Daktronics D-II All-American and first ABCA/NCAA Rawlings first-team D-II All-American. And before too long, he may be the first MVP of a NCAA Division II National Championship team.
