Day four of the CUNYAC Goodwill tour got off in the most educational way possible as the tour members visited the American University of Rome as the first of three stops on Tuesday's Goodwill Tour. The CUNYAC also held a children's clinic for dozens of youths and played an exhibition game against an Italian League team.
The American University of Rome is an English speaking institution with many of the 600 plus students concentrating in a variety of majors including Art History, Business Management, and International Studies. The institution usually educates between five and eight students within the CUNY system. Currently five students (two from John Jay, two from the College of Staten Island, and one from Baruch College) from CUNY are enrolled in the college.
Before the tour, which concluded the day at the college, the team had a lunch with the university president, Robert Marino, who graduated from CCNY in 1964 and spent seven years at Hunter College as a faculty member. Provost Richard Resch, who spent 11 years at the College of Staten Island also joined the Goodwill team for lunch as did Dean of Students, Jamie Lynch.
"I think it was a good University and I enjoyed my time there meeting everyone," said Ivan Perez of the Borough of Manhattan Community College. "The fact that it was small and many of the students seem to know each other already makes it easy to be a student."
"The trip to the American University of Rome gave our guys a chance to see how the CUNY system expands far beyond New York City," said College of Staten Island Director of Athletics Jason Fein. "President Marino, Provost Resch, and Dean Lynch welcomed us with open arms and showed the players the opportunities available to them as far as studying abroad and it opened their eyes to the academic world outside New York City. I really want to thank the American University of Rome for hosting us and I especially want to thank the College of Staten Island International Services for their help in organizing this event."
After the morning event the team headed straight for the children's clinic at a local baseball field in Rome. The team conducted numerous fielding, catching, and pitching drills for the kids.
"I had a great time with the kids it was so much fun," said College of Staten Island catcher Michael Madalone. "I want to be a teacher someday since I love kids, and this has been one of the best things about the trip so far."
The children were as young as eight years old and as old as 14, many of who appeared extremely talented, an indication that Italy is developing a bright future in professional baseball.
"The kids were a lot of fun to work with," said Queensborough Community College member Thomas Benedetto. "Some of these kids have a lot of talent and are going to be critical in the future of Italy baseball."
The time on the field then transferred to the adults as the CUNYAC gave another clinic of sorts as the crew defeated a local team in Rome, the Nuova Roma, 25-1, in a six inning game.
CCNY's Richard Gomez lit up the stat sheet with a 3-for-3 performance. He smacked two triples, ripped a double, and had three runs scored and four runs batted in as the CUNYAC scored seven runs in the first and third innings alone and led 17-1 after three innings.
"It was a good game and I think the team is coming along," said Thomas Rittenhouse of Kingsborough Community College, who pitched two innings in relief and allowed no runs on no hits while striking out four batters. "I basically pitched the way I always do. I really didn't do anything different."
After the game there were more festivities as children from the clinic were greeted to an extra long autograph session from the Goodwill members. The players signed numerous autographs and handed out a countless number of CUNYAC Goodwill Tour tee shirts to the children and team members of Nuova Roma.
"It was a great feeling after the game," said Xavier Perez of Borough of Manhattan Community College, who went 1-for-3 with a run. "I felt like I was coming out of Yankee Stadium with so many kids wanting to take pictures with me and wanting my autograph."
The session lasted close to one hour as numerous pleasantries were exchanged.
"It was the most fun I have had since I have been here," said Lehman College's Kareem Benjamin. "I felt like a pro ballplayer and the best part of it was the satisfaction I got when I gave an old glove to one of the kids, the look on his face said it all."
