Alumni news
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Hoops and hits: two sports brought Jeff Macchi to UMD
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hen Jeff Macchi was deciding on a college, playing two sports was very important. A two-sport star at Franklin High School, Macchi was recruited by several schools. An NCAA Division II school was offering a partial scholarship for baseball, but basketball was probably out of the question. A few other Division III schools were in the mix as well, but when it was time to make a decision, UMass Dartmouth was the choice. “It was during basketball season when I started looking at schools, so basketball was important,” said Macchi, a senior marketing major. “But my brother Joe played baseball at UMass Dartmouth, so I realized I could play two sports there.” For as long as he can remember, Macchi and his four brothers and sisters had been playing as many sports as possible. Except for a brief stint of organized football, Macchi settled on baseball and basketball in high school. He twice earned Hockomock League Most Valuable Player honors in basketball and was a star player in both sports. With talent like that, it wasn’t surprising that college coaches came calling, including Brian Baptiste, head men’s basketball coach. “(Assistant Coach) Len Desautels first saw Jeff play and he told me the kid was a great player,” said Baptiste. “So I went
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to see him play the first time and thought he was OK. I saw him play a few more times and after a while I realized he was fantastic. I took me a few visits to really appreciate what he can do. He is a great athlete.” In his first season with the Corsair basketball team, Baptiste used Macchi off the bench, quickly realizing he had a gem. Macchi moved into the starting line up as a sophomore and has remained there ever since. Last year, Macchi was one of the keys to UMass Dartmouth’s 27-4 season which led to a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament’s Sweet 16. Macchi averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 2.1 assists per game and was named to the Little East Conference All-Defensive Team. When the Corsairs were knocked out of the NCAA tournament last March by DeSales, 67-59, it was only the beginning of a 48hour sports odyssey for Macchi. While his baseball teammates (including brother Joe, a graduate student and assistant baseball coach) were already on a plane to Florida for the opening of baseball season, Macchi returned to campus. He quickly traded in his basketball gear for baseball equipment and hopped on a flight to Florida. Less than 48 hours after playing
in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament, Macchi was in the starting lineup for UMass Dartmouth for its third game of the new baseball season. An 0-5 performance against Westfield State wasn’t the start Macchi was looking for but it didn’t take him long to adjust. A pair of hits and three runs batted in the next day was the beginning of a great baseball season. “Halfway through my second game I started to feel comfortable,” said Macchi. “I hadn’t swung a bat in weeks. It was hard enough to get into the weight room in between basketball and baseball practice never mind practice any baseball. But it was a trade off I was willing to make.” Once he found his swing, Macchi got up to speed quickly, hitting .375 in 36 games including a pair of home runs and 31 RBI. He also went 13-14 in stolen bases and did not have an error in center field. When the college baseball season was over in May, it didn’t take long for Macchi to climb up the competition ladder, signing a contract to play for the New Bedford Bay Sox in the prestigious New England Collegiate Baseball League. Facing some of the top collegiate baseball players from around the country was a challenge, especially facing top-notch pitching every night. But Macchi’s talents kept him in the batting order and led to a successful season for the Bay Sox. “Playing two sports is an accomplishment most people don’t get to do,” said Macchi. “When I tell people about my college experience I make sure to mention that UMass Dartmouth gave me that chance.” Jim Mullins is the Administrative Assistant/ Promotion & Public Information