The latest New England Baseball Journal Podcast has a heavy Fairfield University theme. Coming off a season in which the Stags finished the regular season with a record of 33-1 and earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional At-Large bid, head coach Bill Currier and ace pitcher Mike Sansone discuss the way in which the historic season will impact the future of the program.
“Every time I went out with my assistants Brian Fay and Jordan Tabakman this summer, everyone knew who we were, where we were from, and who we have back,” Currier said. “You’d have to have your head buried in the sand to not see the year we put together. We beat Arizona State and advanced to the NCAA Regional final. Not every team in New England gets that opportunity.”
Currier has led Fairfield through its best decade in program history. In his 10 years, he’s led the Stags to three MAAC regular-season titles, one conference tournament title, two NCAA Regional appearances and five 30-win seasons.
“The first thing I had to do when I came here was change the culture,” Currier said. “The culture was to get out to practice whenever you could. As far as summer league, three guys were playing. Now, everybody who is eligible plays summer league. We want to bring in a more serious athlete and a better athlete.”
Sansone is coming off a great summer on the Cape with the Bourne Braves. He earned Cape League All-Star honors and finished the regular season with a 4-0 record and 2.07 ERA. At Fairfield last spring, he finished with a record of 9-2 and 2.58 ERA, earning All-MAAC First Team honors.
“I’ve always prided myself on having confidence and a mindset that I’ll be the best player on a baseball field,” Sansone said. “That helped me through the years of high school and going through the college years. I was fortunate to play in the Perfect Game league before college, and that really helped with my transition. Getting that experience before college helped in my development.”
Currier will continue to recruit players like Sansone who are willing to work tirelessly to achieve team and individual goals.
“We’re looking for kids in successful organizations, whether it’s AAU or high school,” Currier said. “We’re looking for kids who have played at a high level and challenged themselves against good pitchers or good hitters. We’re looking for guys who have won state championships. We’re looking for people who are competing against the highest level they can. When they get here, we push them to try to get better, and they accept that.”
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