Senior Jake Alfano announced his commitment to continue his athletic career playing baseball at Ithaca College on Dec. 29 via Instagram.
Alfano will compete as part of Ithaca’s Division III program which participates in the competitive Liberty League. The Bombers have consistently found themselves at the top of their conference and finished last year with an impressive 31-11 final record.
Alfano has played baseball his whole life and has always dreamed of competing at the college level. His journey to becoming a collegiate athlete started when “[he] was younger, practicing every day and traveling to tournaments and showcases around the country.”
When he became old enough to start the recruitment process, he landed on Ithica for multiple reasons. He said, “I felt like it fit me best academically and athletically, also I have two good friends who go there and love it.”
Ithaca College located in Ithaca NY, was founded in 1892 and has a student body of around 5000 according to ithaca.edu. Placed at the bottom of Cayuga Lake, the area is known for its scenic waterfalls and stunning landscapes.
Aside from the school itself, Alfano was attracted to their welcoming environment. He said, “The coaching staff was easy to talk to, and they seemed very inviting. Also, their style of coaching fits right in with my play style.”
Alfano has been part of the Westfield varsity baseball team since he was a freshman, which is a testament to how good of a player he is. Baseball head coach Jay Cook said, “He’s a four-year letterman and a staple of our lineup defensively, along with a great hitter, so he’s really everything to our team.”
Off the field, Alfano offers many other positive impacts to the Bombers. Cook said, “Jake gets along great with his teammates and they all enjoy being around him so that’s attributed to him.”
His impact will be felt immediately on and off the field. He said, “My goal for college baseball is just to have fun with my teammates while also competing for a national championship.”
However, before he moves on to the next level, he still has his senior season ahead of him. He said, “I’m most excited to compete for a county title and have one last season with the kids that I’ve been playing with my entire life.”
Alfano has one last chance to make his mark on Blue Devil baseball before going on to bring his talents to the next level.
