It took Steve Vitale a few stops in college before he found his way onto the Oklahoma City University baseball team.
Vitale, a senior from East Meadow, N.Y., played for four schools prior to making a home at OCU last season. Vitale is this week’s Super Star of the Week after batting .583 with a home run, three doubles, a triple and four runs scored in three games last week.
“This is my fifth school so I have tons of experience,” Vitale said. “A lot of guys go through college with three coaches, and I have had like 15. It has helped me pick up things along the way. I see what works and doesn’t work. It has helped me out a lot.”
Vitale has improved on a successful junior campaign last season with an even better year as a senior. He leads the offensive attack for the Stars this season, batting .421 with a team-high in hits (67), home runs (17), RBIs (63) and slugging percentage (.887).
Vitale said his father, Paul, was a major influence in his decision to play baseball growing up. The elder Vitale played college baseball for Binghamton.
“Growing up, we also played catch in the yard and went down and hit and stuff,” Vitale said of his relationship with his father. “He definitely steered me in the direction.”
Vitale also recalls growing up in New York during the Yankees’ run of World Series titles in the late 1990s.
“I went to a lot of games,” he said. “I grew in the 90s when they had the dynasty, so it was really fun. I went to games with my uncle and my dad all the time.”
As for the Yankee player he most looks up to? Vitale says he doesn’t necessarily root more for a particular player.
“I like all of them, I don’t have one guy that I really pull for,” Vitale said. “I like watching A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) play, and I am a big fan of (Mark) Teixeira. I like the way he goes about the game.”
To see this week's OCU Athletics Update, click here.
More on Steve:
Nickname: Vito
Funniest person I know: Brad Riddle
Person whose brain I’d like to pick: Bill Belichick
Which is best, Chipotle, Moe’s or Qdoba: Moe’s
Dream car: Bentley
