NORTH ANDOVER – Matt Sapienza chose Georgetown University over Northeastern University as a junior at Phillips Andover Academy.
That was nearly six years ago.
That decision was less about baseball, with the Northeastern Huskies program at a higher level, and more about geography.
In the end, he wanted to go away to college and there was opportunity to be part of Georgetown’s growing baseball program.
“It was a tough decision,” recalled Sapienza. “I really liked Coach (Mike) Glavine; the school is obviously great; and especially the baseball program’s recent history. For me, I wanted to get away from home for college.”
After graduating in 3½ years with a finance degree and starting his masters, Sapienza, with two years eligibility due to two medical redshirt seasons (elbow fracture and re-fracture), changed course.
He entered the transfer portal and last week he committed to pitch at Northeastern, which had its best season ever – 49-11, including an NCAA-best 27-game win streak.
“It kind of worked out perfectly,” said Sapienza.
“Coach Glavine and (pitching) coach (Kevin) Cobb said all the right things, about caring for not only the program but each individual,” said Sapienza. “I wanted to go somewhere where winning was consistent, having a chance to win a conference championship every year. That was huge for me.”
Sapienza’s college career at Georgetown wasn’t exactly a page turner, statistically, outside of a solid freshman year in which he opened the first month of his career with an ERA under 4.00.
Ready to take charge as sophomore, he fractured his elbow from stress. A year later, the same elbow fractured again, this time including screws. He also needed UCL repair (Tommy John surgery).
He returned 10 months later in time for senior year (as a sophomore red-shirt) and, well, it didn’t go as planned.
His senior season fell into three parts: bad (23 runs allowed in 22 inn.); really good (6 relief outings, 0 runs); and really bad (13 runs allowed in 4 inn.).
“I wanted to get back as fast as I could for my senior year and I probably rushed it; I wasn’t fully ready,” said Sapienza.
His stuff – low 90s running fastball, a strikeout slider to righties and changeup away to lefties – is real.
In fact, he got a late invite as a “temp” to the Cape Cod League, getting two outings for eventual champs Bourne Braves (3.2 IP, 2 R, 3 K), filling in for a few regulars that later returned for playoffs.
In fact, he got one at bat after the DH left the game due to injury.
Sapienza, who hadn’t taken an official swing at the plate since high school, ripped a single to left field, giving him a 1.000 batting average on the Cape.
“It was super fun, being a kid from Massachusetts, the Cape is always one of those places you want to eventually play,” said Sapienza. “I wasn’t there long, but I learned a bunch.”
Sapienza said he is officially 100 percent healthy as he preps for Northeastern’s fall ball workouts in just over two weeks. With four elite pitchers getting drafted and/or signed to pro contracts, there should be a chance for Sapienza to take on an immediate impact role on the mound.
Sapienza gave kudos to his former school, Georgetown, which indeed turned the corner with three straight 30-win seasons from 2022-24 under coach Edwin Thompson, who took over during the COVID year in 2020.
Last year was a struggle at 16-40.
“He’s a great coach and really made Georgetown into a gritty, tough program,” said Sapienza.
Sapienza now joins a long list of North Andover and Andover talent that have played at Northeastern, including current pitcher Ryan Griffin, and one of his best friends, closer Brett Dunham, both of North Andover.
Dunham is holding out hope of signing a pro contract for next year.
“Brett was a big help in the entire process,” said Sapienza.
As for a potential pro career, Sapienza is all-in, and hopes the Huskies experience does for him what it has done with so many others before.
“Trust in the process and preparation,” he said. “Baseball is one of those games; one day you win by 10 runs and the next day you can lose by 10 runs. It’s how you bounce back from adversity. I’ve had a lot of that in my career and I’m looking forward to getting onto campus and showing what I can do.”