When Dominick Zangardi was looking for a place to play summer baseball before he heads off to Niagara University in the fall, he received some help from his future coaches.
That spot is only a few miles away from Niagara Falls, as he’s been playing for the Niagara Falls Americans in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.
Now he’s finding his footing as he transitions from high school to college baseball and getting used to the surrounding area.
“I wanted to play … really competitive baseball, get some ABs to get ready for the college year,” Zangardi said. “My coaches at Niagara helped me get set up here. So I get to know the area a little bit, be around and I think it’s going to really help get ready for the fall.”
The Dallas, Pennsylvania, native committed to Niagara University on Aug. 21, 2025, and is one of seven players committed to the Purple Eagles for the fall. The high school valedictorian decided to commit to Niagara because of his relationship with the coaching staff, the facilities and the school itself.
Through his time playing for the Americans, Zangardi has been spending time hitting at Niagara’s Bobo Field to try to get a feel for the dimensions of the field and how the ball flies there. He has been joined in those workouts by another of his Americans-Purple Eagle teammates, Matt Ganschow.
“It’s great to be able to work out at Bobo this summer, beautiful field and it’s great to become familiar with it and be able to work out with future teammates,” Zangardi said. “I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with Matt Ganschow, being on the Americans also and it’s great to work out with him and knowing him going in as an outfielder in the program.”
He is also learning about what Americans head coach Paul Wolf calls the mental toughness that is needed to play and have success.
Since he first committed, the outfielder has not spoken to head coach Matt Spatafora about what his role will be, but the incoming freshman is ready to do whatever it takes to get on the field.
One way he is helped in that goal is by playing for the Americans. As he spends more time in the college summer baseball league, Zangardi is facing more and more college pitchers with obviously better stuff than those he is used to facing in high school.
It is part of what he needs to improve upon before he takes his talents to Monteagle Ridge.
As a graduated high school senior, Zangardi was invited to play in the Pennsylvania East-West All-Star game on June 21 and put on the Dallas High School jersey one last time but he declined. He wanted to stay with his Americans teammates and continue to work to be prepared to hit the ground running in the fall.
“A lot of things went (into the decision),” Zangardi said. “We are short a couple guys and it’s a far drive back. I’m in a good rhythm right now up here, so I wanted to keep that going.”
This season, Zangardi is hitting .344 with one home run, one triple and eight RBIs. He also has three stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage this year.
“He’s done excellent for us,” Niagara Falls Americans head coach Paul Wolf said. “He’s one of our top hitters … (He) does everything we ask, good head on his shoulders, good baseball IQ.”
While Wolf had expectations for how Zangardi would play when the two first started talking back in the winter, the outfielder has surpassed those expectations with his play so far this season.
When he thinks about what he does well as a player, Zangardi noted his compete level and his offense. Despite only having three stolen bases this year, Wolf knows the most underrated part of Zangardi’s game is his speed. During his high school career, Zangardi had 30 stolen bases, including 11 as a senior.
Despite the fact that he was far away from Niagara in Dallas, Pennsylvania, Zangardi did pay attention to the past Niagara season. He was rooting the team on as they went on a run to a top-two seed in the MAAC tournament.
“It was great,” Zangardi said. “I was following them. They had a really good year. They got hot there and they lost a couple of tough ones in the tournament. But they had a really good year. I’m excited for what’s to come this year.”