SV's Mazzoni lands on his feet with Sliders
RALEIGH, N.C. — Cory Mazzoni will be back where he started — in Butler County.
The 2008 Seneca Valley graduate just wrapped up his freshman season as a right-handed pitcher for North Carolina State's baseball team.
This summer, he will be on the mound for the Slippery Rock Sliders, a summer collegiate team playing in the Prospect League.
Last winter, Mazzoni was close to landing a summer roster spot with the Madison (Wisc.) Mallards when he heard of the Sliders.
"I heard that Chase Rowe was coaching the Sliders and that he was looking for players, and it just went from there," said Mazzoni. "I'm really excited to come back home. I'm looking forward to it."
Mazzoni was a standout starter for Seneca Valley High, helping the team win the 2007 PIAA Quad A title as a junior and earning the WPIAL Player of the Year Award.
Rowe is no stranger to what Mazzoni brings to the mound.
"I've seen him pitch about 10 times," Rowe said. "He's got a nice fastball and he keeps the ball down in the zone.
"Everybody knows who he is," he added. "He's very professional the way he carries himself and he's got a bright future."
As of May 12, with three games against Clemson remaining on the schedule, Mazzoni was 1-5 for the Wolfpack with an earned run average of 7.07.
Four of his 16 appearances came in starts and he struggled earlier in the year, but Mazzoni got some good work out of the bullpen late in the season.
In his last four appearances, which covered nine innings, Mazzoni didn't give up a run.
That stretch included two innings and a save in a 3-0 win over top-ranked North Carolina May 8.
For the season, Mazzoni struck out 29 and walked 14 in 35X\c innings. His win came in a 10-2 victory over UNC-Wilmington April 7. The victory included six innings with five strikeouts and only four baserunners allowed.
"I struggled at the beginning of the season and that was hard to deal with," said Mazzoni, who has a fastball, slider, changeup and occasional curveball in his arsenal. "But, I'm staying confident and letting my own abilities take over.
"When I'm throwing well, I believe I can get any hitter out," he added. "My confidence is up."
With Slippery Rock less than half an hour from his home in Evans City, Mazzoni won't have to stay with a host family as long as the Sliders are playing at Critchfield Park.
As for what he hopes to accomplish this summer, "I've been told I will get to start," Mazzoni said. "I'm just looking to stay in shape, not get hurt and get some good work in against some pretty good hitters."
