Ryan Berardino hit .355 last season in his first year at Bentley University. He was named Northeast-10 Conference Rookie Hitter of the Year and to the All-Conference second team.
His early-season performance this year has been just as impressive.
Through 11 non-conference games in Florida, the 6-foot, 205-pound first baseman and marketing major from Sudbury is on pace to surpass his power numbers of a year ago. He had three doubles (one shy of last season) and nine runs batted in (four less than in 2017) and was hitting .327.
Berardino, 20, is the grandson of former Red Sox outfielder and team Hall of Famer Dwight Evans and of former longtime Red Sox minor league manager and major league coach Dick Berardino.
“I hadn’t seen Ryan play before the first time we spoke. It was like talking to a man mature beyond his years,’’ said Bentley’s head coach of 50 seasons, Bob DeFelice. “He’s unique and he’s going to be successful because Ryan is driven in everything he does.’’
Bentley is playing a four-game series in Lake Brantley, Fla., March 16-18 against the University of Bridgeport.
An All-Dual County League football player and baseball letterman at Lincoln-Sudbury, Berardino also played a post-graduate season at Cheshire Academy, helping his team win the Western New England Prep Baseball League title and earning All-Star honors.
Berardino’s father, Rick, was a varsity football, wrestling and baseball athlete at Waltham High and also wrestled at the University of New Hampshire. His mother, Kirstin Evans, played varsity softball and soccer at Lynnfield High and softball at Endicott College.
Q. What is your grandfathers’ influence?
A. After every single game I play I call each of them and go over my at-bats and game situations. I consider myself very fortunate. I see my grandfather, Dick, for dinner about once a week because he lives near the Bentley campus. I may not have their physical traits but I do have their mental toughness and game preparation.
Q. Your power numbers are better this season. How do you account for the improvement?
A. I had played most of last season with a painful broken wrist and was in a cast last summer and took the fall season off. Being healthy has made a huge difference.
Q. Who was your first baseball coach?
A. It was in the Sudbury Baystate summer Little League when I was 10. Our coach was Al Fordiani . His son, Gino, is my Bentley teammate. We also played Little League and high school ball together so I still see his dad.
Q. What is your favorite sports memory from high school?
A. Football under the lights on Friday. I was a defensive lineman and loved making a big stop. We were playing Waltham and ahead late in the fourth quarter when I made sacks on first and third downs. The game ended after the second sack.
Q. What did Kirk Fredericks, your baseball coach at L-S, emphasize?
A. Hard work and preparation. I have him to thank for being the player I am today.
Q. How important was your year at Cheshire?
A. It was unbelievably important. I was coming off right shoulder surgery and I had a chance to focus on my health and my grades. I had a great baseball coach, John Toffey, and great teammates.
Q. How is the shoulder now?
A. It still pains me and I have to play through it, but I’ve worked hard on strengthening it and there’s been improvement.
Q. What’s it like to play for Bob DeFelice?
A. I’m thankful to be playing for him. He took me in when other coaches wouldn’t because of my shoulder history. He appreciates my mental toughness and he has stuck with me.
Q. What do you envision for the future?
A. My main goal is to continue to play baseball after Bentley. If it doesn’t work out I’d like to work in a baseball-related business. My dream job would be with Fenway Sports Group.
Q. Do you have a summer league team lined up?
A. I’ll be playing with the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. I’m very excited especially after missing out on playing last summer.
MARVIN PAVE
Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com.
