Junior infielder Dan DiBartolomeo is back swinging a hot bat for the WVU baseball team again in 2011 after missing all but eight at bats of the 2010 campaign following a serious shoulder injury. DiBartolomeo suffered a severely dislocated shoulder while warming up for the third game of the season last season.
"Last year at this time I never thought I would be back out here," DiBartolomeo said moments following his game winning, two run home run Sunday in a 6-4 Big East Conference win over Georgetown. "At one point I thought I would never be able to throw again pain free. Luckily it started to come around a little bit this winter and things have just worked out."
DiBartolomeo had a historic first season as a regular back in 2009 as he set a modern day school record by hitting .439 for the season in 55 games. DiBartolomeo’s 90 hits that season are tied for the 7th most all time on WVU’s single season list. So far this season, DiBartolomeo is hitting .342. He is second on the team with 42 hits and he is tied for the club lead with five home runs.
"There was a lot of rehab and I had to just keep my head up," DiBartolomeo said of the medial redshirt season he took last year. "Things have worked out nicely so far."
DiBartolomeo played outfield and third base prior to the shoulder injury. He was moved to second base prior to the start of this year as the throws from that position are a lot less taxing.
"I’ve played all over since I got here," DiBartolomeo says. I was a shortstop in high school so I think the middle infield suits me best. I’m hoping I’ve found a home at second base now."
The Mountaineers have won two of their first three Big East Conference series and at 6-3, WVU is in a three way tie for second place in the league standings. WVU. Louisville and St. John’s are all a game behind pace-setting Connecticut. The Mountaineers will play on the road for the third time in four league series coming up this weekend as they visit Notre Dame for three games.