Giampetruzzi Selected as No. 8 Recipient to Honor Sonny Nictakis

BOSTON, Mass. – Boston College head baseball coach Mike Gambino continued the tradition he started his first year at The Heights in 2011 by selecting a current player to wear No. 8 in honor of former player Peter "Sonny" Nictakis. At the annual Baseball Night in Boston, held at Fenway Park's State Street Pavilion on Thursday night, Gambino announced that senior Carmen Giampetruzzi would don the jersey for the 2018 season. Former Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez was the featured speaker and guest at this year's event.

Each season a player who has battled adversity and represents the best qualities of BC Baseball is voted by the team to wear Nictakis's old number. Nictakis was a two-time captain for the Eagles in 1998-99 and lost his courageous battle with Hodgkin's disease in the summer of 2000. Until 2011, his No. 8 had not been worn since 1999.

"Bringing Sonny's No. 8 back is something that is very important to me and one of the first things I wanted to do as head coach," Gambino said. "Wearing his number will be the biggest honor a player can receive in our program. It will be given to one player each year – the one that best shows the qualities that made Sonny such a great teammate, great leader and great friend.

"It has been awesome to watch Carmen's growth and development as player and as a person," Gambino said. "He had to work his way onto the travel squad early in his career and he always put the team before himself. His character, toughness and work ethic never wavered. He is a great role model within our program and an excellent representative to wear number eight."

Nictakis's was a two-year captain who earned the 1998 Jeff Keith Athletic Leadership Award and the 1996-97 baseball team leadership award. He graduated from BC in 1999 with a double major in English and theology. In the summer of 2000, Nictakis lost his courageous seven-and-a-half year battle with Hodgkin's disease. His spirit lives on in the BC baseball community with the Sonny Nictakis Fall World Series that is played every year.

Giampetruzzi was voted a captain to led the Eagles in 2018. The Manchester, N.H., native improved each season, culminating with a career-low 3.66 ERA as a junior. The left-hander made 16 appearances last year, going 1-1 on the year. He struck out 21 in 19.2 innings and allowed just 10 walks. His ERA was third among all BC relievers and he tied for third on the BC staff with 15 relief appearances. Giampetruzzi has a career 6.68 ERA with 27 Ks. He has earned the Athletics Director's Award for Academic Achievement and has been named to the ACC Honor Roll all three years of his BC career. He is also a baseball representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)

"Being chosen to wear number eight is a tremendous honor," Gimapetruzzi said. "Knowing everything Sonny Nictakis stands for – character, toughness and class – I try to represent that myself. I am excited to wear his number represent him and this program and our Birdball values."

Also at Baseball Night, former head coach Richard "Moe" Maloney was presented with the Eddie Pellagrini Award. The award is given to someone who gives back to the BC baseball program. Maloney took over for long-time head coach Pellagrini in 1989 after the 31-year skipper retired. He coached the Eagles for 10 seasons, amassing 191 wins. During his tenure at The Heights, Maloney began the annual exhibition game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers in 1993, a tradition that continues to this day. He also helped start the annual Baseball Beanpot, mimicked after Boston's historic college hockey round- robin tournament. The Eagles lead all area teams with 12 titles. Maloney, a 1960 Boston College graduate, led BC to six 20-win seasons and three Beanpot titles.

Since his days coaching on the diamond, he has stayed active in the lives of BC student-athletes' by assisting with community engagement opportunities. He is the BC Neighborhood Center liaison and the Moe Maloney Service Award is given each year to student-athletes who show a commitment to the local community.

No. 8 Recipients
2011 – Mike Sudol
2012 – Kyle Prohovich
2013 – Matt Paré
2014 – Tom Bourdon
2015 – Travis Ferrick
2016 – Johnny Adams
2017 – Johnny Adams
2018 – Carmen Giampetruzzi

Giampetruzzi Selected as No. 8 Recipient to Honor Sonny Nictakis

Players Mentioned

Johnny Adams

Carmen Giampetruzzi

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