TAMPA, Fla. – Senior Nick DeTringo’s path to the University of Tampa Spartans baseball team has not been straightforward.
But his ability to seize opportunities and adapt to what coach Joe Urso needs has been crucial to his success.
The shortstop is batting .306 in 17 games played and also second on the team with 19 hits while adding 11 runs batted in.
DeTringo’s versatility allows him to play every position on the field that isn’t on the mound or behind the plate.
Without having the ability to adapt in the squad, he may have never had an opportunity to become a regular in the lineup.
“Opening day I did not start,” DeTringo said, on the start of his sophomore season. “So I was ok … it’s fine … I’ll get my chance at some point. I just have to take advantage of it.”
It wouldn’t take long before he got that chance.
“On opening day our centre-fielder broke his thumb, dislocated it. Immediately I said ‘Coach I can go play outfield if you want me to,’” said DeTringo “I figured I could play outfield and infield which opens up a lot for us.”
The versatility of his game has allowed Urso to adjust lineups as needed.
“It makes my job a lot easier when I write lineups because you know you want DeTringo’s name in there,” said Urso, at practice on Thursday.
“But you may have an outfielder who’s hot who you want to see so now you can move DeTringo to infield on that given day or an infielder guy whose hot then you can move DeTringo to the outfield.”
Having not played pitcher or catcher, the senior hopes to add both positions to his experience before the season is over.
“I would love to get all nine in,” he said. “it’s very rare to get all nine in ever so I would love to do it on my senior night.”
DeTringo and the Spartans are having a dominant year so far with a 12-5 record, but the ultimate goal for the season is much higher than that.
“Always the ceiling for Tampa is a national championship, that is actually not even the ceiling that’s the floor and that’s what we’re expected to do every single year… what every person in this program expects us to do” said DeTringo.