ENFIELD, Ct. - Bryce DiPiero’s grandfather always told him that “lefty’s were special.” The Enfield High School senior is a believer after making a commitment to Central Connecticut State.

“I’ve wanted to play college baseball since I was 12 or 13, especially D-I,” DiPiero related. “I’ve had that dream and vision. My grandfather, Frank Saia, played at Harvard and then played in the minors. He passed away in 2017, but before that he was the guy to go to about the game. He was dedicated to coming to all my games. He was a lefty and always told me lefty’s were special.”

It is something the 11th-rated 2022 southpaw from Connecticut found out about Central mentor Charlie Hickey.

“He likes my offspeed pitches, my curve, slider and changeup, and I know he’s big on lefty’s,” DiPiero said about the veteran head coach with the Northeast Conference program. “I’m sure he likes that about me.”

Recruitment for DiPiero began sophomore year with video and emails.

“My first interaction with them was in the spring of junior year,” DiPiero reflected. “Eventually I talked to coach Hickey on the phone and went on a tour. We stayed in touch and then I had a game in Fairfield and I sent him a text and said, if he wanted, to come by. He came and saw me and two days later during a break at work I got an offer. Three weeks later I decided to commit to Central.”

Siena, Southern New Hampshire and Southern Connecticut State also had interest in the 6-2 175-pound left-hander, but the school where his mom went to college, just a half hour from Enfield, proved to be the eventual choice.

“I like that they’re a winning program and that it’s close to home,” DiPiero explained. “I like the atmosphere on campus and could see myself there. I like the coaching staff, coach Hickey and coach (Franklin) Jennings. I just felt it was the place for me and where I could see myself succeeding.”

Improvement proved vital in the 354th-ranked New England senior making a commitment to play Division I college baseball.

“I’ve been staying in the weight room almost every day,” the 17-year-old noted. “I’ve been doing weighted balls, long toss and arm care. I also like to see what others are doing and try to incorporate what they’re doing. I’m trying to be true to myself and working every day.”

It has translated onto the field.

“Now I have a lot of maturity on the mound and being smarter in situations with what to throw,” DiPiero said. “My velo is up and all my pitches have tighter spin and more spin. I have a better attitude and I’m a better pitcher. I just feel more mature.”

Travel coach Michael Spradlin, who DiPiero has worked with since freshman year, has been a major part of helping advance to the next level.

“He’s really helped me with my development,” the 28th-rated 2022 New England left-handed pitcher pointed out. “I’ve gone up 15 miles an hour through him. He helped with my recruitment as well. He’s done it all for me.”

Confidence grew with the improvement, and the realization that college baseball was in his future became apparent.

“I realized in looking around at others that I felt very competitive and could compete with older people I was going against,” DiPiero explained. “I began to understand what college baseball meant to me and that I could succeed there.”

A 3.4 student who is going to major in sport management, DiPiero is of the belief he can be a huge asset to the baseball program at the university in New Britain.

“I can bring a lot to the mound, get outs and control games to put us in winning situations,” DiPiero said. “Off the field I’m a good teammate to others. I’m a good guy to be around.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process had its ups and downs.

“Looking back it definitely went fast,” DiPiero noted. “It was slow with days nobody reached out but when a coach reached out it lifted my day.”

Now everything is all positive after making Central his future home.

“It was a feeling with a bunch of relief and happiness,” DiPiero said. “I know where I’m going and pursuing my dream of college baseball.”

The 175th-rated senior in Connecticut can’t wait to get to college.

“I’m looking forward to being around the baseball team, making new friends and playing college baseball overall,” DiPiero concluded. “I think it will be very fun.”