CRESTVIEW — Roman Donofro is ready to start the next stretch of his baseball journey.
The 2013 Crestview High School graduate and his Valdosta State (Ga.) University teammates start practicing later this month for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Gulf South Conference. When Donofro takes the mound for the Blazers, he will be pitching for his third college team in as many years: He first played at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Ala. Last season, he was at Pensacola State College before ending up on the South Georgia campus.
Donofro said he never could have imagined this path. “It has been interesting,” he said. “I think I’ve grown up over the last couple of years. It has taught me a lot. I had a rough year at first at JD (Jefferson Davis), but then things got back going at Pensacola State.
"You don’t give up. You never know what’s going to happen and open up for you.”
'A GROWING UP KIND OF THING'
Valdosta is the farthest Donofro has lived from Crestview, but he’s adjusting.
“It’s been different; it’s my first time being off by myself (without knowing anyone),” he said. “Even my first year at JD, and at Pensacola … I was playing with my friends and people I knew. Being over at Valdosta … it’s been a growing up kind of thing, but I’ve enjoyed it.”
Donofro has noticed differences in baseball at a four-year school, too. “It’s a lot different than (junior college) because you have all ages playing,” he said. “We have 24-year-olds we are playing with … I think there is even more of an emphasis on the pitching staff and having a bunch of arms, because we play a bunch of games during the week. There’s a lot more depth.
"That’s the big difference: the pitching staff and the depth of the fielders.”
FINDING HIS PLACE
Donofro said the Blazers will use him as a relief pitcher. “I’m going to be a late bullpen guy — setup or closer; hopefully closer,” he said. “That’s my goal. That’s what I’m hoping happens for me — closing – which I have a pretty good shot at.”
Donofro said he consistently throws his fastball in the upper 80s and will occasionally hit 90 or 91 miles per hour with it. He still has a good curve, but he’s also picked up a new pitch.
“I’ve started throwing a slider since I’ve been in college,” he said. “That’s more of my out pitch now.”
FAMILY TREE
Dale Willis — Donofro’s grandfather, a longtime baseball coach and educator in Okaloosa County — played college baseball on William Carey University’s 1969 national championship team.
As long as he can remember, Donofro said, Willis has been his greatest resource on how to play the game.
“Just his knowledge — growing up and stuff — he’s where I’ve gotten everything from,” Donofro said. “He’ll still give me some little tidbits of information here and there.
“It’s been very helpful along my baseball journey.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Former Crestview pitcher ready to take the mound for Blazers