Dan Bids Farewell

Although I may not break the record for most at-bats by a Cardinal, I can look back at the last four years and say that I had a lot of fun playing baseball at Saint Mary’s. To my mom and dad, Ben and Mayann Fiorentino, I just want to say thank you for the sacrifices you made to send me to school here. I would not be the student, player or man that I am today without your love and support. I thank you for always teaching me to look at the best things in the worse situation, and to never quit anything, even when things do not go your way. To my brothers, Benny, Nicky and Bobby, I am sure that you are all proud of the fact that you can say that you are related to me. Benny, the dead baccala, thank you for teaching me to be wise when spending money. I am honored and grateful to be your brother, and may your first child be a masculine child. Nicky, I always knew you would end up in jail, I just didn’t know if you would be an employee or an inmate. And I know you have had to work on Mondays many times. Bobby, I am glad that I was able to spend my first two years of college with you, and I know that through that time I carried you both academically and socially. In all seriousness my family is the most important thing in my life and I truly am nothing without them. I love you all. To my coaching staff: Coach Whaley, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your baseball program over the past four years, I will never forget them. Coach Ben “Jamin” Huegel, for the past four years I have seen you turn from a good coach into a great leader, and I know that one day you will be successful with a team of your own. Coach Trewick, we have only been together for one year, but in that time we have had a lot of laughs together, none more memorable than the time Pat was hit in the back with a baseball. Coach Pat “Patches” Jacobsen, I had a great time playing with you for three years and an at best, mediocre time playing for you (Just Kidding). I would also like to thank my past coaches, Cicallelo and Mollner. There will never be another player that can imitate all of you as well as I can. My coaches have played a huge role in my development over the past four years both as a player and a person and I thank them all for that. To my fellow seniors: Timmy, I truly hope that by the time this is printed you will have gotten rid of that utterly disgusting skin thing you had. We have had a lot of good times together over the past four years like “Hurricane Leetch” and I know that I have probably at one time or another gotten on every last nerve of yours. I would just like to say that although we may butt heads from time to time, I consider you like my brother. Cozzie, you and I may be the most like-minded individuals on the team in certain areas, like the “hammer”. Dave, it has been fun playing with you for four years and I would like to thank you because looking at your beard for the past couple of weeks has inspired me not to grow one. Stevie, maybe we can get together some time and eat a bowl of rocks. I’ve had a great time sharing the field (or the dugout in most cases) with all of you guys for the past four years. To the rest of my teammates: Matty “Flom Bomb” Popek, do you like movies about gladiators? Brady, remember me for the one who gave William H his name. Winks, you’re a good player, you just need to relax out there and have some fun. Kuhn, it is very hard for me to admit that we come from the same city. Grant, when we would stand next to each other it looked like the number 10. Tosh, thank you for showing me how to break someone’s arm. Kev, it has been an honor playing behind you for the past two years because you leave everything you have out on the field and the Rolling Stones are freakin SWEET. Petey, if you slam your helmet hard enough I am sure you will get a hit the next time up. Buj, the bump on the bump. Kreigs, you have been the brunt of many of my jokes and I just want to say that it was all in fun. Igou, I think if I saw you in a pool hall I would try to chalk your head. To Inge, Robbie, the Brandons, Alex “you don’t know” Schmidt, Kruse, Miz, Jeff, Gregg and anyone else that I might have forgotten. And past players, Cic, Robbie, Sethro, Josbuey, Rinker, Kittles, Ma”hairless”, Juice, Joe, Pat Chambers, Sho and Al Wurtzburger. Thank you all for the times we had on and off the baseball field.I would also like to thank the parents of the players, whether we were playing in Winona or Istanbul, there were always sandwiches and snacks for us between doubleheaders. I would like to thank Kevin for nursing me back to health when my foot looked like a piece of charcoal. I would also like to thank Donny, the best SID in college sports, who in all seriousness does a lot of work for Saint Mary’s athletic programx and I want to say that it has not gone unnoticed. There are a few others out there I would like to thank. The Atomic Bauml, I am sure you will be reading this at your girl’s house and there’s just one thing I want to say to you, why don’t you settle down? To my uncle Nat King Cole, The World’s Worst Underbite, No Torso, Sam Cassell, the Loon, Principal Anderson, Horatio Sanz and all the lambos at McCuddy’s. I thank you all. Everyone that I have mentioned has affected my life in a positive way over the past years and have helped to make my baseball experience at Saint Mary’s memorable.