Pittsfield High senior Kevin Donati, flanked by his mother, Paula, and grandfather George 'Buddy' Pellerin, has signed with the University of Albany to play Division I baseball.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High senior Kevin Donati was a strong enough baseball player to draw interest from a number of Division I colleges.

 

But the standout shortstop had a strong feeling about the D1 program just a short drive from home.

 

"Albany was just amazing," Donati said on Thursday afternoon. "The campus — I got that butterfly feeling on campus. It was just amazing. I can't even say it."

 

Donati let his pen do the talking earlier in an afternoon ceremony in the high school's lobby.

 

Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and classmates, Donati signed his NCAA National Letter of Intent to attend the University at Albany, N.Y., with a scholarship to play baseball for head coach Jon Mueller.

 

Donati joins an elite group of student-athletes who have come through the Generals' program for legendary Pittsfield coach Bob Moynihan.

 

"Kevin obviously is a great athlete and puts his name up there with a bunch of other great athletes who have come through Pittfield High," Moynihan said during the ceremony. "In my 37 years associated with Pittsfield High baseball, this has only happened six times — that one of our players has gone on to play Division I baseball. And certainly Kevin's scholarship is one of the best that's ever come out of Pittsfield High."

 

Donati said his scholarship includes the full cost of books, 50 percent of tuition the first year, 70 percent his sophomore year and 75 percent his junior and senior years. As with the vast majority of Division I programs, UAlbany divides its NCAA-mandated number of scholarships across its roster.

 

Donati hit .521 with 38 hits and 22 RBIs as a junior last spring, helping Pittsfield finish 15-6.

 

Add that to his smooth play at shortstop, and he was a natural target for college programs, including the University of Rhode Island, University of Massachusetts at Lowell and American International College in Springfield.

 

"It's a fun process," he said of the recruiting process. "It was an amazing opportunity, an amazing experience, and I had a fun time with it.

 

"Albany just stuck out as a perfect fit for me. It's somewhere I can see myself truly succeeding both academically and athletically."

 

Donati said he is undecided on an academic major, and athletically he figures to learn a lot from UAlbany's current shortstop, Karson Canaday, who will be a senior next spring.

 

He said the baseball program at the New York school stood out as he he weighed his options.

 

"The coaches were just very supportive, they have a strong history, and it's somewhere I can see myself grow as a person and as a player," he said.