Biography
AWARDS
ALL-MAAC FIRST TEAM (2022)
MAAC ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM (2022, 2023)
CORAL GABLES REGIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM (2022)
MAAC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM (2021, 2022, 2023)
CAREER HIGHS
Hits: 4 - 3x, Last: vs Quinnipiac (4/23/23)
RBI: 5 - at Mount St. Mary’s (3/26/23)
Runs: 5, vs Marist (4/14/22)
Longest Hitting Streak: 11, 5/8/22-5/29/22 (.380 - 20-for-53)
2023 • SENIOR SEASON
•Played in 51 of 52 games, starting at center field in all appearances
•Batted .329 with 69 hits, leading the team in total hits
•Tallied 19 extra base hits, with a team leading 15 doubles, two triples, and 2 homeruns
•Finished tied for first on the team with 48 RBI
•Led team in stolen bases (20) and stolen base attempts (22), ranking 6th in MAAC
•Recorded a career high five RBI at Mount St. Mary’s (3/26/23)
•Batted .388 (7-for-18), driving in three runs, and scoring three runs in four games in the MAAC Championship (2 SB, 1 2B). Named to the 2023 All-Tournanment Team
•Led team in at-bats with 210
•MAAC All-Academic Team Selection
2022 • JUNIOR SEASON
• All-MAAC First Team selection
• MAAC All-Championship Team pick after hitting .556 (10-of-18) at the plate with six RBI and six runs scored in four tournament games
• Garnered Coral Gables Regional All-Tournament Team honors after posting six hits, four runs scored and two RBI in nine at-bats during contests against No. 6 seed Miami and Arizona
• Started all 54 games played at center field
• Batted .363 with 86 hits, tied for third most in a season by a Canisius player
• Tallied 19 extra-base knocks with seven doubles, four triples and eight home runs
• Finished third on the squad with 46 RBI
• Ranked third in the MAAC in RBI per game (1.15)
• Led team in both stolen bases (22) and stolen-base attempts (25)
• Ranked second in the MAAC in both categories
• Had 20 multi-hit performances in the last 32 games of the season
• Recorded a base hit in 24 of his last 26 contests
• Tied program record with five runs scored against Marist (April 14)
• Also recorded season-high four base hits in contest versus the Red Foxes
• MAAC All-Academic Team selection
2021 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
• Started in 16 of his 19 appearances
• Batted .283 with a double, triple and 11 RBI
• Was a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts
• Established career highs for runs (7), hits (17), triples (1), RBI (11), walks (4), on-base percentage (.328) and stolen bases (6)
• Stole two bases in back-to-back games against Iona (March 27 and 28)
• Registered first career triple against Niagara (April 7)
• Recorded career-high three hits at Niagara (April 14), going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in career-high three runs
• Also scored three times, drew two walks and stole a base in the matchup with the Purple Eagles
2020 • FRESHMAN SEASON
• Two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week (Feb. 18 and March 10)
• Recorded season-high two base hits on three occasions, including final two games
• Drove in one run five times, including in each of last three contests
• Clubbed first collegiate home run at Radford (March 7)
• Stole first base of career at Radford (March 8)
BEFORE CANISIUS
• Played six years of baseball at Liverpool
• Was a member of the 2017 Class AA state championship team
• Batted .343 in his career with the Warriors to go with 14 doubles and 22 RBI
• Hit .311 in his senior season with seven doubles and 12 RBI
• Made the All-Central New York First Team in 2018 and 2019
• Earned Seventh Team All-State and First Team All-SCAC Metro Conference in 2018 and First Team All-League in 2019
• Received Math Honors Award and Art Award from Liverpool
PERSONAL
• Son of Steve and Linda DeStefano
• Has one brother, Jeff, and one sister, Marissa
• Brother, Jeff, was a member of the Canisius baseball team
• Majoring in sports and exercise health care
