Former College of Staten Island Dolphins baseball pitcher John Esposito carved a place in history this month, earning his first professional win as he secured a victory for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
Esposito, a Staten Island native, wrapped up his Dolphins career at the end of the 2023 season. He spent five years with the CSI Baseball program and ranks among the all-time program leaders in numerous metrics. Most notably, he is top five for the Dolphins in innings-pitched and strikeouts. He also owns a share of the single-game strikeout record with 18.
Esposito, who debuted for the FerryHawks last season, got the start in the FerryHawks’ August 15 showdown against the Long Island Ducks, and left with a 3-0 lead after five innings. In his five innings of work, he allowed just three hits and struck out three. The win, the first of his professional career, comes just over a year after his debut with the Ferry Hawks in June of 2023. As was the case upon his arrival with the team, his former collegiate head coach and FerryHawks assistant Michael Mauro was there to take in the moment.
![Espo_FH1](https://csidolphins.com/images/2023/6/23/Screenshot_2023-06-23_at_12.14.57_PM_Y8Ifa_CSNl1.png)
“Watching John pitch in a professional game and earn the win for our team as I watched from the dugout will go down as one of the greatest moments of my coaching career,” Mauro said. “I couldn’t be more proud than I am tonight.”
For more on the Staten Island FerryHawks, visit their official Website.. Also, be sure to join CSI students, staff, and alumni at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park on CSI Night, Thursday, September 5, 2024.
– Courtesy of CSI Athletics