Extra Innings

By Patrick Bohn, May 31, 2023

Baseball seniors celebrated at midweek Commencement ceremony.

Seven senior members of the Ithaca College baseball team were treated to their own commencement ceremony on May 24, alongside faculty athletics representative Barbara Belyea and President La Jerne Terry Cornish.

(Photo by Ithaca College Athletic Communications)

Last Sunday, while some of his 1,160 classmates were walking across a stage to receive diplomas at Ithaca College’s 128th commencement ceremony, Mike Natua ’23 was 22 miles away, sprinting around the bases.

The centerfielder for the Bombers’ baseball team, Natua spent his graduation day at Wallace Field on the campus of SUNY Cortland. That’s where the Bombers claimed an NCAA regional championship by blowing out Cortland 15-0, thanks in part to his RBI triple.

Just like he — and the rest of the seniors — drew it up.

“We knew the regionals were going to take place over commencement weekend, so our goal was to miss graduation,” he said. “We had no intention of walking at commencement.”

Instead, a few days after slaying the Red Dragons, Natua and six of his teammates — Garrett Bell, Matt Chase, Zane Grimes, David Cifonelli, Kyle Lambert, and Gil Merod — traded their uniforms for gowns and took part in a graduation ceremony in Emerson Suites, where they received their diplomas and medallions from President La Jerne Terry Cornish in front of friends and family.

“As graduates of IC, you have received a first-class education by top tier scholars and educators. The world needs you now more than ever, so my parting words for you are to do good and to do it well.”

President La Jerne Terry Cornish

We are happy for all you have accomplished on the field and in the classroom, and happy to do this before you go onto the next round,” Cornish said to the team, referring to the Bombers’ Super Regional clash with Endicott College on May 26 and 27.

“As graduates of IC, you have received a first-class education by top tier scholars and educators,” she continued. “The world needs you now more than ever, so my parting words for you are to do good and to do it well. We are truly proud of you and will be cheering you on.”

Natua appreciated the sentiment, and the opportunity to graduate in front of his parents, who travelled to South Hill from Sparta, New Jersey.

“This shows that the college truly cares and wants to give us the time and respect for what we’ve done in the classroom,” he said.

“The leadership at Ithaca goes above and beyond,” said head baseball coach David Valesente. “This event shows President Cornish’s commitment and loyalty to the school and athletics, and it meant a lot to our players and their families.”