Quick Hits: AJ DeMastrie

After leading the Big Green with a .266 batting average this past spring, Dartmouth College catcher AJ DeMastrie didn’t stray too far from school for summer ball this season, deciding to stick around in the Upper Valley to play for the Nighthawks.

A steady presence behind the plate, DeMastrie is also heating up at the dish, reaching base at least once in each of his last four games. 

The rising senior sat down with Nighthawks Beat Writer Thaddeus Sawyer to talk about receiving an education from an Ivy League school, growing up in Georgia and baseball cards.

Upper Valley Nighthawks: “Growing up in Georgia, what was the most surprising difference about New England when you first got here?”

AJ DeMastrie: “Probably an obvious one, but the winters. Winter was definitely a surprise. Being inside for most of the preseason baseball is different, but [I'm] getting used to it now and enjoying it a lot.”

UVN: “What's the biggest challenge of playing Division I baseball will also getting an Ivy league education?”

AD: “The balance is definitely tough. Freshman year was big for me to kind of just learn how to really work on my time management. 
Just being able to set a schedule and make sure I'm getting my work done while not taking time away from baseball. It gets a lot easier as you spend more time doing it.”

UVN: “How old were you when you started switch-hitting?" 

AD: “I've been doing it pretty much my whole life. I grew up in Georgia, [Atlanta Braves third baseman] Chipper Jones era, so kind of just always wanted to do it. Then I fully started switch hitting when I was 14.”

UVN: “What's your favorite baseball memory from growing up?”

AD: “Probably a senior in high school, went to the final four. A lot of fun. Played [against] a couple of my travel ball teammates too. Didn’t go our way, but it was a cool experience, fun run in the playoffs."

UVN: “What do you want to do once you're done playing baseball?” 

AD: “Not 100% sure yet. I know I kind of want to use the Dartmouth degree and probably go somewhere into the finance world. Not really sure what sector yet, but something along those lines.”

UVN: “What's your favorite activity off the field?”

AD: “Fishing. Big on fishing up here. I go with one of my teammates from school whenever we have free time, so that’s my go to."

UVN: “What's the biggest fish you’ve ever caught?"

AD: “Not very big. I would say my [personal best] is probably three pounds, maybe, pushing it. I just enjoy going out there.”

UVN: “Do you have a favorite TV show?”

AD: “I do. Me and my roommate from school, [former Nighthawks pitcher] Nate Isler, who was up here last summer, we just finished watching ‘Psych.’ We spent a lot of quality time watching that one.”

UVN: “How long did that take you?”

AD: “We were knocked a big chunk of it out during the preseason Once the season got going, it was a little harder. We started [at the] end of January, finished the last season in May, but we probably finished the first seven seasons by February.”

UVN: “Do you collect any baseball cards or any type of sports memorabilia?”

AD: “Me and my dad growing up, we were big on both of them. 
Big card collection, probably too big a card collection. I always love growing up too going to the games and trying to get autographs from different guys on big league teams.”

UVN: “What's your favorite card in your collection?”

AD: “More of a personal favorite card is, this year, I got a Red Rolfe baseball card and our field at Dartmouth is 
Red Rolfe Field. I think that one's kind of cool for me."

UVN: “Do you have a dream card for your collection?"

AD: “Not a baseball card, but my dad had the Michael Jordan rookie card growing up, and his dog ate it. 
That one would have been nice to still have around, but I guess that'd probably be it.”

UVN: “Do you remember signing your first autograph?”

AD: “I do. I was a senior in high school, and we had a bunch of kids always running around the field. After one of the games, one of the kids came up and asked me for an autograph, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. So definitely a cool moment, especially with me growing up being a little kid, trying to get autographs.”