Royce Consigli, a student at Notre Dame College School, recently signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Pittsburgh, where he'll be headed in August. The University of Pittsburgh was one of seven U.S. colleges -- including the University of Georgia, George Washington, Virginia Tech and George Mason -- that offered the 17-year-old Welland native a scholarship. Consigli and his parents visited several of the universities, but after meeting with Joe Jordano, Pittsburgh's head baseball coach, Consigli knew where he wanted to play ball.

"Pittsburgh was the best fit. It kind of felt like I had the most connection there," he said. "I'm psyched. I'm ready to go."

Consigli said Jordano reminded him of his father, Thomas, who coached him at baseball until the age of 13.

Consigli's father said Jordano spent some quality time with the family and drove them around Pittsburgh for three hours, which really impressed him.

"The ones that give that little extra touch are the ones that really want you," the senior Consigli said.

Consigli, who plays outfield, received the City of Welland's Outstanding Achievement of the Year award for baseball in 2004 and again in 2006. He participated in the 2007 Junior Olympics in Jupiter, Florida, with a .727 batting average. Last summer he played ball with the East Coast Grays and the Niagara Rebels under-18 elite team. Consigli's .658 batting average for the summer of 2008 speaks for itself. In 167 at-bats he got 110 hits, including 17 home runs, 15 triples and 31 doubles, along with 79 runs batted in. Chris Snusz, a former professional ballplayer who runs the East Coast Grays, said Consigli is the real deal when it comes to baseball.

"He has a phenomenal work ethic. He works his tail off. Everything he's gotten is because of the amount of work he's put into it."

In addition to being a well-rounded athlete and an exceptional ballplayer, Consigli is also an A-student at Notre Dame, who plans to do well on the academic side of things while attending university.

"I think I might take a business program, maybe get into the business side of baseball later on," he said.

Consigli's baseball schedule, which included travelling to out-of-town tournaments, often interfered with his school schedule. He credits Notre Dame's principal Ralph DeFazio for allowing him to write his exams a week or two early at times so he wouldn't have to miss his games.

"I really owe it all to my dad, Chris Snusz and the entire Notre Dame staff," he said. During a small celebration held recently for Consigli at Notre Dame, principal DeFazio honoured the young ballplayer.

"He's everything a principal could want," DeFazio said. "He's one of the most respectful students we've ever had."

Consigli said his father got him started in baseball when he was a child. His grandmother, Susie Albano, said she remembers when as a three-year-old Royce would bat his plastic baseball over her house on Golden Boulevard.

"The neighbours would laugh," she said. "They knew right then and there he had potential."

Grade 12 Notre Dame student Royce Consigli recently signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Pittsburgh.