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Subscribe to RSSA New Jersey teen who helped lead his team to the state playoffs has been awarded a college baseball scholarship. NBC's Ron Allen reports.
By Craig Stanley
NBC News
Austin Solecitto is in the middle of a stellar senior year. With the help of his 90 m.p.h. fastball, the left-handed Indian Hills Braves pitcher led his high school baseball team to a 16-6 season and they’re headed to the state playoffs.
The 18-year-old New Jersey native from Franklin Lakes, N.J., has easily become one of the top pitchers in his region, grabbing the attention of scouts across the nation.
While his above-average athletic ability is evident, there is something else about Austin that sets him apart from his peers.
Austin is deaf. He was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of two, after Austin’s parents, John and Gloria Sollecito noticed unusual behavior in their budding toddler.
“I used to think he just didn’t like me, ‘cause I’d call him and he wouldn’t come,” Austin’s father said. “I said, ‘Something’s wrong.’”
Before reaching the age of six, Austin had two implant surgeries to mitigate his hearing loss. Since then, Austin has adapted to his disability by picking up ways to enhance his communication skills, including lip reading and hand signals, especially while playing baseball.
Austin Solecitto says he is a 'typical average high school guy' who enjoys pitching.
“You wouldn’t really know he’s deaf,” said John Sollecito. “People think it’s, you know, a radio thing or he’s listening to an iPod. He’s exceeded my expectations as far as what I envisioned it was going to be like when he grew up.”
To compensate for his lack of hearing, Austin wears an external hearing device throughout the day. But it’s not always necessary. Austin says the ability to disable the hearing aid when pitching on the mound has ironically proven to be great advantage on the diamond.
“When I don't hear anybody -- the other team or the parents -- I can just focus that much easier on just hitting my spots,” he said. The focus pays off – according to ESPN, Austin achieved 67 strikeouts during the 2012 season.
That ability to focus, added Austin’s baseball coach George Hill, is an integral part of Austin’s aptitude.
“I think that is probably his biggest asset -- his composure,” said Hill. “The other team could be yelling, people could be yelling, I could be yelling, and he doesn’t hear you.”
Austin Solecitto's coach, and his father, describe Austin's extraordinary dedication and focus.
Austin’s accomplishments on the pitching mound – as well as in the classroom – have paid off. The heavily scouted pitcher, who also maintained a 3.7 GPA this semester, will attend Boston College this fall on a baseball scholarship. These feats come as no surprise to those closest to Austin.
“He’s been through a lot with his disability,” his brother, Mark, said. “Some things don’t come easy or as easily to him, so I think what that’s taught him is to stick with it and really persevere. I think that’s where he gets his determination from.”
Austin says he is just doing what comes naturally to him.
“I kind of think my deafness is overblown,” he said. "To me it’s no big deal, like, I just feel like any other person out there."
Now Austin hopes to make into a professional baseball league — a mission that both his father and coach support.
"He's a very special young man,” Hill said. “We'll be watching him and supporting him every step of the way."
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This was very inspiring & Jackson thinks this is totally cool!
My husband is deaf and didnt become deaf til he about 4 and had played ball too and play in college. I think it awesome as I see other deaf players even my son in law who a recruiting coach at a college had a deaf player too.
Impressive and a true inspiration to those of us who are hearing impaired.
Check out the film "Signs of the Time" about William Hoy and the invention of hand signals!
www.signsofthetimemovie.com
Good Luck :)
Give them hell pal.. cheers to you..of course they will steal like crazy against you..second baseman says throw him the ball..(what)..but if you pitch great no need to worry about any base runners!
Back in 1920's there was a pitcher who pitched a no hitter and hit a home run to win the game..in other words he didn't even need anyone else on the field.
Had 27 strikes outs!
Yesterday a guy in Ohio caught two home run balls..was back to back home runs..think about those odds!
Sure Mike, he didn't need anyone else on the field.... that is if he struck out every batter otherwise who was going catch the outfield fly balls and who was going stop the infield ground balls to throw the runner out ?
Think before you post.
My son plays with Austin. @ Mike227 his pick off move is NASTY!! In his first game this year, his no hitter would have been a perfect game except for two walks. He picked them both off. He has had 2 no hitters and a one hitter this year. If they get on base, the are getting picked off fast
I coached a deaf kind in high school. He did well but he didn't go pro or anything but good or this kid!!
What a wonderful story. Too few of these stories in the news and too many sensational crime stories. Can't wait to share this with the DHH teachers at my school! We look forward to what Austin accomplishes in the future.
Thank you so much for showing this tonight. My 11 year old has cochlear implants. She GRINNED from ear to ear. She got emotional too. Please tell Austin thank you for sharing his story. He must realize how important it is for other cochlear implanted kids to see their peers succeed. My daughter was implanted at 18 months. She takes her processors off when she reads her Kindle because she can focus more on the story. She thought is was awesome that Austin takes his processors off during the game. Hugs to the family! We are VERY proud of Austin's achievements.
Cindy, your post is a wonderful addition to this story. Thank you for sharing too. All the best to this young man and all the best to your daughter. Beautiful article.
Agree with mississippi guy. One of the reasons journalism like this is so important is to get the word out, let others, perhaps in more remote places, see what's possible. We've come a long way, from the isolated pockets of fear and intimidation. Now, almost anyone anywhere can come to understand that their possibilities need not be so limited.
Perfect Pitcher - an eye focused on the strike zone with no distractions.
What a wonderful story and so inspiring! As a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, I love to see and share stories like this with my students! It shows them that anything can be accomplished with hard work and perserverance. Way to go and good luck to you Austin. I look forward to reading about you in the future!
Here's the video with subtitles: #47527284 Would be nice if you could embed the player with subtitles on this page as well.
Could you please post an actual link? I can't find it. Thank you!
Great story. I'll be looking for Austin in MLB. The way his disability is also an asset kind of reminds of Aimee Mullins (youtube if you don't know her). It's an awesome thing how we are moving beyond our prior notions of what a "fully able" person is, and finding the remarkable things that can come from our differences.
The article doesn't mention his ERA, strikeout ratio, or won-lost record. A 90mph fast ball doesn't do you much good if your walking more then your striking out or losing more games then your winning. If a HS pitcher has an ERA close to or over 4.00 he isn't very good regardless of how fast he can trough the ball.
With that said I do wish the kid all the best in his quest for a major league career or whatever field he chooses to pursue.
do you realize, Weaver, that speculating like that doesn't jive very well with his college scholarship? I didn't know that D1 schools give baseball scholarships to chumps.
Maybe Bryce Harper, the so called wonder boy of the Washington Nationals, could take a lesson or 2 from this young man about how to behave like a professional and gentleman!
People with Disabilities are truly Blessed, They are Gifted in many other areas far beyond a person with No disabilities. It stems also from the Love and Care his Parents gave to him.. His hopes and dreams will all come true one by one. He is Blessed <3
So much wrong with this article. To start with he's not deaf. He's severely hearing impaired. If he's got the talent to go pro and maybe make the majors then good for him. He wouldn't be the first hearing impaired player in the Majors. If he is considered deaf and makes it to the Majors he'll be the 4th I can time of off the top of my head. Pete Browning (should be in the Hall of Fame but spent most of his career in the AA), William Hoy (known as Dummy Hoy in the 1890s (if you were German you were "Dutch" ie Dutch Leonard, if you were a redhead you were "Red" ie Red Faber, if you were Native American you were "Chief" ie Chief Bender, if you were Scandinavian looking you were "Swede" ie Swede Risberg or Walter Johnson "The Big Swede".)), Hoy and Luther (also called "Dummy") Taylor. An above average pitcher on the circa 1904 NY Giants. Dominant staff with Mathewson, McGinnity, Taylor and Wiltse.
Austin, if you are reading these comments, firstly, ignore cmulligan01 above. Secondly, you should probably get in contact with a friend of mine, Curtis Pride. He's been deaf since birth and played baseball in the Big's for Montreal, Detroit, LA Angels, Atlanta, NY Yankees and Boston. In 1996, sports history was made when Curtis became the first full-season deaf player in the modern era of Major League Baseball. Funny that cmulligan didn't mention him. Curtis is currently the Head Baseball Coach for Galludet University, the nation's only college for the deaf. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.
Yes, Curtis Pride is amazing!!!!! I have been a fan of his since he played Minor for the Saint Lucie West Mets (my hometown) in the early 90s. I got to meet him when I was 6 or 7 years old and get his autographs. I still have that ball and picture to this day! I followed him throughout his career and now I hope I can follow Austin through his career too. I LOVE baseball and I always love it even more when there is a deaf player involved!
I do have to correct you though John, Gallaudet is not the only college for the deaf- there is also the National Technical Institute of the Deaf in Rochester, NY. :)
Gallaudet is the only deaf UNIVERSITY in the world. NTID is not a 4 year college, graduates only get AA degrees. Also it is a branch under the Rochester Institute of Technology. Gallaudet University stands alone.
What Huh?
Great story. I hope the Red Sox are watching him, they always need pitchers.
Amazing. You are a great inspiration to us all. Waiting to see you in the Majors.
Go Austin!!!! What an inspiration to my sophmore son. He is also hearing impaired and plays baseball. He read the article and said, "just like me". He too pitches and plays high school and AAU baseball. I couldn't be more prouder of him... and Austin. When times were tough and he had to fight to get where he is at, it made him all the more determined to succeed. I wish Austin all the best in college and his baseball career....I know you will make it!
Ironically, videos about deaf people are not captioned for those who cannot hear..
Exactly. #captionTHIS
Ironically, the videos about deaf people are not captioned for those who cannot hear..