One would be hard-pressed to find a hotter bat these days than the one being swung by Joe LaCivita.
As of Thursday, the College of DuPage (CoD) sophomore infielder/outfielder is 10th in home runs with six, 11th in slugging percentage at .775, and 12th in doubles with 12. The team plays in Division III of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
For good measure, LaCivita also is 24th in RBIs with 31, 25th in total bases with 69, and 50th in hits with 37. He boats a .416 batting average and a .486 on-base percentage.
LaCivita told the DuPage Policy Journal that he has a lot of confidence at the plate.
“Pretty much all I do when I go up there is think about putting on a good swing every single time I see a good pitch to hit, and the rest takes care of itself,” he said.
LaCivita is in his first year at CoD after transferring from McKendree University, where he went following a stellar career at Downers Grove South High School that saw him earn All-West Suburban Conference and Honorable Mention All-Area honors. In his senior season, he notched a .394 average to go with three homers and 30 RBIs.
After a freshman season at McKendree in which he batted .225 with one homer in 40 at-bats, LaCivita decided a move closer to home was in order.
“I really wasn't where I wanted to be right there as a baseball player,” he said. “I decided to come to CoD to really hone my baseball skills as a hitter, as a fielder, as a thrower — pretty much just an overall baseball player.”
For LaCivita, it is hard to remember life before baseball. Some of his earliest memories include playing league T-ball and having a game of catch with his father at home.
Describing what he loves best about the game is a challenge.
“First of all, I can't really envision my life without it,” he said. “The second I'm done swinging a bat and throwing a ball, I'm picking up a clipboard and becoming a coach. I never want it to be out of my life.”
With this season being his only one with baseball eligibility at CoD, LaCivita will be moving on. He said he still is looking for his first offer from another school, but he is confident one will come through.
“As long as I keep having good games, having good at-bats, having good days in the field, the rest will take care of itself,” he said.
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