Zamejtis Reclassifies, Commits And Now A Student At Maine

Joseph Zamejtis LHP / OF / The Winchendon School, MA / 2023

DANVERS, Ma. - Joe Zamejtis had little time to celebrate a college commitment.

The Winchendon School graduate, who reclassified from a 2024 to a 2023 in late summer, made the decision to attend Maine on Aug. 2. Before the month was over, Zamejtis was a college student.

“It was really really stressful after committing, with all I had to line up,” the 18-year-old admitted. “Before committing I didn’t want to make a mistake and was overthinking the process.”

There was strong interest from Dayton, UMass Amherst and Stonehill, with others like Merrimack, Fairfield, Central Connecticut State and Connecticut also in the mix.

“It all happened really fast,” Zamejtis explained. “I had a couple offers but my club coach got in contact with (head) coach (Nick) Derba and (assistant coach Scott) Heath at Maine. They saw me in late June, early July, and liked me. I worked out for them and I was offered as a 2024. That was my number one offer at the time. Then my club coach brought up the idea to reclass back to 2023. I liked that and ended up taking it in August.”

On Aug. 28, Zamejtis was a college student at Maine.

“My club coach, Rich Gilbride, believed I was ready and I didn’t want to waste another year when I could play in the American East now,” Zamejtis said.

The Winchendon School product is pleased with what he found at the university in Orono, Maine.

“I didn’t really want to be at a small college or a huge college, but I wanted to branch out and meet people,” Zamejtis explained. “I love the campus, the field and all the facilities.”

A commitment closed a recruiting process that heated up this year.

“In March I did a PBR event and did well,” Zamejtis reflected. “A few coaches reached out from that. They loved my frame, but I had no time to tour colleges that were further from New England. Maine is 3-31/2 hours from home which is good for me. It has a New Hampshire type environment which I like, it’s not highly populated.”

Zamejtis, who gave credit to Derek January with helping in his baseball journey, has made strides in his game to become a Division I commit.

“I’m realizing who I’m facing in the box and not overthinking, whether it’s a Vanderbilt commit or a D-III commit,” explained the fifth-rated 2023 left-handed pitcher in New England. “I mix my pitches in every count with every player.”

Doing that at the college level is, admittedly, exciting to think about.

“I’m going to bring a lot of positivity and intensity to the program on and off the field,” Zamejtis said. “I want to help the guys win an American East championship for the third year in a row. That would be cool. Making sure everyone has each other’s backs will help.”

Already taking classes at Maine, Zamejtis is pleased to have his recruitment in the past.

“I thought about it a lot,” Zamejtis said. “It’s a sigh of relief to have it over. That whole process was so stressful. I was only accepted to school on a Friday and was here on a Sunday. I had a bunch of paperwork to do. It’s all good and complete now, but relieving and stressful at the same time. I think Maine will be a good fit in the long run.”

The 63rd-ranked 2023 in New England has high expectations now that school at Maine has begun.

“I want to have a good academic year, staying on top of classes and meeting new friends,” Zamejtis concluded. “Whether I pitch less than 10 innings or more than 50 innings, I want to do my part. I want the team to ride the momentum of last year when they won the league. The end goal now is to get through to the Super Regionals.”