Silvia Finds Pepperdine To His Liking

Cole Silvia SS / 2B / Canterbury, CT / 2024

WILTON, Ct. - The first trip to California will not be the last for Cole Silvia.

The Canterbury High School junior has committed to Pepperdine.

“On Jan. 21 I went to California for a camp,” the third-rated junior shortstop in New England reflected. “I had previously talked to one of their coaches. My travel coach, Mike Porzio, had set me up. I played super. I did well hitting and fielding and in-game I hit a home run.

“After that everything went quickly. Two days later I got a phone call and an offer. Going in January to California with it being 60 and sunny was pretty nice.”

Even the distance turned out to not be an issue.

‘That was the most intimidating part,” Silvia admitted. “I’d never been to California, but after the flight I saw it’s just a one-day trip.”

There was plenty of time to reflect on the 51/2-hour flight to Malibu.

“I was excited for the experience and just hoping to perform well,” Silvia related. “Seeing the school online and seeing the photos, I was excited to get out there to see it in person.”

The 15th-ranked 2024 in New England liked what he saw.

“Definitely the campus, it was obviously gorgeous,” Silvia said about what impressed him. “To see the water … you don’t get that often.”

There was more that stood out.

“I loved the coaches,” Silvia noted. “I liked their vibe, we connected well.”

The feeling was mutual.

“They felt I fielded the ball well and had smooth hands in the infield,” Silvia explained. “I hit well, going 2-for-4 with a single and a home run, and they like my speed. I stole four bags in two games. That fits their program well.”

Lafayette, which offered a week before Pepperdine, was another school being considered along with Penn, Northwestern, Georgetown, UMass Amherst and others in the northeast part of the country.

“The recruiting process alone is pretty stressful trying to figure out where you’re going to spend the next four years,” Silvia siad. “This summer is where it started. I hit over .400 in six tournaments. Before that I had nothing. I put my trust into Mike Porzio with Clubhouse. He knew the type of player I was and what schools I’d fit the best in.”

The thought of a future in baseball began early in life.

“As a young kid it’s everyone’s dream to play pro ball,” Silvia said. “Around 12U or 13U is when I first joined Clubhouse. That’s when the possibility began that I could make it happen. But it wasn’t realistic until last year. The summer before I wasn’t so great and questioned myself. Then I had a super year in high school, I was captain as a junior. Then this summer I did well in big tournaments and I knew I could make it happen.”

The 17-year-old credited work in the weight room for his improvement to help it become a reality.

“I put on 20 to 25 pounds of muscle,” the 6-0 175-pounder related. “That really helped me improve my game. Fly balls are now doubles and ground balls are now getting through. Taking extra reps that most people don’t do turned me from a sub-par player to one of the best on my team.”

To make a commitment was, admittedly, an amazing feeling.

“For me personally, it was a very surreal moment,” related Silvia, a middle infielder his whole life who is now working in the outfield to bring versatility to his game. “It was something I dreamed about growing up.

“But it was kind of a weird experience being by myself in the dorm room. I’m on the phone talking with Mike Porzio and then I got a call from the Pepperdine coach. Then I called my parents and they’re like, ‘no way.’ It was a very surreal moment.”

Still uncertain about a college major, the fifth-rated 2024 in Connecticut who carries a 3.9 GPA at Canterbury after transferring to the college preparatory boarding school this year, is excited about a future out in California.

“I’m looking forward to the competition,” Silvia said of playing at the West Coast Conference university. “Being a baseball player, you want to face the best competition. I’m also looking forward to growing as a player. Playing against some of the best kids in the country will help me improve as a player and person. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”