American East Conference

He can hit the fastball, hit the books and also hit the high notes. Since arriving on the Vestal campus two years ago, Binghamton University junior Brendon Hitchcock has truly done it all.

A Dean's List accounting student and an all-conference baseball player, Hitchcock truly embodies the essence of the well-rounded student-athlete.

"Brendon is just a remarkable young man," said baseball head coach Tim Sinicki. "He plays, studies and performs with a tremendous amount of passion and is unbelievably focused."

So as the University celebrated National Student-Athlete Day during a men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 18, it was only fitting that "Hitch," as he has become affectionately known, was on hand to showcase a talent other than his sweet batting stroke and knack for numbers; his love of performance.

"Theater and vocal singing have always been part of my life," Hitchcock said. "It's just something that I have always done and have enjoyed doing. The way I look at it, if you have the talent, it’s a waste not to use it. I was blessed with an ability to sing, so I choose to sing."

And sing he did, as the Laceyville, Pa., native took center stage before a crowd of 4,380 in attendance, as well as a regionally-televised audience at home, and belted out a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. While it may have been the largest crowd the Bearcats' first basemen has performed in front of, it certainly wasn't the first time he has been in the spotlight.

"I enjoy performing … period," he said. "Whether it's on the athletic field or the stage, it brings enjoyment to people and that's what draws me to it." As a teenager, he spent his summers as part of his local community theater, where he held lead roles in such celebrated musicals as The Music Man and Damn Yankees. As a member of a traveling quartet, he also spent time singing at nearby churches and community events.

When school was back in session, performing for 400-500 people was commonplace for the three-sport standout. Many a night, prior to handling opponents, he would first handle the microphone, gracing audiences with his boisterous baritone voice.

"There will always be some nerves, but once the time comes it's no different than stepping up to the plate," he said. "Once you have the bat or the mic in your hand, you know you’ve been there so many times before and you kind of just let go."

Since coming to Binghamton, however, the rigorous routine of a student-athlete, exacerbated in his sport due to travel-heavy schedules, has forced Hitchcock to put his love of the performing arts on hold, for the time being.

"Unfortunately, it has kind of had to be put on the backburner," he said. "I definitely miss not having the same opportunity to perform as often as I used to. But, that’s the sacrifice you have to make as a student-athlete. Without question, it is a part of my life I will look to reinvent down the road."

While the Binghamton junior might have to wait to resume his commitment to the arts, if the past year has been any indication, don't expect him to stray too far from the limelight.

Even as his record-breaking sophomore season caused a stir on the diamond, it's been in the classroom where he has turned the most heads.

Just over a month prior to the start of last spring's baseball season, Hitchcock flexed his academic muscle finishing second overall, along with four School of Management classmates in the PriceWaterhouseCooper extreme accounting (xAct) competition.

The national competition, which took place in New York City last January, pitted Binghamton's quintet of management students against some of the country's most premier programs. Coming from a small Pennsylvania town, this experience left quite the impression.

"It really opened my eyes to the world of business and the accounting profession in general," he said. "To be able to meet and speak with high-level executives from one of the nation's largest and most renowned accounting firms was just incredible. It was definitely an experience I won't forget anytime soon."

Like many of his peers, Hitchcock was unsure about which field of study to pursue when he first arrived on campus. Having enjoyed past success in accounting while in high school, he conceded it was at least worth a try. Today, he speaks of his chosen field of study with unmistakable confidence.

"Early on, I wasn't positive whether it was for me," he explained. "This experience has truly showed me that it's much more than just sitting at a desk doing trial balances. Being able to witness the hands-on side of the trade has really helped give me confidence that accounting is the way to go."

In addition to the prestigious accounting honor, this past year the Bearcats' first baseman's exemplary academic standing has garnered national recognition as this past year he was the lone underclassmen selected to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District I first team. Hitchcock was one of just four infielders chosen from District I, which encompasses seven states and five Canadian provinces.

With such an exhaustive list of accolades and senior year right around the corner, his post-graduate opportunities are seemingly limitless. For now, however, the reigning conference batting champion, award-winning accounting student, and gifted vocalist, has no intentions of rushing into any decisions.

Instead, in lieu of the recent success America East players have found in the MLB Draft (11 players have been drafted over the last two years), his focus is centered squarely on exploring his prospects for a professional baseball career.

"It's something that every kid dreams of growing up," Hitchcock said of his baseball aspirations. "I feel fortunate to have come this far as it's obviously what I am working toward. It’s just one of those things not entirely in your control. You just have to take it one at-bat at a time and let nature run its course."

During the 2005 campaign, Hitchock played an integral role in the program's most successful season at the Division I level. He notched a program-best 73 hits, earning him the 32nd highest batting average in the nation (.399), and finished among the America East Conference leaders in virtually every major offensive category. On paper, it would certainly appear there is little for the junior to improve upon in 2006.

Thanks much in part to the addition of first-year assistant coach and former Milwaukee Brewers associate scout Ryan Hurba, however, Hitchcock finds himself ready to embark on a brand new challenge this spring.

Despite finishing among the conference leaders in slugging percentage (.546), he has yet to showcase the prototypical power associated with the first base position.

While the damage he has done at the plate over his first two seasons at Binghamton certainly cannot be ignored, Hitchcock recognizes that adding that extra power edge to an already impressive offensive arsenal would go a long way in heightening his attractiveness at the pro level.

"After hitting like I did last year and coming off a very successful summer, I knew that if I really wanted to give myself a decent shot, it was something that I at least would have to experiment with," he said. "Coach Hurba has helped challenge me to take what I've done and begin to push myself that much further this season."

Typically more of an average hitter, his primary focus has been on developing a new mental approach that will allow him to open things up and begin to swing for the fences a little more.

"I can't force it if it’s not there," he said. "But are we going to at least push some buttons and see what happens? You bet."

If pro ball ever does ever become a part of Hitchcock's future, you can bet it will have just as much to do with his strong baseball lineage as it does his ability to hit for power. His grandfather spend time in the minor leagues with the Mets organization during the early 1960s, and also enjoyed a 37-year high school coaching tenure, which before his retirement, even included a year as Brendon's skipper. In addition, his father played college baseball and has recently taken over the high school coaching reigns once held by the elder Hitchcock. Growing up with essentially two coaches in the house clearly made its impact.

"While I was fortunate to get the genetic part of the game, I think what they passed onto me more than anything else has been the mental understanding of how to play the game," he said. "Without question, if not for them, I wouldn't be where I am today."

With such gratitude and understanding, it is no wonder the humble upperclassmen aspires to be a presence both on the field and off.

"As a junior, I feel it is my responsibility to take on more of a leadership role this year in motivating players and becoming a strong presence in the clubhouse. On the field, the power part is just to see if it's something that might happen for me. If it doesn’t, I will just continue doing what I do."

Whether or not the power numbers or a career at the next level ever materializes, he will be at the forefront of a burgeoning Division I Bearcats program that is on a quest for its first-ever NCAA tournament berth.

"When I came here, I liked the opportunity to be part of a program on the rise," he said. "I felt there was room for me to come in and be part of something special. If we stay healthy, with the group of guys that we have, there's no reason why this can't be the year we take the next step."