Sports athlete of the week

ARIC J. DAMA ‘13 Course II sophomore Aric Dama 
reigns as one of MIT’s top pitchers

Starting pitcher helps Engineers succeed this 
season with hopes for a spot at Regionals

Starting pitcher Aric J. Dama ’13’s emergence as an ace on the Engineers’ roster has been one of the dominant stories of the 2011 MIT baseball season.

Dama’s maturation as a pitcher over the past year has been crucial to the Engineers’ success. In his freshman season, he started five games, contributing 11 appearances in total. It was a “stressful” season, said Dama, as he struggled to prove himself. However, in the nine months after the Engineers’ season came to a close last May, Dama laid the foundation for this year’s spectacular season. Dama’s American Legion team (Wheaton, Ill.) reached the state finals last summer, and after putting in more work in the offseason this winter, he entered the season with renewed confidence. Dama began the 2011 season on a strong note, winning NEWMAC Pitcher of the Week honors in mid-March. He has continued to impress en route to a 4-1 record and the third-lowest ERA in all of Division III. Dama cited his ability to “control [his] pitches” as a major factor in his success this season.

The Engineers will be in action this weekend in the NEWMAC conference tournament as they hope to earn a spot in the regional championships.