Derek Grudinskas (2002)

Grudinskas was one of the most feared sluggers ever to wear a CCRI baseball uniform.  Twice an All-Region first-team selection (1989 and 1990), he forged his way into the record books with a mighty bat, especially on the 1990 team that went 28-10.  A designated hitter in 1990, he was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American after setting CCRI individual single-season marks at the time for hits (57), season hitting average (.467) and setting a career mark at the time for career average (.444).  He was the team’s leader in home runs (9), RBIs (46), Doubles (12) and walks (23).  Later he batted .459 at Framingham State College in 1991 and .402 at Bridgewater State College in 1997, helping the team to the NCAA Division III World Series.  After that, Grudinskas was named to the MASCAC All-Stars and Mid-Atlantic All-Regional Tournament Team.  In the Boston Park Amateur League, he was a player-manager for Palmer Mobil Club and was a six-time All-Star in1993.