Dedication and Hard Work Pay Off for Talented Trio on the Mound
Three senior Cheshire Academy pitchers have committed to play for Power 5 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams in college, an achievement that is rare for one high school squad, said Head Baseball Coach Anthony Giano P’19,‘20,’23.
Garrett Snyder ’25 will head to Notre Dame, while Tyler Stone ’25 will play for Virginia Tech and Dan Margolies ’25 will take the mound for the Clemson Tigers.
“We’re proud to balance strong academics with high-level athletics,” Giano said of the Cheshire baseball program. “With three pitchers committed to ACC schools, it’s clear our baseball talent is top-notch. This success highlights the dedication of our student-athletes and the support from our coaches and faculty. We’re excited for what’s ahead, both on the field and in the classroom.”
Lefthander Margolies has been fielding offers ever since a Georgia tournament, where his fastball was clocked at 93 mph. He told The Clemson Insider he fell in love with the South Carolina campus. “I love Coach (Erik) Bakich’s philosophy, his whole philosophy of the way he coaches. Plus they’re also just a really great program for development. And that’s exactly what I was looking for.”
Snyder committed to Notre Dame after a weekend visit late last summer. With a 90-mph fastball, the righthander also brings a changeup and a slider to the South Bend powerhouse. Off the field, he plans to major in physical therapy and minor in business.
“Going to a private school has prepared me for being away from my parents,” the Unionville resident told Prep Baseball Report. “I’m excited to play in front of bigger crowds and to play under pressure. I enjoy that. I think that can help me be the best I can be.”
Stone, a righthander with a 91.9 mph fastball, hails from Hamden. He visited several teams with his grandfathers before choosing VT and told Prep Baseball Report he gives credit for his successful commitment to, among others Giano and his parents and grandparents.
“Nobody thought I’d be able to go D1, but I never doubted myself,” Stone said. “My family put a lot into this, including both of my grandfathers, one that lives three hours from Virginia Tech who I went on the visit to Virginia Tech with and the other who lives in Connecticut who was my uber for it all. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
The Power Five conferences are the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and the Southeastern Conference. The conferences are identified individually under NCAA rules as “autonomy conferences”, which grants them some independence from standard NCAA rules to provide additional resources for the benefit of student-athletes. They generally have larger budgets, revenue, and television viewership than other college programs.
CA’s powerhouse baseball program has been getting plenty of attention from the media in recent seasons, including a New England Baseball Journal story on the high number of college commitments this spring. Learn more about Cats baseball and all our teams, stats, and opportunities for students on the Athletics page.
