Coach Corbin Quote: Curtis should be a big key to our success. He gained some experience behind the plate last year and should catch a sizable amount this year. He will be in the lineup regardless because of the way he handles the bat. He has very good strike zone discipline and can drive the ball. In addition he also gives us some depth at first base.

2008: Batted .317, with 13 runs scored and 13 RBI...Made first collegiate appearance against Arizona State (2/23), going 1-for-1 with two runs scored and a walk...Made first career start against Xavier (3/2), going 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored...Had perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, scored three runs and had an RBI against Louisville (3/4)...Scored two runs and had a hit against Illinois-Chicago (3/9)...Hit first home run of his career against Western Carolina (3/12), while driving in two runs ... Hit walk off two-run homer in bottom of the 12th against Middle Tennessee (3/26)...Came in as a pinch hitter against Austin Peay (4/9) and went 1-for-1...Tied a career best with three hits against Lipscomb (4/15) with two RBI...Was 1-for-2 against Western Kentucky (4/16)...Went 1-for-4 with two RBI against Austin Peay (4/22)...Started at DH against Florida (5/16), going 1-for-3 ... Hit .172 with a double, triple, and homerun in 30 games for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League over the summer.

High School: Tabbed the second best prospect out of Connecticut/Rhode Island by Baseball America entering the June 2007 draft ... Named a first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2007 ... Also participated in the Playstation All-American game ... Was a star on the baseball diamond as well as on the gridiron for New Canaan High ... Named first-team All-State in baseball 2005-07 and in football 2007 ... Helped lead baseball team to conference championship as a junior ... Quarterbacked football team to state championship in football as a senior ... Named the New Canaan Sportsman of the Year in 2007 ... Lettered four years in baseball, three in football and two in basketball ... Team captain in baseball for two years (2006-07) and one in football (2006) ... Enrolled at Vanderbilt over the summer.

Personal: Curtis Michael Casali ... Born 11/9/88 .... Son of Cathy and Louis Casali ... Has two siblings, Andrew and Chase ... Undecided on major... Favorites include Chipper Jones, Tom Petty, Third Eye Blind and the movie The Shawshank Redemption ... Favorite vacation spot is The Hamptons and Cape Cod ... Chose Vanderbilt because of the baseball program and academics and the position they will put him in to develop into the person he wants to become.