With a 15-game hitting streak and a .369 batting average, Dan Milano is performing just the way the baseball team needs their senior tri-captain to in order to exceed expectations this season.

The Huskies were picked to finish eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the pre-season coaches poll, but currently sit in third place (12-9, 8-6 CAA) thanks in large part to Milano. The catcher was named CAA Player of the Week after batting .714 in the Huskies’ three-game sweep at James Madison last weekend.

Milano went 10-14 in the three games with two home runs, eight RBIs and five runs scored, earning him The Northeastern News Player of the Week honors. Despite playing well, he said the game of baseball keeps him modest.

“This is such a humbling game,” he said. “You can’t get too high when you’re playing well or too low when you are slumping because it is such a game of streaks. I just try not to get over-confident when I am playing well.”

Milano is one of three captains of a young NU team, but credits the team’s youth with much of this season’s success.

“Because we are such a young team the guys are like sponges,” Milano said. “Everyone is just soaking in the coaching and learning as fast as they can. There isn’t a lot of college experience on this team but guys like Frank Pesanello, James Donaldson and others are doing a great job.”

Milano came to Northeastern because of the competitive baseball program but also because it is close to Cumberland, RI where he grew up.

His father coached his Little League and All-Star teams growing up and both of his brothers play baseball.

“My brother Chris plays on the club team at Elon University and my brother Matt is a sophomore in high school and a catcher on his varsity team,” Milano said. “Matt is out to break my personal records.”

Milano’s father no longer coaches his sons, but does attend most of Northeastern’s games.

“He is at almost every game, home or away,” Milano said. “He is a realtor and gets to make his schedule so that he can travel and see most of the games. We are really close.”

Milano said he has been in talks with a handful of Major League teams but it is too early in the process to know where he will be drafted.

“I have talked to about 15 teams,” he said. “I am projected to go anywhere from the fifth to the 15th round but it will all depend on how I am hitting toward the end of the season. If I keep this up it should go well.”

– Erika Carrubba, News Staff