Severino-Cronier set to become sophomore Purple Ace

Laval Pirates’ Neftaly Severino-Cronier (Boisbriand, Que.) is set for his second season with the Evansville Purple Aces.

By Jacques Lanciault

Last season, Neftaly Severino-Cronier took his first steps in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division I) wearing the colours of the University of Evansville Purple Aces Indiana.

The NCAA’s decision to end the season early in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the right-hander’s freshman season.

Back in Quebec this spring, Severino-Cronier took part in a shortened season with the Quebec Elite Junior Baseball League, acting as a late game reliever with the Laval Pirates.

The 20-year-old fared well. In eight outings with the Laval team, he had two wins, a loss and three saves. What’s more, Severino-Cronier registered no less 11 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings.

Back in Indiana this fall, the athlete from Boisbriand was unlucky. He was deprived of training for two weeks due to a quarantine imposed because there was a positive COVID test within his circle of friends.

But the Quebec pitcher still had the chance to participate in much of the fall season which took place at his Indiana University.

“We practiced all fall,” Neftaly wrote to us by email. “The measures put in place to counter the contagion here were simple: we had to take our temperature every morning and wear a mask during our weight training sessions.”

“We also played inter-squad matches, but I only pitched eight innings, since I was in a two-week quarantine since one of my friends received a positive test for COVID. “

The 6-foot pitcher, who tips the scales at just under 195 pounds took advantage of the few outings he had during the fall season to impress. Indeed, in eight innings, he allowed only one earned run while striking out eight.