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Sports

Ex-Skipper Normand Pitches In for Hofstra University

A former NKHS student is making his mark in college baseball.

At 5 a.m., Cody Normand is already up for the day and on his way to the weight room. Such is life for a Division I college baseball player determined to do everything in his power to make himself better.

It was only two years ago that Normand was finishing up his days at as a three-sport star athlete. During his high school days, Normand earned All-State honors for both football and baseball and was the steady floor general for the basketball team. But, it was on the baseball diamond that Normand left his deepest mark back then and where he now concentrates all of his athletic talents as a pitcher for Hofstra University in New York.

Last spring, in his first college season, Normand had to adjust to the much higher-level college game but with the added challenge of serving as a reliever for the first time in his playing career. He acknowledged that shifting from a starter to a reliever was change that was hard to swallow at first. 

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“I had to adjust quickly to the bullpen because in college it’s different,” he said. “How you do and how successful you are, it depends on whether they’re going to keep you around or not. So they told me they’d put me in the bullpen and I had to accept that and adjust to it as best as I could.” 

As a freshman, Normand compiled a record of 2-1 with an ERA of 10.96 in 15 appearances. He continued to work on his game over the summer pitching for the Elmira Pioneers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

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“[Last year] was a really big learning experience for me,” he said. “After a full college season and a full summer season under my belt out of the bullpen, I think I’ve got it down pretty good so far.” 

Although Normand had his fair share of bumps in the road that first year, he was comforted by the constant presence of his best friend and fellow NKHS alumnus David D’Errico, who is also on the Hofstra pitching staff. 

“We have great chemistry on this team but definitely having David here made it a much easier transition,” Normand said. “It’s been a lot of fun sharing the experience with him.” 

Long Island may be a long way from home but Normand remains close with Kevin Gormley, his high school coach and his biggest mentor in the game. 

“I could go on and on about how Cody was one of the best players I have every coached, and all the big games he won for us, but it wouldn't hold a candle to what he meant to our program and to me as a player,” Gormley said. “I will always remember Cody as one of the best leaders and toughest competitors I have ever come across in high school athletics.” 

Normand recalls Gormley’s steady guidance on maintaining mental toughness in the face of adversity and how much that advice has shaped him as a player. 

“That mentality is what I’ve gotten by on because I don’t have overpowering stuff,” Normand said. “Maybe I have a little bit of talent, but it’s really that focus on mental toughness that’s gotten me through a lot of obstacles. That’s all a credit to Kevin Gormley because me made me into the baseball player that I am today.” 

In response to that praise, Gormley said, “I think Cody gives me more credit than I deserve for his success. He would have ended up in the same position he was today due to his self-motivation. I may have been able to give him some insights as to what it is like to play college baseball, but Cody did all the work to get where he is today.” 

When the college season ends this year, don’t expect to Normand back around town anytime soon. He’ll spend this upcoming summer pitching for the North Fork Ospreys in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. In the meantime, he remains focused on helping his Hofstra team reach the next level. As for individual goals, Normand acknowledges that just playing for a program like Hofstra has already exceeded his wildest expectations. 

“When I signed my letter of intent, I kind of sat back and said ‘Wow, this is actually happening.’ It took about a week or so to realize that all the hard work had paid off and that I’ve fulfilled my dream of becoming a Division I baseball player and no one can ever take that away from me.”

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