As a community college transfer, all Sean Proni ever wanted was a chance to play. Luckily for SF State's baseball team, they gave him that opportunity.

Proni has proved to be an invaluable offensive spark for the Gators this season, something they lacked during last year's less-than-stellar campaign when they finished 8-46-1.

"As a three-hitter, it's my responsibility to drive guys in when they're on base," Proni said. "I'm pretty comfortable in that role."
It shows.

With a team-leading 18 RBIs, the junior is not only one of the team's offensive leaders, but someone the Gators can count on with the game on the line.

"He's the guy we want at the plate during big situations," said Nick Nyman, Proni's teammate and roommate.

Proni leads SF State with 112 at-bats while striking out only 12 times. He is second with a .348 batting average. The junior is also fourth on the Gators in runs scored and is third on the team with a .446 slugging percentage.

Despite the infielder's impressive numbers, he knows it takes hard work both on the diamond and the practice field in order to improve. Proni can be found in the batting cages by Maloney Field at least two hours before every home game taking batting practice, something head coach Tony Dress thinks is not just beneficial to Proni, but the entire team.

"He's always down there [in the batting cages] getting extra hacks, and that can get contagious," Dress said.

Nyman believes his team's offensive specialist can develop even further as a player.
"He deserves it [the successful season] and he works hard at every practice. I think he can only keep getting better and better if he works at it," Nyman said.

Before Proni's success at SF State, the junior was first recruited by Sonoma State University in 2005, but never got much playing time. The Otters sent the Southern California native down to the College of Marin in 2007 to work on his game, but decided later that year not to give him a second chance at playing for the team.

"I really was never given a chance to play [at Sonoma State]. I guess I kind of just worked my way down south," Proni joked.

Dress, who coached at league rival Los Medanos College while Proni continued playing at the College of Marin, took notice of Proni and his abilities before he became head coach at SF State.

"We noticed that he swung a great bat and that he was a great offensive player," Dress said. "He plays with a lot of heart and leads by example."

So when assistant coach J.R. Bierly suggested to Dress that they bring Proni onboard before the 2009 season, the head coach approved.

"We had our eye on him for awhile," Dress said.

Proni is more than just content making SF State his third school of choice in four years.

"I like the big city. I just can't do small towns," he laughed. "I love our team. We do a lot of things as far as camaraderie is concerned, I just wish we could have won a few more games so far."

Though Proni has put his time at Sonoma State behind him, he can't help but push himself a little harder against his former team.

"I play with a little more intensity when I play against them," Proni said. "You know, just to kind of get back at them."

Dress won't go as far as admitting that his infielder has an axe to grind against his former squad, but did confess that a victory against the Otters would be a little sweeter for Proni.

"Sean brings it every game no matter who we play, but in his belly it's going to taste a lot better with a win against [Sonoma State]."