Hagan plays baseball in Italy

Nick Hagan
    Nick Hagan, son of Dennis and Billie Jo Hagan of Houlton, left on a flight Monday that will expand his education culturally and athletically.
    Hagan is in Italy with his father, as part of the ACIS (American Council for International Studies) and America’s Team, to tour the country and learn its culture, while playing baseball.
    “I was recommended by Kevin Ritter of Coast to Coast Athletics, who is a former college coach,” said Hagan, a first baseman.
    Players need to be recommended by a professional coach or athlete.
    “I’ll be gone for eight days, and I’ll play six games (three double headers),” Hagan added.
    Yesterday morning, Hagan and his father arrived in Rome to meet other group members and their 24-hour tour manager. They will visit the Colosseum and then check into the hotel and enjoy an afternoon of leisure.
    Today, the group visits will include Vatican City, where a local guide will show the students and guardians the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
    After lunch, it’s time for the team’s first double header in Acilia to play against the Cali Roma and afterwards enjoy a post-game party with the hosts before having dinner at a local restaurant and returning to Rome.
    Thursday, the group will tour Montecatini with an excursion to Orvieto en route. Take the funicular (a cable railway) up to the historical center and admire the view of the surrounding Umbrian countryside. That evening arrive in Montecatini for dinner and an overnight stay.
    Friday, the group will take a walking tour through Florence and after lunch, the group departs for Sesto Fiorentino. After warmups, the team will play its next double header against the Padule baseball team, followed by a post-game party and dinner together with the hosts before returning to Montecatini overnight.
    The weekend will be split among leisure — a day on the Mediterranean at Versilia beaches —  and playing their third doubleheader against the Bollate baseball team. After the games, Hagan and his fellow teammates will enjoy another post-game party and dinner with their hosts. They will then head back to the hotel and check-in and stay overnight in Milan.
    Monday will be a free day of leisure in Milan either taking a walking touir through the city or spending the day at Lake Como before heading back to the United States on Tuesday.
    “I wanted to go [to Italy] because I love baseball and I want to see all the stuff that Italy has,” said Hagan. “I can also get educational scholarships from going on the trip.”