By Rich Chrampanis
Recent Red Bank Catholic graduate David Glancy was about a month away from heading to Maryland and the junior college ranks before the door opened at Division I Saint John’s University. The talented outfielder saw his recruiting suffer as a result of an injury that sidelined him for nearly half of his senior season. But thanks to his teammate Vin Bianchi’s pledge to the Red Storm, the Saint John’s staff saw something special at First Energy Park in Lakewood at the Shore Conference championship when Glancy belted a three-run homer to left field and helped the Caseys to a championship. Now Glancy goes to a program that is a perennial NCAA Tournament team that features Colts Neck’s Mike Antico and now two prominent Caseys in Bianchi and Glancy. The Two River Times interviewed Glancy shortly after his commitment and the unlikely path to Queens.
TRT: How did this opportunity come about late in the summer?
GLANCY: Coach Brown from St. John’s has seen me play in the past and went to multiple games this spring to see Vin (teammate Vin Bianchi) play. He was at the Shore Conference championship game and following the game, he approached Coach Hausmann and told him he loved how I played and wanted me at St. John’s. Although I was committed to Harford Community College I knew how great of an opportunity this was for my future. Coach Brown called me and had Coach Hampton, the hitting coach come see me at a few of my summer games and wanted to make me become a Johnnie. Coach Hampton took me on a visit and I loved everything about the program and school. I talked with my mom and we both agreed how great of an opportunity this was for me and we were so grateful that it worked out.
TRT: Your injury (a broken hamate bone in your left hand) came at a tough time. You missed most of the opening month of your senior season. How did you keep a positive attitude and come back and be able to contribute to RBC’s Shore title?
GLANCY: Being told that I wouldn’t be able to play the first half of my senior year was one of the worst feelings I’ve had in my life. Growing up I never had any bad injuries that kept me out so having this injury at such a tough time really took a blow on me mentally and physically. Thankfully my surgery went well and within a month I was able to be back in the field with my teammates. We all worked so hard together in the offseason and Coach Jarmusz told us that the hard work in January will pay off in June when we have a dog pile. It didn’t hit me how much I missed being out on the field till opening day came and I watched my teammates take the field ready to show everyone how hard we all worked this offseason to win something special. My teammates, coaches, and teachers were all a big part of me keeping a positive attitude and I promised my teammates I would be there every step of the way no matter what happened. Coming back was hard and I struggled to get back in my groove but Mr. Bianchi told me to just have fun and enjoy every moment because it will be over before you know it. Eventually, I started to feel like myself and all I wanted to do was be back on the field and help my team as much as possible win a title. Winning the second Shore Conference Championship in RBC history was something so special for us and something I’ll never forget.
TRT: Do you appreciate this opportunity even more since it came so late in the recruiting cycle?
GLANCY: I was so grateful for the opportunity no matter how late in the recruiting process it was. It’s a great opportunity for me to play at a very successful Division I program and have a great chance to play professional baseball after. I already have a great relationship with the coaches and I’m just so blessed for this opportunity.
TRT: What do you like about Saint John’s and the baseball program?
GLANCY: I loved the baseball program and the coaches which is very important for me. St. John’s is consistently a great winning program and I felt that when I visited the school, I knew it was a great fit for me. Being in the city is something that I love about the school as well and I can’t wait to be there this fall.
TRT: How excited are you to join forces with teammate Vin Bianchi?
GLANCY: I’ve played against Vin when we were younger and when I found out he was going to Red Bank Catholic as well I knew something special was going to happen. Being around Vin over the past four years has made me a better player and most importantly a better person. We have the same passion for the game and I’m just so excited to take the field with him again for the next four years.
TRT: What will you remember most about your time at Red Bank Catholic?
GLANCY: The relationships I made with teachers, coaches, teammates, and Friends is something I will never forget. Coming to Red Bank Catholic was the best decision of my life so far because of how caring everybody was to me and the friendships that will last forever. Winning is tradition at Red Bank Catholic and to be a part of it for the last four years is something I’m so thankful for and shows how great of a school Red Bank Catholic truly is.
