Fittry enters his 5th season as head coach (7th overall) at Hilbert.
In the 2020 shortened season, Fittry led the Hawks to their first winning season in program history after finishing 6-5 during their spring break trip in Myrtle Beach. The Hawks saw great success offensively, finishing in the top 60 nationally in triples (9th), triples per game (15th), slugging percentage (26th), batting average (40th), on base percentage (43rd), stolen bases per game (48th) and stolen bases (56th) while averaging 8.0 runs per contest. In addition to their success on the field, the baseball program experienced great success in the classroom as well, posting a 3.16 cumulative team GPA for the 2019-20 academic calendar year. Their efforts in the classroom earned them the 2019-20 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award.
During the 2019 season Fittry helped guide the Hawks to a 3-1 record in Buffalo Cup play against crosstown rivals Medaille and D’Youville, while also establishing the first back to back season sweeps of Medaille in program history. Over the last 2 seasons, the Hawks are now 7-1 in Buffalo Cup action, marking their best 8 game stretch over their two crosstown rivals. The Hawks also set new program records in stolen bases (64), fewest stolen bases against (40) and stolen base percentage against (.741). The Hawks finished #1 in the AMCC in stolen bases during the regular season for the 2nd time in 3 years, while finishing #1 in runners caught stealing percentage (.417) during AMCC play. The most memorable moment of the 2019 season came on April 24th as Fittry became the all-time winningest coach in program history in a 5-4 extra innings walk-off win on senior day at home over Alfred State.
In 2018, the Hawks had their most successful season since joining the AMCC in 2005. The 2018 Hawks set a new program record with 8 wins in AMCC play and tied the single season overall wins record (11), propelling them to their second AMCC postseason berth in program history. During conference play, the team defeated nationally ranked La Roche on April 6th, marking the first win over a nationally ranked team in program history. The Hawks also ended a 36-game losing streak to Penn State Behrend that dated back to 1998 in a 2-1 win on April 9th. Fittry’s squad also swept both Buffalo Cup rivals, D’Youville and Medaille, for the first time ever in the same season. In addition, the Hawks set new single season marks in most triples (17), RBI (166), walks (125), saves (6), and tied the single season record for most home runs (10). Lastly, the Hawks finished in the top 3 in the AMCC in fewest walks allowed for the 4th consecutive season, the only team in the AMCC to do so during the span (all under Fittry’s guidance).
In 2017, the Hawks baseball program underwent a rebuild after losing many of the players that helped guide the Hawks to the postseason the year prior. While going through a major youth movement, the Hawks still managed to set some new marks for the program. The team found success during non-conference play as they notched seven non-conference wins, the most since 2009. The 2017 Hawks set a new program record, and finished at the top of the league in stolen bases (62), and tied the program doubles record (60).
In three seasons at the helm, Fittry has produced five AMCC All-Conference selections and the lone All-Mideast Region player in school history in Ryan Bonafede.
The former Division I standout has made his mark on the pitching staff since he joined the program in 2015, helping guide the team to two AMCC playoff appearances in the past three seasons.
In 2016, the staff came into their own as they played a major role in leading the squad to their first AMCC postseason berth. They showed their dominance amongst opposing hitters as they set program records in strikeouts looking (61) after establishing a new mark in 2015, while also garnering new records in lowest ERA (5.62), lowest opponent batting average (.325), most strikeouts per 9 innings (6.34), fewest runs allowed (243), fewest earned runs allowed (157) and most strikeouts (177). Their dominance reflected in the final AMCC rankings as they finished tied for 2nd in the conference in strikeouts per 9 innings while walking the fewest batters in the league (for the second consecutive season). The staff had their best finish ever in the AMCC in ERA as they finished tied for 3rd at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
In his first year with the team, Fittry sharpened his pitching staff as they established new single-season records in fewest walks per 9 innings (3.71) and posted the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.51 K/BB). The Hawks pitching staff also led the league in fewest walks allowed (99) for the first time since joining the AMCC in 2005.
Prior to joining the Hilbert staff, Fittry had a successful and rewarding baseball career at Niagara University. He was a four-year starter and a two-time MAAC All-Academic Selection for the Purple Eagles, leaving his mark on Monteagle Ridge. He started 12 games and took his first win (and the programs too) over an ACC power (Virginia Tech) while leading the team in wins his freshman year. Fittry opened his sophomore campaign going undefeated through eight starts and finished the season leading the Purple Eagles in starts, wins, strikeouts and innings pitched. He suffered a season-ending injury his junior year which motivated him to return his senior year on top of his game. Fittry took a no-hitter into the 6th inning (5.1 innings) to open the season against #5 Florida State in Tallahassee and finished the 2014 season with 10 starts. He finished his career ranked amongst the All-Time Leaders (3rd) in starts (39) and finished with 192.1 innings and 107 strikeouts in his career. Fittry also spent his summers playing in collegiate leagues throughout the country. He played for the Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League in 2011, the Herndon Braves of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League in 2012, and the California Glory of the Pacific West Baseball League in 2013. While playing for the Glory, Fittry went 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 50 innings and was a PWBL all-star selection.
In addition to coaching at Hilbert, Fittry has served as an instructor at Niagara University Baseball Clinics (2010-2014), Herndon Braves Summer Baseball Camps (2012), University at Buffalo Summer Baseball Camps (2012-2015), All In Sports Complex (2015), WNY Strike Zone (2017) and after the conclusion of the 2017 college season, Fittry spent the summer as the head coach of the Rochester Lake Monsters of the Interstate Collegiate Baseball League (ICBL). While serving as head coach of the Rochester Lake Monsters, Fittry coached Tanner Cooper who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 35th Round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
The Tonawanda native graduated from Niagara University in 2014 with a bachelor of science in sport management (concentration in sport operations) and a minor in gerontology. He currently resides in Grand Island, NY with his wife Meghan and son Brayden.
