The Unprecedented Legacy of Calvary Day’s Dom DeMas

The Unprecedented Legacy of Calvary Day’s Dom DeMasi

Dom DeMasi stands alone in the history of Savannah high school athletics. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound powerhouse, DeMasi became the first athlete ever to win the prestigious Ashley Dearing Award twice (in 2010 and 2011), an honor given to the city’s most versatile male high school athlete. During his senior year, he achieved the rare feat of leading Calvary Day School to Region 3-A East championships in three distinct sports: football, basketball, and baseball. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Gridiron Versatility: The Ultimate Three-Way Threat [2]

DeMasi was the Swiss Army knife for legendary football coach Mark Stroud, dominating games as a quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, and punter. [1, 2, 5]

• The Fierce Competitor: Stroud praised DeMasi's extreme toughness, highlighting a game where he suffered a severe ankle injury against Savannah Country Day but refused to sit out, playing through the pain for the rest of the championship season.

• Air and Defense: Played fluidly at receiver and defensive back earlier in his career—notching 19 catches for 250 yards and intercepting 4 passes to rank among the top defensive backs in the state. Defensively, he wrapped up his junior season with 33 tackles and 3 interceptions.

• Special Teams Weapon: Averaged 38.7 yards per punt, earning him Second-Team All-Greater Savannah honors as a specialist. [5, 6, 7, 8]

Hardcourt Intelligence: The Floor General

On the basketball court, DeMasi’s IQ mirrored his football position. Head Coach Jason Shell routinely referred to him as a "heady player, like a quarterback on the court." [5, 6]

• Postseason Run: He was a crucial piece of the Cavalier squad that advanced to the Class A Sweet 16.

• Complete Stat Line: Averaged 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game as a junior, adjusting to a well-rounded 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as a senior leader.

• The Enforcer: Renowned for his excellent spatial awareness, he used his height to act as a primary rebounder and paint-protector. [5, 6]

The Million-Dollar Arm: Baseball Elite

Despite joining the baseball team late every year due to deep basketball playoff runs, DeMasi was a dominant, flame-throwing right-handed pitcher. [1, 5]

• Blistering Pace: Possessed a live, heavy fastball that regularly topped out at 90 mph.

• Flawless Senior Season: Carried the Cavaliers to the State Class A Final Four by posting a perfect 6-0 record with a microscopic 1.25 ERA.

• Junior Dominance: Opened eyes the prior year with a 6-1 record, a 2.05 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in just 44.1 innings pitched. [1, 5, 6]

Multi-Sport Collegiate Career & The Pros

DeMasi’s historic high school versatility earned him a dual-sport scholarship to Valdosta State University, where he played both baseball and football. [1, 2]

On the collegiate gridiron, he locked down the job as an All-Gulf South Conference punter, helping Valdosta State capture a regional title. On the diamond, he exploded during his junior year with a 7-4 record, a 2.79 ERA, and 77 strikeouts in 80.2 innings. His elite pitching caught professional eyes, leading to his selection by the Cleveland Indians in the 31st round of the 2014 MLB Draft, fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. [1, 6, 9, 10]

For further reading on his historic high school awards, review the Savannah Morning News Ashley Dearing Feature. To see his college baseball statistical timeline, check out the official Valdosta State Blazers Baseball Roster.

[1] https://www.savannahnow.com

[2] https://www.savannahnow.com

[3] https://vstateblazers.com

[4] https://www.savannahnow.com

[5] https://www.savannahnow.com

[6] https://www.savannahnow.com

[7] https://www.maxpreps.com

[8] https://www.savannahnow.com

[9] https://vstateblazers.com

[10] https://www.milb.com

[11] https://www.aol.com