BROOKLYN -- Many big names from the baseball world attended the seventh annual Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) Gala in Brooklyn on December 1.

The guest list featured several current and former major leaguers, executives, and media personalities, such as Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, MLB's Senior Vice President of International Jim Small, and New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay.

Included among the award winners that night was Allegheny College freshman Dylan Fanelli.

As part of the foundation's mission to cultivate the next generation of Italian and Italian American baseball and softball players, the IABF honored eight student-athletes with college scholarships. The winners, including Fanelli, were invited to the gala for a formal recognition.

"I was excited, grateful, and honored to be named a scholarship winner," Fanelli said. "The IABF is doing such amazing things to grow the game of baseball in both the United States and Italy. As a scholarship winner, I am excited to help with their mission as a student-athlete and beyond."

Founded in 2016, the IABF is a 501(c)(3) charity that is "committed to the future of baseball and softball for Italian and Italian American youths on the high school, college, and professional levels." That includes sponsoring clinics and showcases, donating gear to youth organizations, and supporting the Italian national team, which is managed by Piazza and is competing in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Fanelli and the other scholarship winners at the gala were called to the podium and presented with custom jerseys. The 19-year-old admitted he was a little nervous about being in front of a large crowd that included notable faces from professional baseball.

"Seeing Mike Piazza in the audience, as well as a number of other former stars like Mike Pagliarulo and Frank Catalanotto, helped demonstrate how strong our heritage is and how many people are trying to grow the game of baseball," Fanelli said. "I was honored to be in the same room as some of my idols.

"One of the biggest thrills of the night was meeting Jim Small, MLB's Head of International. Jim has worked for 35 years to grow the game abroad, and I could only hope someday to make that type of impact on the sport."

IABF board trustee Chris R. Vaccaro called Fanelli the "perfect candidate" for a scholarship.

"Right away, we could sense his passion for being Italian American and the pride he felt in playing college baseball," Vaccaro explained. "After keeping in touch with him throughout the application process and learning more about Dylan's goals, it was a no-brainer for our committee to award him one of our IABF scholarships."

In addition to the monetary prize, Fanelli and the other scholarship recipients were named to the IABF's inaugural Student Leadership Advisory Council. The council aims to help students explore career opportunities in sports business and international relations and will connect them with industry experts. In October, Fanelli and his peers had the chance to speak with Gianmarco Faraone, the national team and coaching staff coordinator for the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball, via Zoom.

A native of Berkley, California, Fanelli traveled over 2,500 miles to Meadville, Pennsylvania, to join the Gators. Although he has yet to don the Blue and Gold on the diamond, the first-year pitcher and middle infielder is already working on his long-term plans. When his playing days are over, he intends on utilizing his Allegheny education and the knowledge gained from the Student Leadership Advisory Council to build an off-the-field career in the baseball industry, much like his father. For more than two decades, Steve Fanelli has worked in the Bay Area for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.

"I'd love to work either for a club, in the MLB office, or even abroad to contribute to the growth of the game," said the younger Fanelli.

Fanelli and the Gators are preparing to start the 2023 season with a three-game series against John Carroll University on Saturday, February 25, and Sunday, February 26, at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley, West Virginia.