Hall of Fame
Joe Serfass was a member of one of the most successful baseball programs in Little East Conference (LEC) history from 2001-04, pitching the Warriors to three LEC regular season and tournament titles, three NCAA Division III regional championships, and the 2002 NCAA Division III national championship. Eastern Connecticut posted an overall record of 163-44-1 during Serfass’ collegiate career.
A native of Newington, Connecticut, Serfass posted a career record of 34-4 with seven saves while registering a 1.64 ERA and 219 strikeouts to just 34 walks in 302.2 innings over his four collegiate seasons. To this day, he is tied for 19th in career victories and 20th in career in in NCAA Division III history. He earned All-LEC and All-Region honors his sophomore through senior seasons on his way to being a two-time All-American.
Serfass helped lead Eastern Connecticut to the 2002 NCAA Division III Championship as a sophomore, posting a 10-1 record with a 1.92 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 98.2 innings. He started in 11 of his 15 total appearances, firing six complete games and one shutout, which clinched the national title for the Warriors as Serfass scattered five hits over nine innings of Eastern Connecticut’s 9-0 victory over Marietta to clinch the program’s fourth national championship. He was named Second Team All-LEC and Second Team All-Region that season.
Serfass was named the LEC Pitcher of the Year in 2003 as a junior, a season that saw him go 9-0 with five saves in his 15 appearances while posting a 1.08 ERA over 66.2 innings of work. He did not allow an earned run in 25 post-season innings that spring, going 3-0 while completing two of his three starts and racking up 25 strikeouts and one walk. His 47.2 consecutive scoreless innings pitched from April 15 - May 23 of that season remain an NCAA Division III record to this day.
The righty was named an All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) for the first time in 2003, earning Second Team honors. He was also named a Second Team ABCA All-American as a senior in 2004 after going 10-1 with two saves in 15 appearances while registering a 1.42 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 95.1 innings. He was additionally named First Team All-LEC and First Team All-Region in both of those seasons. The Warriors nearly won their second national championship in Serfass’ final season, as they advanced to the 2004 national final.
Following his collegiate career, Serfass played professionally with the New York Mets organization from 2004-07, reaching Double-A as an undrafted free agent. He remains involved in athletics in as a physical education teacher and the head baseball coach at Windsor (Conn.) High School, which he led to a Connecticut “Class L” state championship title in 2022.
Serfass earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Eastern Connecticut in 2004 and went on to earn his master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University.