AUBURN - It's hard to keep up with Darin Mastroianni.

The Auburn Doubledays' second baseman was raised outside of New York City in Mount Kisco, where he played baseball until his family moved to Huntersville, NC after his senior year. He elected to attend college at Winthrop University in South Carolina before transferring to the University of Southern Indiana for his sophomore year.

Not only has Mastroianni played baseball in four different states, he happens to be, arguably, the fastest player on the Doubledays roster this season.

After leading the nation in stolen bases this past season with the Screaming Eagles, he is now leading the Doubledays in the category with seven. Heading into Saturday's game with Hudson Valley, Mastroianni's 18 runs scored and .367 on base percentage also lead the team.

Here he talks about having team success at the high school and college levels, individual success this season at college and some new experiences in Auburn.

You were a first team Division II All-American, first team All-Tournament in Division II, Conference Player of the Year and All North Central Region First Team last year with Southern Indiana. What was that like?

“It was a great honor and honestly, a part of the reason why I wanted to leave school this year, I can't really do much better than I did last year. It was a nice thrill and a nice way to leave college, I can't really complain about it.”

What was it like playing baseball in Westchester County?

“It was a lot of fun. Actually when I was a senior, we had a bunch of guys get drafted. It was six of us from the same class and had played in the same section. It was fun and it's great to see those guys do well. We went to the state semifinals, we won the sectional and regional title my senior year, so that was really fun too.”

How about playing for Southern Indiana?

“It was tough the first year, we were awful. We only won 18 games, but last year we were fourth in the nation and went to the College World Series, where we finished in the top four. It was a great turnaround and it was a lot of fun the last year.”

You led the nation with 64 stolen bases this last season. What goes through your mind when you're trying to steal?

“Just get a good jump on it. Once you get a good jump, you just hope you make it. Other than that, it's all downhill from there. You just have to hope that it works out.”

Did you ever play any sports other than baseball?

“Nope.”

Then where did your speed come from?

(Laughs) “As the years went on, I just kind of got faster and faster. It was one of those things where it's just God-given, I got lucky. I work hard in the offseason with my legs. There are things that I can do to make my legs a little bit stronger, but for the most part, I just got real fortunate.”

After playing in Mount Kisco, what is it like for you, coming upstate a little bit and playing in Auburn?

“It's nice. I played in Montpelier, VT for two summers and then in Saratoga last summer, so I'm kind of used (to the smaller setting). It's a nice change of pace to get away from the city area. It's laid back and the people here are good, so it's a nice change.”

You've spent two games playing a few innings in the outfield this season, how has that been?

“I'd never played the outfield in my life. It's one of those things where when draft time came, everyone said that because of the way I run, that I'd wind up out there because I can cover so much ground. I'm excited though, I kind of like it out there, it's a new experience and it's a challenge. It's more laid back out there than in the infield, which is kind of nice. It takes some work because it's a new thing. You have to step back and read the ball a little bit differently, but with time, it's not going to be something that's out of control crazy or anything. It's not like I'm going in to catch or pitch.”