The game of baseball is full of characters. For confirmation, on game days, tune an ear to a half inning of the hooting and hollering that emanates from the Chico State dugout. Some of the loudest and wildest squawks and squeals over the past four years were for Tyler “Supa-Ty” Stofiel. In a program full of characters, Stofiel built his reputation on being a man of character, and in doing so, he became one of the team’s most respected leaders.
“From the moment Ty stepped on campus as a freshman, he made an immediate impact on the program. His work ethic on the field is only rivaled by his work ethic in the classroom,” said Chico State Head Coach Dave Taylor. “Tyler’s greatest asset is his character. I know him to be kind, loyal and hardworking. He is one of the people who shows up every day ready to practice and does what is asked of him. He never complains and always contributes to the good of the team.”
Stofiel started a remarkable 114 games behind the plate for the Wildcats over the past four seasons, earning a pair of All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honorable mention nods, three CoSIDA Academic All-America nominations, an Academic All-Region honor, and three D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards.
He started 38 games during the Wildcats’ remarkable 2017 run in which they finished with the best winning percentage in CCAA history at 34-4 and went on to win the CCAA Tournament title as well. Stofiel established himself as one of the top defensive weapons in the nation over the course of that double-banner campaign, and has remained so ever since.
A team captain in the three ensuing seasons—one of only two three-year captains in Taylor’s tenure as the team’s head coach—Stofiel has also served on Chico State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years.
Stofiel’s remarkable career culminated this week with two of the most prestigious honors available to a Chico State student-athlete. Last Thursday, Stofiel received the Bud Hanna Scholar Athlete Award during the 2020 California State University, Chico Student Leadership Awards.
Tuesday, Stofiel was named the 2020 CCAA Baseball Championship Scholar Award winner. The Championship Scholar Award is typically presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average at still playing at each CCAA Championship Finals site. For the spring of 2020, all CCAA baseball student-athletes received consideration for the award, and Stofiel rose to the top out of 350-plus student-athletes.
“Leadership and academic success are his true legacy,” said Chico State Director of Athletics, Anita Barker, during the presentation of his Scholar Athlete award.
Stofiel graduates next week with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and minor in management. He has already secured a job as an audit associate at KPMG following graduation. But he won’t forget his time in the baseball program.
“Thank you to my amazing coaches at Chico State, and in particular Dave Taylor,” said Stofiel during his Scholar Athlete Award acceptance speech. “He recruited me and took a shot on me as an incoming freshman and I’m so grateful that he did because that led to five years of amazing memories that I’ll have for a lifetime.”
All of his former teammates and coaches unwittingly helped make sure he can’t forget. He’ll have a reminder every morning as he looks into the mirror to tie his tie: the sound of them wildly shouting, “Supa-Ty!”
