Player development and a few additions helped Plymouth Whitemarsh climb SOL American ladder
Plymouth Whitemarsh baseball wasn’t in a good spot two years ago.
The Colonials were wrapping up a third consecutive losing season without a District 1 playoff berth and were at the bottom of the Suburban One League American Conference standings with a 3-11 record.
But they were young. Those players have grown over the last couple years and now they’re celebrating an 11-3 season with an SOL American championship.
It’s the first league title for PW since 2005, when they shared the crown with Methacton. It’s the school’s first outright championship since 1996.
“We had kids who we knew were talented (in 2017),” PW coach Chris Manero said. “There were doubters. There were people that thought we weren’t playing the right guys, but we knew they would grow, they would mature and they would be ready. We started to see that last year and we’ve seen it this year. Not just in performance, but in the way they lead, the way they carry themselves and I think that has a lot to do with it. Then you sprinkle in a couple guys like Joe Jaconski, his brother Jesse, Ben (Mascio) — it’s just this great mix of guys who were here then and then guys who came in and helped along the way.”
The Colonials took a big step forward in 2018. They improved by five games to finish 8-6 in the league and earned a District 1 Class-6A playoff berth before losing, 5-3, to Avon Grove in the first round.
This year, PW got solid contributions from both its lineup and pitching staff to end its 14-year title drought.
Two everyday batters — Joe Jaconski and Kevin Reilly — hit over .400 and three — Mascio, Jesse Jaconski and Mike Orensky — hit .300 or better. Joe Jaconski led the team with 18 runs, 10 extra-base hits and a .442 average. Mascio had 12 RBI and Reilly knocked in 10 runs.
On the mound, lefties Mascio and Brett Bottinger split the 14 SOL American starts, with Mascio taking eight games. Mascio went 6-1 with one save. He allowed 32 hits in 49 1/3 innings. He struck out 66 batters to 10 walks and posted a 0.851 ERA. Bottinger was 3-2 with a save. He struck out 29 batters to 11 walks in 32 1/3 innings. He allowed 26 hits and posted a 2.165 ERA.
A lot of these guys were around to see the 3-11 2017 season. Mascio, Bottinger, Reilly, Anthony Tomassetti, Drew Kliesh and Jacob Nunez played varsity that season.
The upperclassmen helped turn the program around both on and off the field. They bought in, learning from the coaches and taking advantage of everything PW baseball had to offer, such as offseason strength and conditioning, fall ball and extra work during the season, and using the motivation from the down 2017 season to get better.
“The mentality around the team (changed),” Mascio said. “Everyone genuinely wants to win every game, every inning.”
Other players came later.
Seniors Steve Gallagher (relief pitcher) and Orenksy (OF) moved to PW from Roxborough a couple years ago and the Jaconski brothers transferred from Springside Chesnut Hill this year.
“The addition of brothers Joe and Jesse Jaconski this year also showed that we can attract young men who are great kids, hardworking students and of course outstanding baseball players,” Manero said. “They have stepped in and become crucial pieces to our success.”
“It’s crazy,” Joe Jaconski said after beating Hatboro-Horsham to clinch the league title Wednesday. “I just transferred here. I came from another school. We lost in the championship. I came here just trying to help the team out. I’m with all my friends now.”
Manero believes Plymouth Whitemarsh’s academic reputation and state-of-the-art athletic facilities — such as the all-turf baseball field — have helped make the program stronger.
“I give our school district a lot of credit,” he said. “They have invested in the full student experience at a time when it seems like a lot of places just put all of their focus on cost-cutting and standardized tests. Our student athletes are lucky to live in the Colonial School District.”
The Colonials continue their season in the District 1 Class-6A playoffs. They have a first-round bye before getting a chance to avenge last year’s district defeat. They host Avon Grove Wednesday afternoon at Colonial Yards.
