SENIOR WEEKS: Malvern Prep’s Offshack had (has?) big plans for Friars in 2020

The Malvern Prep baseball team is always one of the top squads in Pennsylvania, and the 2020 edition was to be no different.

With a solid pitching staff, headed by Tristan Corcoran, and a bevy of offensive stars, the Friars were poised to be the top team in the Inter-Academic League and a main contender for a second straight Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship.

One of those big bats was outfielder Connor Offshack, who hit over .350 last season with 32 RBI. Offshack, who is headed to play his collegiate baseball at Elon University in North Carolina next fall, is trying to keep a positive spin on not being able to play ball due to the coronavirus that has shut down the scholastic spring sports season.

“I really can’t even put into words how disappointing not having a senior season is,” Offshack said. “You wait your whole high school career to play your senior season and we felt we were going to have a real good team with a nice group of juniors and seniors, so it is definitely disappointing and hopefully we can still get out there.

“I am trying to stay ready because the season could start at any time. I am hitting off the tee and going to batting cages and getting my running in. And, a big part of the disappointment was when Coach (Fred) Hillard, sent us the letter saying our team trip to Florida was off. I was really looking forward to that trip and to not have it was brutal.”

Offshack was heavily recruited for college baseball and he said that the choice was easy to go to Elon.

“I just loved the coaches when I met them, and they have a great business program,” Offshack said. “And it was down south so I really like the warm weather and the conference they play in is a very good baseball conference so that played a part in my decision also.”