Radnor’s Jack Pachella is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week

The junior first baseman and pitcher has been a prolific hitter for Radnor this spring, batting 15-for-28 with four extra base hits and nine runs scored (as of April 18). He also is a productive hitter for the Philadelphia Angels of the United States Amateur Baseball League (USABL). Pachella, who started playing baseball at age 4, comes from a ballplaying family – his brother Alex played baseball for Hamilton College, and his sister Holly played softball for West Chester University. Radnor baseball head coach Mark Jordan said, “Jack is a player who is always thinking – he uses his head and his talent to excel.  As a hitter, he uses all fields well.”

 

Q: What do you think has been the most important thing you’ve learned recently regarding hitting?

 

A: I’d say confidence and patience are the most important things right now in regards to my hitting. Stepping into the box with a mindset that I am going to make something happen is a big part of being successful at the plate. I’ve also been paying close attention to the batters before me so I can learn as much about the pitcher as possible.

 

Q: Tell us a little about your baseball training during this past COVID pandemic year, the biggest challenges you faced as a baseball player, and how you dealt with those challenges.

 

A: One of my major goals in the offseason was to get bigger and stronger. I really focused on my ability to use all parts of the field and to work with what the pitcher gives me. Aside from completely missing my sophomore season, I’d say the biggest challenge was just finding a place to practice and workout. I did what I could at home, soft toss, tee work, and just grabbing any available family member to go throw. Fortunately, I was able to get back on the field with the Philly Angels in early June and began training with Athletes in Motion which was crucial in making up for lost time.

 

Q: Tell us a little about your role as a first baseman, working with your infielders.

 

A: My role as first baseman is to be reliable. I need the infielders to trust that I can make a play on anything they throw my way, which is something I am constantly working on and trying to improve. We have a great athletic infield – Duncan, Michael and Danny get to a lot of balls, and they won’t always have the time to make the perfect throw. I need them to trust that I will step up, have their backs and get the job done.

 

Q: Have you always been a first baseman? Who have been your biggest baseball mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you about baseball?

 

A: I’ve spent most of my baseball career on the left side of the infield or on the pitcher’s mound. This is actually my first season ever playing first base, so I’m still developing my first base IQ, working on my skills, and getting comfortable in the position, and hopefully you will see me back on the mound soon. I’ve been really lucky to have great coaches who care about me as a player and a person such as the Radnor baseball coaching staff and the Philadelphia Angels staff. At Radnor, you have the dynamic duo of Mark Jordan and Jim Balk. Coach Jordan is probably one of the most unique coaches anyone will ever have. He’s taught me that hard work can still be fun. Coach Balk loves the game of baseball more than anyone I know. He has taught me that no matter how much success you have, there is always room to improve. For the Angels, Con Aquilante has taught me the value of hard work, accountability, dedication, and most importantly, he reminds me that the quality of a person is always more important than the quality of a player. But my earliest and most important mentors are my parents and siblings who instilled in me a lifelong love for the game.

Q: Who is your favorite baseball player and why?

 

A: My favorite baseball player is Alec Bohm because he is a young Philadelphia Phillie who has made an impact right away with his great approach at the plate and the effort he brings to the game.

 

Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 22 for Radnor baseball – was there a reason you chose this number?

 

A: I was assigned No. 22 by the Philly Angels, and it just kinda stuck. Fortunately, it was available to me at Radnor because I honestly cannot imagine wearing any other number

 

Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.

 

A: On the way to the field, I like to listen to my music at max volume, clear my head, and just get pumped up. I like to get to the field a little bit early so I can do some bands and stretch my arm to get ready for the game. After I’m done throwing, I hop into the cage and focus on hitting the ball hard and getting my timing down.

 

Q: What do you think you might like to major in at college?

 

A: At this time, I’m not really sure what I want to major in at college – I am interested in business and marketing and possibly computer sciences.

 

Fun facts – Jack Pachella

Favorite book: Ready Player One.

Favorite TV show: The Office.

Favorite movie: Happy Gilmore.

Favorite athlete: LeBron James.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Winning Streak by Shaboozey.

Favorite team: Philadelphia Phillies.

Favorite place to visit: “The Jersey shore.”

Favorite pre-game meal: Wawa hoagie.

Person I most admire, and why: “I admire my parents the most because they are always there for me and always want the best for me.”

Family members: parents Michael and Carrie, brother Alex and sister Holly.

 

(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)