Plymouth Whitemarsh seniors Jon Fisher and Zach Metz were recognized for committing to play baseball at the collegiate level.
Jon Fisher – James Madison University (Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: James Madison, Penn State, UNCG, Winthrop, William & Mary
Reasons for choosing JMU: “I enjoyed being on the campus, and they have a great baseball program.”
What was the progression that led you to playing baseball at the collegiate level? “I have always loved playing baseball, and it has been my goal to play at the collegiate level my entire life.
“I started thinking about playing in college around my freshman year of high school. The recruiting process started when I joined a team called the Evoshield Canes. They did a great job getting me in front of college scouts.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “For our team, 2013 was sort of a rebuilding year and wins were hard to come by. As a sophomore that season, Jon caught a lot of games for us and only began to see more time on the mound by the end of the season. It was there that he quickly showed a ton of promise for what could be ahead in his future. So, when 2014 came around, Jon was the one we looked to as we opened up our league schedule. Knowing that the previous season had been a struggle, our guys wanted to get off to a strong start, and Jon delivered that for us by throwing five no-hit innings against the defending league champions. On that early season afternoon, he showed that he has the ability to have one of the top power arms in our conference. Clearly others have seen that as well, and it bodes well for his baseball career beyond high school.
“Jon would end up battling some injuries after two strong starts in 2014, but what he had already accomplished was beginning to set the path for his future. Jon was selected for Team Pennsylvania in the Big 26 Baseball Classic following his sophomore season. This was a tremendous opportunity for him, and it was clear that he stacked up well among some of the best talent in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Jon attends every team strength and conditioning workout and dedicates countless hours throughout the year to becoming a better baseball player. This willingness to work and determination to succeed will bode very well for him as he progresses into Division I college baseball. But first, of course, we hope these attributes will help him to lead the charge for us this spring in his senior season.”
About Jon:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: Fast and Furious
Favorite music: Country
Zach Metz – Gwynedd Mercy University (Baseball)
Major: Elementary Education
Reasons for choosing Gwynedd Mercy: “It was local, it had my major, and I was going to play baseball.
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate baseball? “What led me to playing in college was the chance to play the sport I love and get a good education for a reasonable price. I wanted to play college baseball since I was little because I thought it would be so awesome to play for a school and represent them. The recruiting process started in August after my junior year. I got a call from Coach Murphy at Gwynedd, and I was instantly hooked after the visit.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “ I first met Zach at a summer baseball camp when he was probably only nine or 10 years old, got to coach him in his first year as a legion player, and have had the chance to work with him throughout his high school career. Zach has always been focused on being a good teammate and a player who gives every ounce at all times on the field. Zach is a rarity among the modern player. He loves the game of baseball, but still likes to spend his weekends casting his fly rod into the Skippack Creek, sitting all afternoon in a tree stand, or just cruising around in his F 150.
“His strong character, instilled in him by his parents, and his desire to succeed have propelled him into a very successful four years on the diamond at PW. Last year was a breakout year for Zach (his junior year). We knew he would help us on the mound, and he did. He posted a 3-1 record with an ERA of just 2.70. It was, however, his offensive production that took us by surprise. He battled his way up in the lineup quickly and ended up hitting .351 on the season while reaching base at a .393 clip. Perhaps most impressive was the fact that he struck out just once in 62 plate appearances. Zach was selected as a first team all league outfielder in 2014 and was selected for the Suburban One American/Continental Carpenter Cup team.
“The bottom line on Zach is, he battles. He steps up for us when his back is against the wall, and never wants to come off the field. We look forward to Zach leading our guys all winter with conditioning and weight training, and being a performance leader for us on the field as a senior this spring.”
About Zach:
Favorite food: Deer Meat
Favorite movie: Step Brothers
Favorite music: Alternative (Imagine Dragons)
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