North Penn softball coach Rick Torresani reached the 400-win milestone last Thursday with the Knights’ win over Central Bucks West. (Photos provided by North Penn softball)
Rick Torresani is passionate about softball, and the North Penn coach has turned his love of the game into a remarkably successful career as a high school coach, winning four conference titles in the last seven years and a district crown in 2012.
“With Rick, softball is everything,” said North Penn assistant coach Ellie White. “He knows how to motivate, he knows the game so well. He probably should be coaching in the college ranks somewhere because he’s that good, and he just enjoys it and loves it. He is softball 24-7, and he’s just great at what he does.”
The veteran coach recently reached the 400-win milestone with 320 of those at North Penn and 80 prior to that at Bishop McDevitt, but as much as he loves softball, Torresani is even more passionate about the ‘family’ he’s created during his 21 years at the helm at North Penn.
“The best part is the kids and my assistant coaches,” Torresani said. “My coaches have been such a big part throughout the years, and the kids keep you going. They’re good kids, and the parents are great.
“I bleed blue because it’s such a good environment to coach. A big part is Bill Bartle – he’s been so supportive of me for years since he’s been AD. That man has taken a load off me so many times. I owe him immensely. North Penn loves their athletics, and they treat their coaches well. It’s a great place to coach.”
Vicky Tumasz is one of numerous former players who came back to coach under Torresani.
“I don’t even know how to describe it – he is just so caring and appreciative of absolutely everything you do,” she said. “Even when I went to college and switched from playing softball to playing basketball, he was so supportive of it. He came to all my home games.”
The 2014 grad coached the junior varsity for three years after she completed her basketball career at Chestnut Hill College.
“You’ll get a text message every so often and when spring comes around - I know he always asks former players if they want to come to a practice and see the girls,” Tumasz said. “That can’t happen right now because of COVID, but that’s how it started. He’s willing to welcome anybody into the North Penn family. Once a Knight always a Knight.”
Senior Mady Volpe, bound for Coastal Carolina on a softball scholarship, is the leader of this year’s squad that has a two-game lead in the SOL Colonial Division standings with four games remaining.
“I think what makes him most effective is he is really part of family,” she said. “At North Penn, we consider every person, every player, every coach part of a family.
“I think the family aspect and just the culture that he’s provided and shaped in this high school has made him successful as a coach. You can see from his record and his 400th win – that’s just insane as a coach. I’m proud of him and everything he’s accomplished here.”
Beyond the wins is the genuine concern Torresani has for all of his players.
“The thing a lot of people don’t see is the big heart he has, and you know what – he probably doesn’t want it out there that he has a big heart, but he does,” White said. “He only wants the best for the kids, and that’s one thing he has not budged on since he started.”
His players echoed similar sentiments.
“He expects a lot out of us, but he wants what’s best for everyone, and everyone knows that,” Volpe said.
“He’s just everyone’s biggest cheerleader, biggest fan,” Tumasz said. “It’s hard to find people like that these days, so knowing that he’s always going to be there for you, he always cares for you – it’s nice to have that kind of support in your life.”
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