On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, Quakertown seniors Cody Barberio, Cole Mehrman & Matt Tuley were recognized for committing to continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level. To view photos, visit the Photo Gallery.
“This year we are fortunate to have three guys going on to play at the college level,” coach Jon Pallone said. “The national average for high school baseball players going on to play at the next level is actually three out of 50, and we have three out of six (seniors) right here to start, so our program is a pretty competitive program. These guys have been in the program. If you look at the size of these guys, you can see they get at it in the weight room as well. We like to hit the ball far, throw the ball fast, and that doesn’t just happen. It’s a credit to all the work they’ve put in.”
Cody Barberio – West Chester University (Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Bloomsburg, Farleigh Dickinson, University of the Sciences
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “Just going on my overnight – West Chester was the first school that reached out to me. As soon as I went on my tour, it felt like home right away. They have a winning mentality – obviously, they won a (national) championship.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I began playing baseball at a young age and I tried out multiple sports,` but I knew baseball was something I would want to invest the most in and could see myself doing moving forward. I worked hard and as I became more mature and understanding of the world, I realized I had the capability to compete in college while also maintaining my academics to prepare me for the world outside of baseball. As I got older I had multiple tribulations that questioned if baseball was going to be something I wanted to continue doing, specifically at the collegiate level. Its a sport filled with extreme talent and I was blessed with the opportunities that were given and the support I had around me to find the perfect fit for me moving forward.”
Coach Jon Pallone says: “Cody is going off to West Chester. He played varsity last year and threw the most innings on our staff. Obviously, he’s grown a lot. It’s been fun to watch him since his freshman year really mature as a person and a player. I was fortunate to have him in sociology last year in the classroom, and it’s a fun thing to see a different side of Cody from the athletic field to the classroom. He’s just an all-around enjoyable guy, a great personality. I enjoy having him, and I look forward to seeing him continue to do well at West Chester.”
About Cody:
Favorite food: Fettucini Chicken Alfredo
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite music: Hip Hop/Rap
Cole Mehrman – Penn State Harrisburg (Baseball)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Final list of colleges: Penn State Harrisburg, McDaniel
Reasons for choosing Penn State Harrisburg: “Penn State Harrisburg had a better baseball development program overall, and they had my specific major, which is perfect.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “Up until eighth grade, I was just playing baseball for fun because I enjoyed playing it, and I liked being around the kids. I grew up playing with them. Eighth grade and freshman year, that’s when it hit that I needed to push and I wanted to play this at the next level.”
Coach Jon Pallone says: “Cole is the only one of the three I haven’t had the blessing of having in the classroom. Last year, Cole had a couple guys above him that graduated, so he was stuck down on jayvee last year, and he made the most of it. It’s not an easy thing to know you’re a varsity level player and not be at that level. Rather than complain or lose focus, instead he took it upon himself to become a leader of those guys down on the jayvee level and not miss a step. Our jayvee level is basically varsity level for some of the other leagues in the state. He’s a two-sport athlete. He’s a good golfer as well. Again, he’s another guy we’ve seen a lot of growth on the field since his freshman year. He’s just an overall good guy.”
About Cole:
Favorite food: Chicken Satay
Favorite TV show: Designated Survivor
Favorite music: Hip Hop
Matt Tuley – Ursinus College (Baseball)
Major: Economics
Final list of colleges: Ursinus, Susquehanna, Arcadia, Widener
Reasons for choosing Ursinus: “I just liked the campus and the baseball program – I liked the coaches, and they had the major I wanted. It’s also a good distance from my home.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve always wanted to play baseball in college since I was little, but it became more of a reality once I hit sophomore year. That’s when I started – Oh, I can actually do this.”
Coach Jon Pallone says: “Matt Tuley is another two-sport athlete. He just finished his basketball season. He’s at a lot of our things in the offseason and has taken a leadership position. Last year he was stuck on jayvee and made the most of it. He became a leader. A lot of the guys looked up to both of them and learned the Quakertown way and the way that we play from them. I also had Matt in class this year. He’s a very good student, enjoyable. I look forward to seeing him do a lot of things at the next level as well.”
About Matt:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: The Blacklist
Favorite music: 80s Music
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