Six Plymouth Whitemarsh seniors were recognized for committing to continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level. (Photos provided by PW baseball.)
Emerson J. Abromavage – Clarion University (Business)
Major: International Business & Economics
Reasons for choosing Clarion: “I thought it was a good fit for not only my major but for baseball. After numerous conversations with the coach, I felt like a part of their family right away.”.jpg)
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I have always had the dream to play college baseball since I could remember, but after my junior year is when it really started to pick up and reality was sinking in. My recruiting process was definitely stressful, uncertain at times but all around one of the most enjoyable and memorable times.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “While he was a part of our middle school program, Emerson spent his freshman year at Roman Catholic High School before returning to Plymouth Whitemarsh in 10th grade.
“I remember being on vacation and in a hotel room in Denver, Colorado, when I got an email from Emerson in the summer going into his sophomore year that he was coming to PW. What probably struck me the most was that the email came from Emerson himself, and not from his parents. This is one of the traits that has stuck out for me the most with Emerson over his three years with us - his maturity. The ability he has to communicate directly with his coaches is something that will bode well for him as he moves on to college and beyond. What I see in him that isn't always easy to see in high school students is a sincere set of values and principles upon which he was raised.
“Emerson has had to find his way in our program, and he has worked hard to take every year step by step to the point where he has put himself in line to compete for a starting job as a senior. He has developed personal goals for himself, and followed through on the work it takes to achieve them.
“Emerson was not a player I knew very well when he first came here (aside from seeing him play in middle school or CYO games), but he is a player and more importantly a person who I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know more each year.”
About Emerson:
Favorite food: Definitely Pasta
Favorite TV: Narcos
Favorite music: Country & Rap
Quindarius Dye – Gwynedd Mercy University (Baseball)
Major: Sports Management
Final list of colleges: Gwynedd Mercy, West Chester, Susquehanna
Reasons for choosing Gwynedd Mercy: “Gwynedd Mercy had my major and gave me the best chance of playing baseball at the next level.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I started thinking about playing in college.jpg)
after my sophomore year, but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Hard work, determination and using every opportunity that Coach Manero gave us were the driving forces to get me ready for the collegiate level.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “When Quin tried out for our team as a freshman, I don't think any of our coaches really knew who he was. Usually we hear names or have a chance to see players when they are younger, but for some reason Quin slipped under the radar. And that is proof that when athletes start in high school, their coaches are always looking at them with a fresh set of eyes, giving every one of them a chance to show what they have.
“For Quin, he showed some eye-opening tools right from the get go, first and foremost of which was his speed. He can flat out run, and as any coach knows, you can't teach speed. He has taken that tool and expanded upon it by being one of our leaders in the weight room. The way he pushes himself and has strived harder and harder each year to get stronger has motivated many of our other players to do the same.
“Quin is the kind of teammate that others stop to look at when he is reaching for his next benchmark in the weight room, but I think he is genuinely also the kind of teammate that others simply root for and want to see succeed. He is coachable and he represents our program so well on and off the field.”
About Quin:
Favorite food: Mac and Cheese
Favorite move: Boyz in the Hood
Favorite artist: Lil Uzi Vert
Ben Mascio – West Chester University (Baseball)
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Bloomsburg
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “I chose West Chester because I feel that the coaches and people at the university will put me in the .jpg)
best position to succeed in college and after college.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve wanted to play college baseball as long as I could remember, it’s definitely always been a dream of mine. It was the summer going into my junior year when I really began to start hearing from a couple different coaches.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “Ben's work on the mound speaks for itself. He was a first team American Conference pitcher as a junior and entered his senior season at the top of our rotation for the third year in a row. Aside from Kevin Reilly, he is the only other senior who has appeared on the varsity roster for four years.
“Watching Ben grow as a pitcher has been impressive. But watching him grow as a person has been even more meaningful. Many of our opponents probably have their own feelings about Ben, but when you work with someone every day and see them evolve from freshmen into seniors, you gain a much greater appreciation for how someone can grow in four years. Ben is the ultimate competitor. He rises to the occasion in big moments and expects the same from all of his teammates.”
About Ben:
Favorite food: Chicken Cheesesteak
Favorite movie: Scarface
Favorite artist: Meek Mill
Zach Redican – Gwynedd Mercy University (Baseball)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Gwynedd Mercy, Saint Joseph’s, Widener, Franklin & Marshall
Reasons for choosing Gwynedd Mercy: “I chose Gwynedd Mercy because the campus is really nice, the school is a good size for me, and the.jpg)
location is not too far from home. Based on walking around the campus and sitting in on classes, the students and professors were very friendly. Being admitted to the honors program was also important to my selection process. Gwynedd Mercy felt like somewhere I could see myself attending.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “Playing baseball has always been a strong passion of mine. When I got to high school, I did a few showcases and tournaments. That was when I thought playing in college could be a possibility. Coach (Paul) Murphy made a nice impression on me, and I am definitely looking forward to being a part of the team.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “Our coaching staff first got to meet Zach in the fall of his freshman year, and right from the get go he showed a knack for the game's fundamentals and demonstrated that he would have a future in our program.
“He has been one of our hardest workers. Like others in his class, he was never the biggest or tallest or strongest kid on the roster. But he has used that as motivation to never stop working. In his four years, he has often been one of the very first ones to sign up for any offseason workouts, any in-season extra opportunities, any community service programs, or anything else we have offered up in our program. In a sense, he has become a real embodiment of Plymouth Whitemarsh Baseball...and having players on your roster that truly embrace what your program is about means so much to our coaches and to his teammates.
“Zach has been one of the most introspective players I have coached, really taking the time to work on his game and break down the areas where he wants to improve. He doesn't just step on the field and swing the bat or throw the ball, he stays focused and constantly works to translate his practice and drill time into his on-field performance. In some ways, that is a coach's dream!”
About Zach:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: Star Wars
Favorite music: Rap/Country
Kevin Reilly – Binghamton University (Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Reasons for choosing Binghamton: “I chose to go to Binghamton because I really enjoyed my visits, and they have a great baseball .jpg)
program. It was just the best fit for me personally.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve always wanted to play baseball in college, but I started really thinking about it once I got to high school. The summer after my sophomore year when I was playing for the Philly Bandits is when the recruiting process started to pick up for me, and I committed in October 2018.
Coach Chris Manero says: “Kevin has started behind the plate for us every year since his freshman season. He has been a rock for us and has been the epitome of steady leadership by example each season. His numerous accolades such as first team all-league catcher and two-time Carpenter Cup selection, speak for themselves. But he has meant so much more to our program than just those recognitions.
“He has been perhaps the biggest part of our transformation from a team that struggled in conference play to a team that emerged as a state championship contender. Young players in our program can look to him as an example of how to carry yourself on the field, what kind of a person to be off the field, and how to employ commitment and self discipline for the goal of constant improvement.”
About Kevin:
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite artist: Meek Mill
Dylan Strunk – Delaware Valley University (Baseball)
Major: Turf Management
Final list of colleges: Del Val, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Altoona
Reasons for choosing Del Val: “It was a good choice for me to pick Del Val because their Turf Management program is outstanding as well as.jpg)
their baseball team plays in a good conference (MAC III). Also when I visited Del Val, I felt welcomed right away. Coach (John) Love came right up to me, and we talked and toured and I really got to know him, and I liked the direction he was taking his program.”
What was the progression that led you to playing baseball at the collegiate level? “My freshman year I knew I had what it took to play at the collegiate level. I always have loved baseball since I was a little boy. The recruiting process started for me early this year. Coach Manero set me up with the colleges I listed, and from there, I was reaching out to them and scheduling dates to visit.”
Coach Chris Manero says: “Any young player who has ever had to bounce back, wait for their turn, or wanted to give up should have a conversation with Dylan Strunk about why it is important to keep working and keep setting goals to succeed. Dylan did not make the middle school seventh or eighth grade baseball teams. For a kid who always came to our summer baseball camps, who eats/sleeps/breathes baseball, that was not an easy pill to swallow.
But, he stuck it out. When he was a freshman, we were at a point where we were short on catching below the varsity level. Not only did he make the team, but he found himself on the opening day JV roster.
“In the weight room for every winter session, on the field every fall, and taking advantage of every offseason opportunity, Dylan always knew he would have to work hard to overcome his size and his early baseball roadblocks. And that he did...
“Last season, Dylan was on the varsity roster, but he didn't get a ton of playing time. Being a catcher behind Kevin Reilly and an outfielder on a team with three starting seniors in those positions, he had to be patient. In that time, he turned into the consummate team player. Coaches always preach to their players that everyone has a role, but it isn't always easy to get players to accept that role. Dylan, however, knew where he stood, and he not only embraced his role as a junior but he became one of the most infectious personalities on the team. His desire to win and his support of his teammates was especially evident throughout our postseason run last year. The kid flat out cares...he cares about the game and he cares about his teammates.”
About Dylan:
Favorite food: Cheesesteak
Favorite movie: Happy Gilmore
Favorite artist: Lil Uzi Vert
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