Basketball, Baseball
Favorite athlete: Chase Utley
Favorite team: Any Philadelphia team
Favorite memory competing in sports: Winning the American Conference championship in baseball my junior year.
Most embarrassing thing that has happened while competing in sports: Air-balling a free throw in a basketball game.
Music on iPod: Country, Reggae, Rap
Future plans: Attend Lehigh University to play baseball and major in Accounting or Finance.
Words to live by: Play every game like it’s your last.
One goal before turning 30: Buying a nice house
One thing people don’t know about me: I love to travel.
By GORDON GLANTZ
John Bernhardt may be in his first year as the baseball coach at Wissahickon, after moving north up Route 309 from Cheltenham, but he has been on the job long enough to have a pretty good sense of what senior second baseman and tri-captain Blake Rapoport is all about.
“Blake is just a dynamite kid,” said Bernhardt. “He's someone who is completely selfless. He's wise beyond his years. He's a guy who works his butt off in whatever he does whether it's on the field or in the classroom. He comes from a great family who have taught him so well and raised him into an unbelievably respected young man.”
As for being “wise beyond his years” and “selfless,” Rapoport think he understands where his new coach is coming from.
“It’s our coach’s first year,” he said. “As a captain, I have to help out with keeping everything in check, and helping to keep all the guys in check.”
It is noticed and appreciated by Bernhardt, affectionately known as “Bernie” to the team.
“Absolutely,” said the coach. “Blake always is the first to do things I say and truly leads by example. He makes sure the guys follow what I say. He truly leads by example.”
Where the Heart Is
Rapoport, who will continue his baseball career at Lehigh University – while majoring in either accounting or finance – says it starts at home and extends from there.
From his love of sports to his leadership qualities to his excellence in the classroom, the Univest Featured Male Athlete of the Week credits the love and guidance of his parents, Stacy and Marc, and his younger brother, Max.
“I want to make my parents happy,” he explained. “It’s not just about me, and about pleasing myself. They are a big part of my life.”
He was instantly attracted to sports attending games involving the Philadelphia teams, and was anxious to get into action himself.
“My whole life, I played sports,” he said. “Not just baseball, but lacrosse and soccer and football.”
But when he reached the high school campus, decisions had to be made. As a freshman, he was still a three-sport athlete – football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring.
But when baseball clearly emerged as his primary sport, occupying a lot of summer time playing Junior American Legion ball, he gave up football (he was a receiver, defensive back and kicker after playing quarterback in middle school).
“It was a tough decision, but (baseball) was a year-round commitment,” he said.
The commitment only grew more intense when he joined the Philly Bandits, an elite travel team headed by Dave Amaro (brother of Ruben).
“That got me a lot of exposure,” said Rapoport, explaining the schedule included a wood bat tournament in Georgia, as well as games against other local teams in the Marzano League. “In the summer, we played about 50 games against great competition. Just on our team, we have a pitcher who is a prospective draft pick.”
The Right Choice
Between his standout play on the scholastic diamond with Wissahickon and with the Bandits, and a strong academic record, schools began knocking on his door.
Lehigh won out over the likes of Lafayette, La Salle, St. Joe’s, Bucknell, Villanova and Rollins (Fla.).
“(Lehigh) seemed like the perfect fit for me,” said Rapoport. “It was just a great bunch of guys they have there, and they have a great baseball program.”
And there was an added bonus.
“My best friend from my summer league team – Matt Hand, from Council Rock North – is going there,” he said. “We’re going to be roommates, which makes it perfect.”
Rapoport realizes his best chance to get on the field at Lehigh will be as an outfielder. However, he prides himself on his versatility. In his first three years at Wissahickon, under former coach Shannon Gunby, he went from third base as a freshman to second base as a sophomore to the outfield last year before moving back to second base this year.
Even though he believes second base is his ultimate position, one where he can best utilize his range, he vows to “do whatever it takes, and play wherever the coach needs me.”
But before that happens, Rapaport has some business to handle in his final scholastic season.
Individually, he is focused on setting the table in his familiar role as the leadoff hitter.
“That where I am most comfortable,” he said. “Setting the tone for the game is what I like to do. I like to make pitchers throw pitches so my teammates can prepare for their own at-bats. I like to get on base, and make things happen.”
Wise Night Owl
As evidenced by the list of schools recruiting him, Rapoport is the complete package as a student-athlete, making things happen in the classroom.
He has taken almost entirely honors and AP classes.
“I work hard in school,” said Rapoport, who described himself as a night owl when it comes to cramming. “I work pretty hard. (My parents) pushed me hard, and I credit them for me being where I am today.”
“I just like bear down in my room. I know it’s not going to get any easier in college.”
As for his overall Wissahickon experience, he says it was a home run.
“I love school,” he added. “And I’m not just saying that, I really do. I have close group of friends.”
Because of sports and schoolwork, he was not able to get as deeply involved in activities as he would have liked, but he was elected by fellow students as a class officer, which meant a role in planning the prom and fundraising.
Walking Away a Winner
It goes without saying it would be a storybook ending if this baseball season fell into place as expected.
Although he is one of three college-bound players in the infield alone, the Trojans – featuring a sure-fire ace pitcher in Logan Wilans -- have yet to hit their stride in the first few games.
“We have gotten off to a slow start, but we have high expectations for this year,” he said. “While we haven’t met them yet, I have a lot of confidence in my guys.”
Rapoport blames it more on circumstances, such as losing some key players to graduation, than on the coaching change from Gunby to Bernhardt.
“It wasn’t too tough,” he said. “He’s a great guy and he fit right in. All the guys loved him right away. He pushes us real hard, but he also reaches out to us and stays in touch with the players. He cares about the team a lot.”
Rapoport also had good things to say about assistant coach Ryan O’Day.
“He’s a great guy,” said Rapoport. “He really does a good job getting a fire lit behind our team and motivating the players. He knows a lot about the game, and we’re all excited to have him here to assist ‘Bernie.’”
In terms of picking up the void and being vocal, Rapoport is ready. He’d rather lead by example, but has been around the diamond enough times to know it doesn’t always work that way.
“I’m not the type who likes to scream and yell,” he said. “But I will do what I have to do to get the guys going.”
Rapoport found himself in an odd role on the basketball team as a senior. He found himself sitting while his brother, a sophomore, earned a spot in the starting five.
He understood the deal. The baseball commitment meant less offseason time for basketball coach Kyle Wilson, but he hung in for a variety of reasons and does not regret it.
“I just like to play basketball,” he said. “It’s an easy way to stay in shape. I had a great four years that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
“Baseball took up a lot of time (in the summer). Coach Wilson understood, and I made it to as many summer league games as I could, but he is loyal to his (full-time) players. I saw minimal time while my little brother was a starter. There were times I would get frustrated, but I knew my role. I was there to support my brother, and he has always supported me.”
“Still, I felt like a leader. I was able to help them out and support the team.”
While Rapoport would channel his frustrations in the weight room, prepping for the pending baseball season, he also knew the situation had special meaning to his parents.
“It was very cool for my parents,” said Rapoport, who said most of his basketball action with his brother was in the driveway of the family’s home. “It was the first sport I got to play with my brother. It was a surreal experience.”
While he didn’t call Rapoport’s number that often, Wilson believed he added key intangibles to a younger squad that suffered some tough losses and just missed the playoffs.
“He was outstanding,” said Wilson. “He worked hard every day and never complained. He was a starting guard on JV last year, and there was a good chance that he would possibly start this year, but his younger brother is a more savvy guard with a stronger understanding of the game, but Blake never showed any ill-will for lack of opportunity. He was one of the hardest working players every day, and he always expressed a team-first attitude.
“I was fortunate to have coached him. He is a great athlete, a true competitor, and a class act.”
