Paul Pappaceno was really looking forward to his first start of the new baseball season. The St. Peter’s Prep junior left-handed pitcher worked hard in the offseason to get ready. He attended camps and clinics, participated in talent showcases, and played with a summer league team based out of Florida. Pappaceno also worked with the athletic training staff at Grand and Warren, getting bigger and stronger. All of the pieces were being put into place.
“Last year, I was just a sophomore coming out of the bullpen,” Pappaceno said. “I pitched maybe once a week, an inning here and there. I knew I had to get ready for this year. I really worked hard, playing with my travel team, facing better players. We played in tournaments in Georgia and Florida all summer. I was told that I had good potential, especially being lefty. I had to take advantage of that.”
So when the time came for the Marauders to start the 2010 season, Pappaceno had to be more than ready.
“I had a sense coming into the season that I would get a chance,” Pappaceno said. “That’s all I wanted was a chance.”
Pappaceno got his opportunity in the season’s second game against neighboring rival Hudson Catholic.
New St. Peter’s Prep head coach Kevin Wendolowski was sure that the talented junior lefty was poised and prepped for his first start.
“He impressed us early on,” Wendolowski said. “He was just waiting for his opportunity.”
And it came against the archrival.
“It really meant a lot to me that it was Hudson Catholic,” Pappaceno said. “I knew it meant a lot to finally get the chance to start, but it meant more that it was coming against them. I wanted to perform well against the rival. I know some of the guys on their team, so I knew it was going to be a big day for me. It was a perfect team for me to pitch against.”
As it turned out, Pappaceno was better than perfect to face the Hawks. In his very first varsity start, Pappaceno fired a no-hitter, striking out nine and walking two, leading the Marauders to a 10-0 victory.
For his efforts, Pappaceno has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week and the first such honoree for the scholastic spring season that began last week.
Wendolowski marveled at Pappaceno’s approach in his first start.
“He just got to strike one on perhaps 99 percent of the batters he faced and he went from there,” Wendolowski said. “Getting ahead of the batters is the key. If he does that on a regular basis, he has a chance to win. I think we always knew he could pitch. We just needed to give him the opening and he was going to make the best of it.”
The first-year head coach also liked how hard Pappaceno was throwing.
“Believe me, he has some giddy-up on that fastball,” Wendolowski said. “I think he’s getting it up there in the high 80s. I could tell he was ready. He was waiting a while for this opportunity. I think he has a chance to be right in the mix with everyone this year.”
Throwing a no-hitter in your first start will do that for you.
“They’re our rival and they were talking a little bit before the game,” Pappaceno said. “I know they wanted to get a chance to get at me, but throwing a no-hitter is the perfect way to shut them up.”
And gain attention from the rest of the county.
“It’s going to give me a great confidence boost,” Pappaceno said. “People are coming up to me and saying congratulations on the no-hitter and I don’t even know who they are. It’s a great feeling. I feel now that I can go out and shut anyone down. It’s not just me. It’s the entire team. We have a good pitching staff and having someone like me fit in well can only help us take it to the next level.”
Pappaceno said that he’s still learning the tricks of the trade on the mound.
“It’s only my second year pitching ever, so I’m still learning a lot,” Pappaceno said. “Last year, I watched everything I could about pitching to learn the ropes a little. I think I can be a nice complement to the pitchers we already have.”
It’s a pitching staff that includes 2009 Hudson Reporter Most Valuable Player Marc Hanna, but even Hanna never threw a no-hitter.
“I don’t know what everyone is going to expect from me now,” Pappaceno said. “Maybe someone’s going to want me to throw a perfect game. I guess I’m just getting started.”
It’s not a bad start.
“I like to hear his enthusiasm,” Wendolowski said. “Right after the game, he asked me, ‘When’s my next start?’ You want to hear that from the kid. He wants the ball. He wants to get back on the hill.”
Pappaceno’s next performance will be against state-power St. Joseph of Montvale. Chances are that the mighty Green Knights will know whom they are facing.
“I like to see what I can do against the best,” Pappaceno said. “I know it’s not going to get easier from here. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I know they’re going to want to come and hit me. It should be a good battle. I’ll be ready.”
Much like the lefty phenomenon was prepared to face Hudson Catholic last week – and everyone now knows the results of that.
Wendolowski gave credit to Prep pitching coach David Weber, the former Chicago Cubs’ farmhand, who has been working with Pappaceno.
“Coach Weber has done a great job with Paul and we now see what the two of them can do together,” Wendolowski said.
Sure thing. It’s called producing a no-hit pitcher. Paul Pappaceno is well on his way to becoming a quality high school pitcher and he already has the one thing that every pitcher dreams of – a no-hitter against the archrival. Not a bad debut at all. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.