BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — It may not be as dramatic as Lou Gehrig taking over for Wally Pipp. Still, when Eddie Posavec took over behind the plate for the Binghamton University baseball team earlier this season nobody had a right to expect the freshman from Hatfield and North Penn High to immediately become a key cog for a team that is suddenly preparing for an NCAA regional game.
The Bearcats are a classic example of a team that got hot at the right time. After losing the opening game of the America East Conference tournament to fall to 21-25, they rattled off four straight victories to win their second straight title and advance to Stillwater Regional. Binghamton, which has advanced to the NCAAs for the third time in six years, will play regional host Oklahoma State on Friday afternoon. Nebraska and Cal-State Fullerton are also in that bracket.
Postponements were common with Mother Nature playing havoc very early in the season. That meant games were made up in the form of doubleheaders and Posavec got his feet wet by starting one of the games in a twinbill. He soon found himself the No. 1 catcher after junior Nick Pancerella was injured in the first game of doubleheader at UMass-Lowell on March 15. Pancerella hails from Collegeville and went to Devon Prep, so it was a case of one local product taking over for the other.
“I was forced into the starting role and I tried to make the best of the opportunity that I got,” said Posavec, hours before the Bearcats flew to Oklahoma on Wednesday. “I was able to take advantage of the playing time I probably would not have gotten if not for the injuries.”
Has he ever taken advantage. With Pancerella done for the year and freshman Luke Leonardi already having been shelved for the season, Posavec has started 41 games and is second on the team batting (.326) and stolen bases (11) and is third in doubles (10) while having driven in 17 runs.
“I was a little nervous,” Posavec said when asked how felt when he was suddenly thrust into the role of being the starting catcher. “I knew I was the only guy left to catch, so I knew I was going to catch every single game the rest of the season. The nerves started to go away when I got a few games under my belt and I felt more comfortable behind the plate and in the batter’s box.”
Posavec enjoyed a lot of success at North Penn. Last year the team captured the PIAA state title and in 2012 he earned first-team all-league honors while being recognized as the team MVP. Still, no matter how glossy a high school resume may be, the adjustment to college baseball is not always the easiest.
To that extent, Posavec got off to a slow start and was frustrated by it. He did a smart thing, though, and not something many young college players would do. Instead bottling up his frustrations and making things worse, he sought out those closest to him.
“I spoke to my coaches and I spoke to my parents and they said to just start being aggressive and start hitting the way you did back in high school,” he said. “Something just clicked and I started seeing the ball better and began to play with a lot of confidence. My game plan is to attack early (in the at-bat) and stay aggressive because once I get passive I mess myself up pretty good.”
Pancerella messed up his shoulder (dislocation and torn labrum) pretty good with a head-first slide into second base in that game against UMass-Lowell and, after nine games, his season was over. Pancerella, who started 33 games last season, is still very much a part of the team helping out in whatever way he can, including warming pitchers in the bullpen.
“I have somebody else throwing the ball back (to the pitcher) when I catch in the bullpen,” he said. “Between the bullpen and hanging around the guys I am helping out any way I can during this great run.”
With his two-plus years of experience behind the plate with Binghamton, Pancerella was able to help Posavec get a better feel for the Bearcats pitchers, opposing batters and the conference in general.
“Eddie has done a great job this year and if he has any questions or needs anything I am always happy to help him out,” said Pancerella, who received a medical redshirt and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Posavec and Pancerella hope that this awesome run the Bearcats are on continues. A tough task awaits in the form of 10th-ranked and Big 12-champion Cowboys, who enter the regional 45-16. Oklahoma State, which is making its 40th appearance in the NCAA tournament, boasts a baseball history that has produced major leaguers such as Robin Ventura, Mickey Tettleton and former Phillies outfielder Pete Incaviglia. Former Penn State baseball coach Robbie Wine, the son of former Phillies player and coach, Bobby, is also an alumnus.
“We know they are a very good team, but we have to stick to our game and be concerned with how we play as a team,” said Posavec. “We want to stay aggressive and keep this thing rolling. We just want to play our game and maybe shock some people at the regional.”