They lost nine seniors from a team that won its first 17 games, set the program record for wins and reached the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game.
Before the season, it was hard to envision a scenario where Paul’s VI could overcome that kind of attrition. Especially when two of those seniors were first-team All-Examiner picks and seven were either first, second or third-team All-WCAC.
But the goal for Paul VI coach Billy Emerson when he took over in 2003 wasn’t to have a few nice seasons. It was to build a program with staying power. For the first time the Panthers have shown they have it.
Despite just three returning starters, Paul VI reloaded with a small core of experienced players and a sterling sophomore class that still has its best days ahead of it. The end result is a team that is 17-6 and tied for third in the WCAC standings and ranked No. 3 in the latest Examiner Top 10 poll. The Panthers were also ranked second in Virginia Independent Schools Baseball Association poll entering last night’s game against rival O’Connell and have just two regular-season contests remaining before the WCAC Tournament begins on Sunday.
“It was the class before us that started everything,” said Paul VI senior pitcher J.D. Polcari, who anchors Paul VI’s rotation with a 5-2 record. “But we knew there was still some good experience left and once our young players adjusted to varsity pitching we’d be fine. We still believed we could win a title.”
When Emerson took over at Paul VI the school was its fourth coach in two seasons and his predecessor had resigned after an alcohol-related incident on a spring break trip. From there the Panthers posted back-to-back 17-12 seasons, including a VIS state title in 2004, and set the stage for last year’s 26-5 campaign. It didn’t end quite the way Paul VI wanted — losses to St. John’s (D.C.) in the WCAC final and St. Christopher’s in the VIS state semifinals — but it was the kind of success that turns heads of fans and players alike. Sophomore outfielder Peter Verdin was a freshman starter at West Potomac last season before deciding to transfer to a private school. There were several options to choose from throughout the Washington, D.C. area. But Verdin knew where he wanted to be.
“I’ve never seen as many fans at one of my baseball games as what we had here playing DeMatha [on April 11],” said Verdin, who will play this summer with the Midland Redskins, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based club team featuring some of the top high school players in the country. “The academics were important. But that kind of support and the coaching staff that we have was a big part of me deciding to go to school here, too.”
Group effort
» Paul VI has received contributions from a host of sophomores, including pitcher Drew Shaw (4-1), outfielder Peter Verdin (.390 average, 15 RBI), third baseman Brett Bowers (.310 average) and second baseman Matt Murakami (.300).
» Besides splitting a two-game series with DeMatha (Md.), the Panthers also split a doubleheader with St. Anne’s-Belfield (11-2), the No. 1 ranked team in the latest VISBA state poll.
» Paul VI senior catcher Rob Lamas (.469, 14 RBI) will play baseball at Virginia Military Institute.
