Julio Ermigiotti exceeded all expectations after joining Central Bucks West’s baseball team and ended up helping the program reach its first ever state playoff game, writes Mike Sielski for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Once 5-foot-4 and scrawny, Ermigiotti got himself strong enough to get noticed by Brian Weaver, the Bucks’ head coach two years ago.

He received his invitation to the team that season. In his varsity debut, the new player threw five shutout innings.

“We were like, ‘Oh,’” said Weaver.

Ermigiotti continued to improve his game, and by the start of the PIAA District 1 Class 6A tournament, he established himself as one of the best pitchers at West.

This season, he has not lost a game, his fastball touches 89 mph, and he averages 1.5 strikeouts an inning. This fall, he is heading to Lehigh University, where he will pitch for the Mountain Hawks while he studies computer science.

“It’s all work ethic,” said Weaver. “Nothing was given to him.”

With his help, CB West qualified not only for districts, which they won, and also qualified for their first state playoffs.

Read more about Julio Ermigiotti in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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