North Hills baseball turns to Pusateri, staff

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 23, 2018 | 11:00 PM

Joey Pusateri's command on the pitching mound wasn't something that came naturally to him. The North Hills senior pitcher cultivated it throughout the years, picking up aspects of his game from observing others.

When the sum of those parts came together for the Indians last season, Pusateri was in top-notch form. Pusateri finished with a 4-1 record and a school-record .635 ERA.

“Playing a lot and being around guys I look up to,” said Pusateri on how he became a better pitcher. “Anyone from my older brother to my friends around and my coaches. I picked things here and there, and I combined it into one thing I thought would be the best for me.”

North Hills is hoping its returning pitchers will translate into continued success. Last season, the Indians rode a strong rotation to a 16-5 record and won a share of a section title for the first time since 2002, tying Mars for the top spot in Section 1-5A.

Fellow seniors Jordan Pitchford, who finished 3-1 last season, and left-hander Beau Braunlich provide the Indians with depth.

Before a 6-4 first-round WPIAL playoff loss to Chartiers Valley, the Indians were limiting opponents to 1.74 runs per game.

“All you can do is continue to improve and get better,” North Hills coach Randy Miller said. “I think that's what we've shown during my six years at North Hills, with increasing win totals and having better seasons each year.”

Blowing smoke by hitters isn't what helped Pusateri confound opponents. Instead, he picked them apart by hitting his spots.

“I work fast, and I don't really throw the hardest,” Pusateri said. “I'm a big control guy. I can locate any of my pitches well. It helped me a lot in the past year, and hopefully it will help me this year.”

North Hills' lineup will look to give the pitching staff breathing room. The Indians hit .330 last season and return several middle-of-the lineup hitters.

Garrett Barto, Steven Miller, J.T. Mazula and Braunlich will provide pop.

“I'm hoping some of our guys are going to look to fill those voids from graduated players (and) will be able to pick up where those guys left off,” Randy Miller said.

If the hitters are slow, Pusateri is ready to show what he's learned since last spring.

Everyone on the staff is confident in how well-rounded this team could be.

“We definitely do,” Pusateri said. “Knowing that we also do have hitters this year that are returning that helps our confidence a little bit. I believe if our pitching lives up to what we know we can do, it will pave the way for the hitters to be confident.”

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: North Hills