Pine-Richland’s Tommy Beam: WVU ‘really fit my personality’

By: Kevin Lohman
Saturday, July 27, 2019 | 12:01 AM

While Pine-Richland baseball player Tommy Beam is only halfway through his high school career, he decided he did not need the next two years to deliberate on his college plans. The Rams standout pitcher cemented his college decision July 5 when he announced on Twitter he had committed to play at West Virginia.

“I just felt like it was the school for me. I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else, so I didn’t feel the need to wait any longer,” Beam said.

“You can’t just ignore it when everything feels right, especially when it comes to a decision like this.”

The 6-foot-5 rising junior said he had other opportunities and took the time to visit other colleges before making his decision. However, West Virginia simply had too much to offer in terms of its baseball program, coaching staff and the environment of Morgantown, according to Beam.

“I chose WVU because their coaches have been interested in me from the very start, and once I took a visit there, I realized the school really fit my personality,” Beam said.

“I like to hunt and fish and be in nature, and a lot of the other schools that I was looking at just didn’t offer that due to their location. West Virginia is in a small town out in the country, and I love that. Their baseball team is amazing, too, and the coaches are just great.”

The college commitment helps cap off a dream sophomore season for Beam, who was an instrumental part of Pine-Richland’s WPIAL Class 6A championship run. Beam was the winning pitcher in the title game against Penn-Trafford.

Beam went 5-3 for the Rams last season with a 1.48 ERA. He struck out 66 in 47¹⁄₃ innings. Opposing batters managed a batting average of .198 against the right-hander.

“It was a year of hard work. I made a big jump from this year to last, but I also had a great team backing me up. We all had that success together,” he said.

“My mindset from now on is to hit the weight room and to keep working on my pitching. I’m excited to commit to WVU, but I’m also looking forward to getting back out there with my guys next year.”

Tags: Pine-Richland