Vazquez, Pitt will be at Eastwood

By KEVIN CONNELLY

kconnelly@vindy.com

All things considered, University of Pittsburgh senior outfielder Boo Vazquez probably didn’t expect to be playing at Eastwood Field in Niles on Wednesday when the Panthers take on Youngstown State.

The Cardinal Mooney High School graduate had hopes of being selected in last June’s Major League Baseball Draft after starting three seasons at Pitt. His coach, Joe Jordano, even went as far as to say he expected Vazquez to be taken in the fi rst 15 rounds.

After three days, 40 rounds and 1,215 players drafted, Vazquez’s name was never called.

“It was really difficult, but I just had to use it as a learning experience,” Vazquez said. “I believe that everything happens for a reason and nothing comes easy. This is just another example of that.

“Anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Last year was actually Vazquez’s second time through the draft process. In 2011, he was taken in the 38th round by the Colorado Rockies fresh out of Cardinal Mooney. But since that position wasn’t going to draw much of a signing bonus and he felt he still had a lot of improving to do, Vasquez elected to attend Pitt.

“It was exciting just to experience something like that at that age,” he said. “I mean that’s something not many people can say. But I think I made the right decision.”

At Pitt, the outfielder began contributing almost immediately. Over his first two seasons, Vazquez hit .332 with 56 runs scored and 52 RBIs. Then he went into a funk his junior year, hitting just .246 with a disappointing .312 on-base percentage. His coaches had a simple piece of advice for him.

“Keeping working hard and good things will happen,” Vazquez said. “They knew I was the kinda player who would use everything that happened last year to make me better.”

Vazquez (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) grew up playing at Cene Park in Struthers and has memories of Class B League games in the summer. One player that he’s played both with and against over the years is former Poland High School and YSU standout Phil Lipari.

So when Lipari and the Penguins went on their improbable run through the Horizon League tournament to earn a spot in the Bloomington Regional of the NCAA tournament last season, his old friend and foe was watching.

“He’s a guy I’ve kept tabs on,” Vazquez said of Lipari. “I was really happy for him and the community that they were able to do what they did last year.”

There’s a part of him that still wants that for himself and his teammates. The Panthers are off to a 10-12 start this season with a 4-5 record in ACC play.

“Our goal this year is to win a conference championship and make a regional,” Vazquez said.

What his exclusion from last year’s MLB Draft means is that Vazquez gets another year at Pitt to prove skeptics wrong — and win a championship.

It also gives him an opportunity to play near his hometown one more time.

“Every now and then I’ll get back, but it’s tough because I’m always so busy play ing summer ball,” Vazquez said. “But when I do [get back], it’s nice.”

First pitch for the Pitt-YSU game is scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Eastwood Field.