Joe Palermo couldn't understand why he didn't make his high school baseball team.

Center Township American Legion coach Kevin Shaffer couldn't imagine not having him on his baseball team.

"If our season ended right now … yeah, I'd have to say he's our MVP," Shaffer said.

Palermo was hitting .500 through 52 at bats this season after hitting .280 last year. He also leads the team in hits and RBI and turns a smooth double play - despite being a left-handed throwing second baseman.

"He can be mentioned with some of the best hitters in the county without ever playing high school ball," Shaffer said. "Joe is the epitome of what Butler County American Legion baseball is about."

Palermo played for Butler's freshman team when he was in eighth grade. He had been an all-star in every league at every level he's played in since age 5.

When he went out for Butler baseball his freshman year, however, he got cut.

And he never tried out again.

"I thought there might have been politics involved," Palermo said. "It wasn't a good situation for me. I didn't feel comfortable about it."

His father, Bob Palermo, who coached him in baseball most of his life, tried talking him into trying out for the high school team in recent years.

"I feel like he would have made the team the past two years," Mr. Palermo said. "Joe just wouldn't go for it. If nothing else, it's made him a better golfer."

Palermo can drive a golf ball 280 yards and was Butler High School's No. 1 golfer last fall. He will attend Slippery Rock University this fall and try out for the golf team.

But he's not through with baseball yet.

"I'm eligible to play Legion baseball next year," Palermo said. "I'll be back."

Why not? After years of batting in the lead-off spot because of his size (5-foot-6) and ability to get on base, Palermo has batted in the third and fifth spots this year and is driving in runs.

He even hit his first home run at any level of baseball this season.

"I never swing for home runs," Palermo said. "I like hitting line drives. But I got under one and happened to lift it over the fence."

It was a game-winning blow as well, snapping a tie and lifting Center Township to a 5-2 win over Karns City.

"Joe has come up with so many clutch hits," Shaffer said. "Honestly, I don't know where we'd be in the standings without him."

Right now, Center Township is above .500 and in position to make the Butler County American Legion league playoffs.

"He's just a consummate competitor," Shaffer said. "I have about five kids - half my starting lineup - who didn't play high school ball. There's probably fewer on other teams, but every team probably has at least one like that.

"Joe's committed only one error all year at second base. He's worked hard to improve his skill level."

While most kids are playing high school ball in the spring, Palermo goes to the batting cages "to work on getting my swing back."

Palermo attributes getting adapted to Legion pitching as the biggest reason for his improvement.

"You go from facing 15 or 16-year-old pitchers in Colt League to 18 and 19-year-olds in Legion," Palermo said. "That's quite a jump. The ball comes at you a lot faster and there's more different pitches.

"Looking back, it probably took me a year to adjust. Now I just see it and hit it."

"Joe's always had the hand-eye coordination," his father said. "Now he's gotten physically stronger over the past year. Playing a lot of golf has had a lot to do with that."

And Palermo will have a lot of time to play baseball and golf.

"The sports go on at different times of the day," he said. "I love them both. I'll play them both."