Butler star headed to Pitt
BUTLER TWP — Evan Oswald wasn't always so flashy at shortstop.
He wasn't always as polished at the plate.
But along the way, Oswald greatly improved. He worked on his footwork and became one of the most skilled defensive players in the WPIAL.
He honed his skills at the plate, hitting .339 this season for the Golden Tornado, who advanced to the WPIAL Quad-A semifinals.
Now Oswald finds himself heading to the University of Pittsburgh to play baseball next season.
"He made his most improvement from his junior to senior year," said Butler coach Dave Florie. "A good word to describe him is smooth. He has the mechanics, and, with his work in the weight room, he improved the strength in his arm. He has the whole package."
Oswald shined with Butler during the spring, making the WPIAL All-Star Game.
That's where Pitt scouts noticed the slick-fielding shortstop with a productive bat.
Talks proceeded and the longtime Pitt fan officially became a member of the Panthers last week.
"It's kind of overwhelming," Oswald said, wearing his WPIAL All-Star hat at a recent Butler BlueSox game. He said he could see himself playing in the Prospect League, perhaps at familiar Pullman Park, next season.
Oswald started playing baseball when he was 5. From a young age, he always set his sights on playing Division I baseball.
His idol is Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Like the reigning American League MVP, Oswald is diminutive in stature.
But he said he wouldn't let that stop him.
"I always thought my size would be an issue in playing Division I baseball," Oswald said. "After I talked to (assistant coach Danny) Lopaze at Pitt and he said I had good skills and could play ball, I actually realized I could do this."
Oswald admits he must improve his hitting to the Division I level.
But working hard and improving has never been one of Oswald's shortcomings.
He was a big reason why the Butler baseball team turned years of losing into a team that could compete for a section and WPIAL title on a yearly basis.
Being a part of that resurgence is one of the highlights of his baseball career so far, Oswald said.
"Coach Florie has done a lot for Butler," Oswald said. "He's done a lot for me. I can't thank the guy enough."
