A diamond day in December
ADAMS TWP — Mars varsity baseball coach Jason Thompson never dealt with David and Will Bednar during the years they played for the Planets.
But he dealt with them in the classroom.
An eighth-grade United States history teacher in the Mars Area School District, Thompson taught David and Will as students. He’s not at all surprised that both are in professional baseball — and still giving back to their hometown.
“They were more than great kids. They were good people, even back then,” Thompson said. “The entire Bednar family is that way. What baseball has given all of them ... It couldn’t happen to a better family.”
Both former standout pitchers for Mars, David will entering his third season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023 while Will will be beginning his second full season in the San Francisco Giants farm system after being that organization’s first-round draft choice in 2021.
The second annual Mars baseball carnival — an idea formed by the Bednars as a fund-raiser for the school’s baseball program — took place Saturday in the high school gym. The Bednar brothers, Pine-Richland graduate and former Pirate second baseman Neil Walker were on hand to sign autographs. Carnival-type games were available for kids and Santa Claus made an appearance, as did the Pirate Parrot.
The Pittsburgh Pirates donated items for door prizes. An auction was held to sell autographed Sean Casey, Walker, David and Will Bednar, and Joey Porter jerseys. A youth coaching clinic was run by firmer Mars baseball coach Andy Bednar, Pirates bench coach Don Kelly, Thompson and Planet assistant coach Corey Gueggleman.
“We had 30 coaches or so in here,” Andy Bednar said. “It went very well. This event is growing. I’m proud of my sons and the way they give back to our community.”
“This whole thing is a lot of fun,” Will Bednar said. “I love meeting with and talking to the kids. It wasn’t that long ago that I was going to school and spending time in this gym. If I can help out the program now, I want to do it.”
Will 22, was 1-3 with a 4.19 earned run average, 51 strikeouts in 43 innings while pitching in the Class A California League last season. He was bothered by lower back inflammation that limited his appearances, though he was California League Pitcher of the Week early last season.
Still being treated for the back issue, Will expects to be ready for spring training.
“It’s getting better,” he said.
David, 28, was 3-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 19 saves for the Pirates in 2022. He was the team’s representative in the MLB All-Star Game and returned from his own lower back problems to pitch in the season’s final two weeks.
“This past year went by like a whirlwind ... I didn’t want to just shut it down. That’s not how I’m wired,” David said. “I wanted to finish strong.”
He is marrying fellow Mars graduate Casey Merritt, a soccer standout, in January.
“I wouldn’t be where I’m at now without the Mars community, this high school and the Mars Baseball Association,” David said. “People support each other here. I want to stay involved in this community.”
So does Walker, who playfully refers to Pine-Richland and Mars as “friendemies.” Walker is involved in a new organization known as Exposure, providing baseball players in the area wishing to pursue the game at the college or professional level a means to showcase their talents.
Walker discussed Exposure at the baseball carnival. Fast Track equipment was available for anyone interested in testing their pitching or hitting metrics.
“Metrics is such a big part of the game today,” Walker said. “Once COVID hit, college coaches haven’t had as much opportunity to get out and see high school kids play. Exposure is about gathering the necessary data and getting it to those coaches.”
Whether it was sitting on Santa’s lap, playing carnival games, getting an autograph or learning about baseball, a flurry of activity took place in the gym Saturday. Jeff Maple, vice president of the Mars Backstop Club, said 130 tickets were pre-sold and many more bought tickets at the door.
Last year’s inaugural event raised approximately $5,000 for Mars baseball.
“Our goal is to approximate that future again,” Maple said. “But the No. 1 goal today was having an event here that can bring the community together on a cold December day. We definitely accomplished that.”
