Butler trio headed to WVIAC
BUTLER TWP — Butler High School baseball players have grown accustomed to winning in recent years.
That shouldn't change for Golden Tornado graduates Bobby Swartwout, Cody Herald and Tyler Slepski.
Swartwout will continue his baseball career at West Virginia Wesleyan, a Division II school in Buckhannon. Herald and Slepski are headed to Seton Hill University in Greensburg.
Both schools are members of the WVIAC. Wesleyan hasn't had a losing season since 2006 while Seton Hill hasn't endured one since 2004.
“Their coach really sold me,” Swartwout said of Wesleyan. “That guy knows a ton of stuff. Just seeing me swing, he pointed out a couple of things I needed to fix.”
Randy Tenney is 610-364-7 in 24 years at Wesleyan and has been WVIAC Coach of the Year four times, most recently in 2010.
Seton Hill was 26-3 in league play last year under coach Marc Marizzaldi, who is 215-151 in seven years with the Griffins.
Herald is being looked at as a middle infielder. Slepski is headed there as a pitcher.
“Tyler and I have been teammates since we were little,”Herald said. “He's my best friend and we'll be rooming together. We both grew up in East Butler.”
Herald plans to major in elementary education with a minor in special education. Slepski will major in criminal justice with a minor in political science.“Their first three pitchers are seniors, but there's only one other left-hander on the team,” Slepski said. “The opportunity will be there for me to start in my first year.”Slepski was 4-4 with a 2.78 earned run average for Butler last spring. He had 45 strikeouts and 18 walks in 45.1 innings pitched and hit .442 in 43 at bats.Herald hit .350 as the Golden Tornado's shortstop, collecting two homers, 23 RBI and 21 hits in 60 at bats. His on-base percentage was .455.“My goal is to go in there and show I can compete for a starting position right away,” Herald said. “The coach gives everybody a fair shot and I need to work hard and show what I can do.“I don't want to sit. I want to play.”The same can be said for Swartwout, who will pitch at Wesleyan and may see time at designated hitter, right field or third base as well.Swartwout played six different positions at Butler during his junior year.“They have a returning All-American at first base,” he said. “I'll have an opportunity to play my freshman year at one of those other positions they're trying to fill.“Ultimately, I want to put myself in a position to get drafted and go on to major league baseball. I want to get my education and start for the baseball team from Day 1.”
Swartwout plans to major in criminal justice. He hit .356 with two homers, 10 walks, 13 RBI and 21 hits in 59 at bats for Butler his senior year. His on-base percentage was .461.He will not play basketball in college.“I've played basketball my entire life And it's tough to give that up,” Swartwout said. “But my best chance to play something after college is baseball. I need to concentrate on that.”The trio will be reunited when Seton Hill meets Wesleyan in conference play.“Bobby's a great baseball player and it will be fun facing him,” Slepski said. “I'll have to get the ball in on his hands and tie him up.”“Seton Hill has other WPIAL players on its roster, too,” Swartwout said. “Playing against old teammates and old rivals is something I'm looking forward to doing.”
