Pasquale hired as coach of defending WPIAL champions
Lou Pasquale was hired Wednesday night by the California Area School Board as the Trojans’ varsity baseball coach and he is fully aware that he has big shoes to fill.
“It is definitely an honor because the program has been really, really good for years and between Donnie (Hartman) and Nick (Damico), they have won four WPIAL titles,” California won the Class A championship under Damico, who resigned at season’s end.
“There is no pressure on me or anything,” Pasquale said with a laugh.
“After being at Cal for three years, and after Nick resigned, I knew it was something that I wanted to be challenged with.”
Pasquale has more than 20 years of coaching experience, including three years as a head coach – two at Ringgold and one at Geibel Catholic.
“I picked up things from both of those stints,” Pasquale said. “The biggest transition from being an assistant to the head coach is the administrative side of things.”
Among Pasquale’s assistant coaching stints included being the freshman coach at Belle Vernon, and varsity assistant stops at Albert Gallatin, Uniontown, Geibel and California. He served as the Trojans’ infield and hitting coach the last three years.
The Trojans graduated seven starters from last year’s championship team but a key returner exhausted his eligibility at California 25 years ago. Neil Forsythe will be back as the team’s pitching coach.
“Neil is the best pitching coach in the WPIAL,” Pasquale said. “We have talked about it and he will absolutely be back.”
California athletic director Chris Minerd likes the hire.
“We are excited to have Lou aboard and consistency was key in this situation,” he said. “He has been part of the program’s success the last few years and we felt it was important for the long term success of the program.”