Shaler pitcher Gumto commits to Cal (Pa.); Titans hall of fame class announced

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 17, 2017 | 6:27 PM

Shaler senior Patrick Gumto will be part of a motivated Titans pitching staff this spring.

By committing to Division II Cal (Pa.) to play baseball, Gumto set himself up with a season to validate himself.

Along with fellow senior Christian Seelhorst, who committed to the Vulcans' PSAC rival Seton Hill earlier this summer, Gumto gives Shaler depth.

“We have something to prove,” Gumto said about he and Seelhorst playing collegiately. “We are motivated to prove ourselves and don't want anyone to say anything otherwise.”

Being hungry might be a theme for Shaler, which finished 12-9 last season and lost in the first round of the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs.

For Gumto, his goal will be to tune up his fastball, curveball, splitter and changeup.

“My goal is to get as close as I can to touch 90 (miles per hour),” Gumto said. “I want to get my arm in the best shape I can.”

His involvement in baseball is a full-time commitment.

Gumto plays almost year round and takes time off in August, November, December and January.

He started playing when he was 3.

“I'm involved in every play,” Gumto said. “I can't get bored because I'm always involved. I can control the outcome and can't put it on someone else.”

Shaler Hall of Fame

Shaler announced the members of its 2017 Hall of Fame class. Six individuals and one team will be inducted Oct. 14.

The honorees are:

• Ron Budziszewski, who coached the football program from 1980-2013 and was on staff for the 1998 Quad North champion team.

• Jason DeFranco, an all-state soccer player who was a regional All-American for three years at Robert Morris.

• Valerie McQuade, who plays professional basketball in Germany for the Chemnitz Chemcats. McQuade scored 1,000 points at Shaler and played collegiately at Niagara.

• Phyllis Schatz, who has coached 46 competitive spirit teams in 32 years at Shaler. Since 1979, Schatz has guided the Titans to nine state championships and one international crown.

• Dan Schwartzbauer, who played on Shaler's 1999 WPIAL baseball championship team. Schwartzbauer, who also played at Duquesne, spent four years in the Pirates minor league system.

• Sam Wisotzkey, a three-time all WPIAL soccer standout who played collegiately at Bucknell.

• The 2012 girls track team of 17 individuals and three relay teams that qualified for WPIALs. Nine athletes medaled at WPIALs, and seven individuals qualified for the PIAA meet. Thirteen moved on to compete in college.

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: Shaler