By Steve Svetovich
Holy Cross Crusaders senior R.J. Boyle once again was the staff ace as his team won the Lackawanna League Division II title and entered district playoffs with a win.
The Crusaders finished the regular season with a 12-2 record, 8-2 in league play.
Boyle finished the season with a perfect 6-0 record and 1.35 ERA. He was 6-1 the previous season and has 20 career wins.
Son of Rich and Michelle Boyle, the ace hurler also plays second base for the Crusaders. He has a .280 batting average.
Holy Cross, coached by the veteran Sandy Menichetti, beat Wyoming Seminary, 8-5, in the first district playoff contest. “We work hard as a team and we put out results,” said Boyle. “We have a real good shot to win the district playoffs and go far. We have the momentum right now. We all feel this is our year.”
The pitcher-infielder said he learned a lot from his parents. “They always tell me to be the best person I can be. They tell me it is more important to be a good student than it is to be a good athlete. Be a student first and an athlete second.”
And Boyle has learned plenty from coach Menichetti. “He tells us if we put in the time then all of our hard work will pay off.”
Boyle, the student, has an impressive 3.6 grade point average. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Pro Life, the Language Club and Crusaders for Compassion. He said Math is his best subject.
He enjoys listening to music in his spare time and would like to see country artist Luke Bryan in concert.
A four-year member of the Holy Cross varsity baseball team, he played one season of freshman basketball.
He will enter his eighth season of travel baseball with the East Coast Sand Hogs this summer. He also plays American Legion baseball in Dickson City.
He talked about what it takes to be a good pitcher. “You need to work hard and put the time in. And then you will get results.”
Boyle is going to study biology next year at Gwynedd Mercy near Lansdale.
He eventually would like to become a physical therapist.
“I want to do something in medicine that is going to help people, especially young athletes.”
He also is expected to play baseball in college.
He talked about his Holy Cross experience.
“I have been very happy here. It is a small school and you get to knowR.J. Boyle leads Holy Cross pitching staff
everyone. That makes for a good baseball team and experience.”
One aspect of the game has been a sure thing. The Holy Cross Crusaders always play confident with R.J. Boyle on the mound. “I enjoy pitching for this team. We have a great group of guys.”