Baseball player of the year can't play, panel rules

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Far from the ballfield and about to get much farther, Justin Pacchioli didn't react as the athletic panel announced his fate.

He didn't wear Easton's red, where he made his start as a baseball standout. And his shirt wasn't Nazareth blue, where he hopes to finish it.

He wore gray, the same color of his chances to ever play high school baseball again.

The PIAA District 11 committee ruled Wednesday evening in a tight vote that the star catcher's mid-year transfer from the Easton Area to Nazareth Area was motivated by athletic reasons, barring him from playing for the Blue Eagles this spring. The 8-6 vote means this will be the first season in Pacchioli's high school career that he won't be returning to the baseball diamond.

The Lehigh University recruit and Morning Call 2010 player of the year declined comment after the hearing at Wilson Area High School, but his lawyer said he plans to appeal the decision.

Appearing before the panel flanked by his parents and his aunt and uncle, Pacchioli and his lawyer testified in a closed session for nearly three hours, with the panel taking less than half an hour to reach a decision.

The star athlete, who also led the Red Rovers football team to the District 11 Class 4A title in 2009 and 2010, transferred to Nazareth Area School District in January after three-and-a-half years at Easton. He hasn't given a straight explanation for the switch, though he's denied transferring because of athletics and has cited personal reasons.

Nazareth officials say the senior is living with a relative in the district. Superintendent Victor Lesky said he has no plans to oppose District 11's decision, as he doesn't have enough information.

If his appeal fails, Pacchioli won't be able to return to Easton to play. The PIAA struck down a "buyer's remorse" transferring clause some time ago, officials said.

It was a grueling evening. During a break in the proceedings, the senior stepped into the hallway and pulled aside Michael Koch, Easton Area High School's principal for 11th and 12th grade. After hours of testimony, his voice was hoarse.

"I just wanted to say — it was nothing against you," he said. "It was just something I had to do."

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-pacchioli-hearing-20110316,0,7915002.story