Pacchioli cleared to play baseball for Nazareth

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Morning Call baseball player of the year Justin Pacchioli has been approved by the PIAA Board of Control to play baseball for Nazareth this spring.

The Board of Control voted 14-12 to approve Pacchioli, a star catcher who had appealed the decision made by the District 11 committee last week.

The District 11 committee voted 8-6 to not allow Pacchioli to play at Nazareth, believing there was enough evidence that his transfer from Easton to Nazareth was for -- at least in part -- athletic reasons.

But as the PIAA did in the case of standout wrestler Mike Fleck earlier in the school year, it overturned the decision of the District 11 committee. No District 11 committee members are allowed to vote on the Board of Control when one of the district's athletes are involved.

Why does the PIAA overturn these decisions? Many have suggested it has to do with fear of lawsuits.

As one member of the District 11 committee told me in confirming that Pacchioli had been cleared to play: "Now you know why more kids are not stopped from playing even when it's obvious they are transferring for athletic reasons. The PIAA will overturn us anyway."

Pacchioli has not said why he left Easton after three-and-a-half years.

In addition to his stellar baseball career, he was the face of Red Rover football, leading the program to back-to-back District 11 4A championships.

Pacchioli is also a Lehigh University baseball recruit.

Nazareth's scheduled opener against Pocono Mountain East was postponed today due to weather-related issues.


http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/