Fitting farewell

Petulla, Wilson honored for contributions

By Jon Fleck, For the Mirror


Penn State Altoona loses just two seniors to graduation, but those two players will be sorely missed.

Catcher Tony Petulla and 53-year-old outfielder John Wilson were honored for their contributions to the school’s baseball program Sunday prior to their final home game at the Ivyside Athletic Field.

“We have both ends of the spectrum with these two players,’’ coach Joe Piotti said. “Tony’s our stats leader, and John’s our inspirational leader.’’

Petulla, a career .400 hitter and two-time Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, will graduate this spring with a degree in criminal justice but hopes to delay working in that field while he takes a shot at a professional baseball career. The Philipsburg-Osceola grad said Kansas City, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh have shown interest in him.

“I’ll have to wait until June and see what happens in the amateur draft,’’ Petulla said. “Hopefully, I’ll get signed by somebody and start making some money.’’

The Clarion transfer won the AMCC triple crown in 2005 and received first team all-league honors in both 2005 and 2006. After missing all but three games of the 2007 season with a wrist injury, Petulla rebounded this year to hit .448 with 52 hits, 34 runs batted in and a .716 slugging percentage through 38 games.

“In my estimation, Tony’s the best player we’ve ever had here at Penn State Altoona, and one of the best players to ever come out of our league,’’ Piotti said.

Petulla has excelled in the classroom as well, sporting a 3.56 grade-point average that earned him AMCC Academic All-Conference honors three times.

Wilson’s impact on the team usually didn’t show up in the box score, but it has been equally important, Piotti said.

“John is the inspirational leader of our club. He’s been around and that experience has been very valuable to us,’’ the coach said. “The majority of our team is freshmen. He’s been a big help to them going through the season.’’

Wilson has played in 11 games since arriving at Penn State Altoona in 2005. Sunday marked his first career start. He played right field and hit leadoff in the first of two games against Franciscan.

Usually he can be found in the first base coaching box or the dugout providing support and encouragement, Piotti said.

“I’m not real vocal. I try to lead by example. Johnny’s the vocal one,’’ Petulla said.

“I have a great bunch of teammates,’’ Wilson said. “I just talk to them and try to get them to relax. I tell the guys to have a good time and not put any pressure on themselves.’’

Wilson has a wealth of experience to back up his words. The Pittsburgh native overcame drug and alcohol addictions before returning to college. His story has received attention not just locally but nationally as well.

“It’s beyond my wildest dreams to have played college baseball,’’ Wilson said. “It’s been an amazing, priceless experience, one of the best experiences in my life. I’m the first one in my family to go to college and graduate. That’s a heck of an accomplishment.’’

Nicknamed “The Difference Maker,’’ Wilson is slated to graduate in the fall with a degree in human development and family studies. He plans to return to the counseling profession and remain active in local baseball circles.

“The most important thing is that they get their degrees. That’s why we’re celebrating,’’ Piotti said. “Baseball’s important, too. They go hand-in-hand.’’

Wilson, making his first career start Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader, went 2-for-3, scored two runs and made a diving catch in center field in a 10-5 victory over Franciscan.

He then went 1-for-4 with a double in the second game, a 9-1 victory over Franciscan.