FORT WASHINGTON — Carter Tucholski figured he had a good chance to play on the Quakertown varsity baseball team as a freshman, but he wasn’t expecting this.
“I didn’t know I’d play this much of a role and be in the starting (pitching) rotation,” Tucholski said. “It’s kind of a surprise to me, but I love it.”
Head coach Jon Pallone and the Panthers have benefited from Tucholski’s contributions at bat and as a starting pitcher for the PIAA District One Class 6A playoff-bound Panthers (10-9 overall, 9-6 SOL Liberty Division). The playoffs begin May 19 and Quakertown, which is No. 14 in the latest rankings, would get a first-round home game if it remains in the top 16.
Quakertown’s shortstop and the No. 5 batter in the order, Tucholski is hitting .385 with seven doubles, two triples, a home run and 13 RBIs. As a pitcher, he’s 2-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 24? innings.
“Carter has been a great addition both with his bat and his pitching,” said Quakertown senior first baseman Anthony Pellegrini. “He is a guy we want at the plate with runners in scoring position and he thrives in high-leverage situations.”
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Tucholski went 2 for 4 with the go-ahead, two-run hit down the left-field line in the top of the sixth inning during Tuesday’s 5-1 win at Upper Dublin.
Among his other memorable moments were throwing a complete game with a double and triple in a 4-3 victory against Wissahickon and another complete game with two hits on offense in a 12-3 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Tucholski’s transition to high school ball was relatively seamless. His teammates accepted him and he performed well after initially playing third base and hitting at the bottom of the order.
“As a coach, you’re always a little concerned when a young player forces his way into the lineup,” Pallone said. “But from tryouts to our trip to Tennessee, and still now, Carter has fit right in — not just with the older guys, but with the younger ones, too.
“Carter came into the program highly recommended, but he had to earn his way to where he is. Nothing was given to him. … He’s a confident kid and I think he believed in himself and seized every opportunity he got.”
Tucholski especially enjoys being a starting pitcher because “I like how the game is in my hands. The outcome’s on me (and) I like that pressure.”
Tucholski and brothers Cole and Chase are baseball-playing triplets. Though they were teammates on the Five Star Northeast 15U out of Hatfield last summer, the trio are on different squads this spring. Cole is at Perkiomen School, which hosted Quakertown on March 25, and Chase plays for the Panthers freshman team.
A 15-year-old Quakertown resident, Tucholski also contributed to the Panthers’ district-qualifying 2024 football squad as a backup quarterback and safety, special teamer and punter.
It’s too early for him to know which sport he’ll pursue in college, but he has plenty of time to figure that out — with a lot of baseball and football to play for the Panthers.
Tucholski has already joined a stellar group of Quakertown baseball players such as Danny Qualteria, Jake Reed, Justin Butler, Ty Everitt and Danny Schwalm to contribute at the varsity level as freshmen during Pallone’s 12 years as head coach.
“That’s pretty good company,” Pallone said. “And I’m not sure any of those guys had a season quite like Carter is having.”
Tom Moore: [email protected]; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist forPhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.