NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA-Some people call him Mike, and others call him Michael. So, Mike/Michael Warnick was asked, which do you prefer?
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Really, it doesn’t matter at all.”
Considering what the Haverford School senior endured during his sophomore baseball season and the subsequent year of recovery that followed, it’s not surprising that choosing a first-name preference is nowhere on Warnick’s list of priorities.
It was the second game on the Inter-Academic League calendar, and Warnick was slated to be a Haverford mainstay despite his young age.
All of that changed in the second inning. As he had done since he was very young, Warnick cocked his right arm and delivered a pitch to the waiting catcher.
That would be his final pitch of the season.
“I felt a very sharp pain in my shoulder,” said Warnick. “I immediately stopped and asked for the trainer. I knew something was really wrong.”
Turned out that Warnick had basically shredded his shoulder. Less than two months later, surgery. The rest of his summer and, later, fall and winter, required painful and arduous physical therapy.
By the spring of his junior year, Warnick was strong enough to start pitching again, though he received physical therapy simultaneously. Although it was great to be part of the team again, Warnick struggled.
“I had to learn how to throw again,” he said. “I lost muscle memory, and my mechanics were off. It took me a while to trust throwing. It affected my performance; it destroyed a little bit of last year.”
This season is shaping up to offer a distinctly different plot.
Haverford School's pitcher Mike Warnick checking the sign (photo John Knebels)
On April 15, Warnick supplied standout status in Haverford’s 13-0 victory at Episcopal Academy. Although sophomore Justin Meyer drove in three runs and junior Dave Hogarth added two, all eyes engaged on the calm, cool, collected upperclassman on the mound.
In firing his first career shutout and complete game – albeit five innings’ worth, since the mercy rule was in effect – Warnick finally allowed himself an opportunity to exhale, both internally and externally.
Haverford adds a two-run single
Haverford's Dave Hogarth scores on a wild pitch
Haverford's Mike Warnick ends threat with a strikeout
He only allowed four singles, and when Episcopal loaded the bases in the fourth inning, Warnick struck out the final batter to end the threat.
“The whole game felt good,” said Warnick. “Finally, all of that hard work is starting to pay off.”
Warnick raved about his team’s overall defense, particularly the infield of senior catcher and St. Joseph’s University-bound James McConnon, junior first baseman Bryan Hyland, junior second baseman Tommy Toal, sophomore third baseman Justin Meyer, and junior shortstop Dave Hogarth. A very young outfield consists of sophomore Isaiah Winikur, freshman Logan Keller, sophomore Nick Holtz, and senior Drew Sterman.
“I’m not a strikeout pitcher,” said Warnick, “but I don’t have to be because I know my defense is going to make plays. It takes a ton of pressure off knowing that you don’t have to strike out every hitter.”
Aforementioned teammate Toal appreciates Warnick’s approach.
“When Mike is at his best he is getting ahead in the count and locating his off speed stuff, which he did all game against Episcopal,” said Toal.
“It's fun playing behind a pitcher like Michael when he is in a rhythm because he works fast, keeps the game moving, and always puts our team in a position to win.”
“It’s a lot of fun to play behind him because he’s constantly getting ground ball outs and fly outs, which keeps the team focused and into the game.”
Joining senior Ben Tracy, senior Cameron Miller, and junior Tyler Dunbar, Warnick is surrounded by a host of strong arms that should keep the Fords (8-3 overall, 1-1 league) in the thick of the Inter-Ac race.
Haverford’s hurling depth and offensive punch were on display the next day.
In a 7-6, come-from-behind win over Father Judge, Dunbar, junior, Dex Frederick, and sophomore Tommy Bagnell comprised a gritty complete game; Toal had three hits and scored three runs while McConnon knocked in three more.
HAVERFORD SCHOOL vs. EPISCOPAL ACADEMY
The Inter-Ac contests, however, will remain the team’s focus, and Warnick plans to provide an imprint before he eventually graduates and attends Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. Warnick will pitch for the Division 3 Golden Knights and major in bio-medical, bio-molecular engineering.
“Science and math have always come naturally for me,” said Warnick.
“Maybe because I enjoy it. But I’m not in any rush. I want to make the most of this year.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)