Rafetto powered Pats on and off the field

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

When one looks out on the baseball diamond or checks the box scores of games to see who are some of the best players around, it is easy to see who has the most hits, home runs or throws the most strikeouts.
What sometimes is not so easy to see is the way a player inspires those around him on the baseball field to do their best. Sometimes it is with a word of encouragement, other times it is done by a player just going about his business, the work ethic of a player can inspire those around him to give just a little bit more themselves.
This season, Great Valley’s Tom Rafetto was not only the statistical leader of the 15-5 Patriots, but he was the heart-and-soul of the entire Great Valley roster. Opposing pitchers and coaches knew late in the game where Rafetto was hitting in the order or when it was time to see the senior on the mound.
Rafetto’s stats were glorious as he hit .529 with 18 RBIs, four doubles, five triples and three home runs while scoring 19 runs. On the mound, Rafetto was the ace of a Patriots team that won the American Division of the Ches-Mont League and went to the semifinals of the Class AAA District 1 playoffs.
Rafetto was also 8-2 on the hill for Great Valley to go along with his offensive output.
It is for this all-around season that Tom Rafetto is the Daily Local News Player of the Year.
“Tom was a four-year starter for us,” Great Valley coach Matt Schultz said. “He started out as an outfielder then we moved him to third base and he also grew tremendously as a pitcher. He has an all-around game and he did whatever we asked of him.
“He would do anything to help the team win. He was not selfish and say he wanted to remain at one position. He worked very hard at getting better and to see him go from a thrower to a pitcher was something. He is just a great kid.”
Rafetto will play his collegiate ball at Penn State University-Altoona where he will also be asked to play more than one position, something the team player says is right up his alley.
“The coaches there told me that I would probably be playing the outfield,” Rafetto said. “But they also said they’ll work me into pitching situations when they needed me.
Whatever it takes I am willing to do. I just want to play,” he said.
Rafetto earned much respect around the Ches-Mont as Great Valley opened some of the old guard National Division teams eyes this season.
“Great Valley had a real good year, they may have been the best team in the Ches-Mont and that kid Rafetto did it all for them,” Coatesville’s Hal Ziegler said. “He hit the ball, threw the ball and did a lot of things for them.”
Ziegler’s assistant coach, Chad Ohar, was also impressed with the Great Valley leader.
“He is a great choice for player of the year,” Ohar said. “He is a real good player.”
While Great Valley enjoyed success this season, Schultz said that Rafetto should get much of the credit for the Patriots championship
“Tom just does whatever it takes to win,” Schultz said. “I was very fortunate to have him for all four years. To start as a freshman and sophomore will tell you what kind of player and kid he is.”
Those who watched Rafetto play saw a passion and a commitment to his craft and they also saw something not always seen on today’s athletic fields. They saw a selfless player who cared more about the team than his personal pursuits.
To contact staff writer Peter DiGiovanni send an e-mail to pdigiovanni@dailylocal.com