Southwestern senior-to-be Mitchell Pascarella drew the interest of the University of Connecticut baseball program after throwing a perfect game for the Niagara Junior Thunderwolves in New Jersey earlier this summer. Submitted photo

The news came from Mitchell Pascarella’s Twitter account on Wednesday.

“I am very excited,” the Southwestern Central School soon-to-be senior tweeted to his 167 followers, “to announce my commitment to the University of Connecticut!”

Imagine then how Pascarella’s baseball coaches through the years — the ones who helped him from tee-ball to varsity ball — must have felt.

Guys like Camarata, Snyder, Melquist, Miller, Vaughn and Pannes; Card, Pascarella, Barone, Koper and Brown; Kapuscinski, Houser, Bouckhuyt, T-Bone and Burk; and Hesketh, Ziemecki, Cuvy, Rounds and Emley.

They’ve all likely been pretty charged up since the news broke 36 hours ago, because one of their own will be playing Division I baseball for the Huskies next year.

Pascarella’s announcement comes only months after Jamestown High School graduate Bryce Jackson committed to play Division I baseball at Canisius College. The right-handed pitching ace just recently reported to the Buffalo school to begin his freshman year.

Pascarella, the son of Mike Pascarella and Maryfran Powall, won’t report to the Storrs, Connecticut campus for another year, but it’s clear The Post-Journal all-star is excited about the opportunity.

“What I find attractive is the quality of the coaching staff,” Pascarella said. “They have been at UConn for a while now and have a great system. The facilities are going to be brand new as of this spring, (including) a new stadium with turf playing surface, and new locker room and batting cages.”

Recruited primarily as a pitcher, Pascarella had also considered Niagara, Canisius, Bucknell, St. Bonaventure and Penn State as possible college destinations.

“The past year I played for the Niagara Junior Thunderwolves, which has been one of the best baseball experiences I have had,” he said. ” … I have been on UConn’s radar since I threw a perfect game at Diamond Nation (in New Jersey) late this summer.”

That performance came on the heels of a junior season at Southwestern in which Pascarella was named the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division I West Roger Moore Player of the Year after helping the Trojans to a 14-8 record. Offensively, he batted .415 and slugged .615 with six doubles, two triples, a home run and 26 runs scored while stealing 15 bases. On the mound, Pascarella posted a 5-3 record with a 1.20 earned-run average. In 46 innings pitched, he struck out 83.

“I’m so happy for Mitchell,” Southwestern varsity coach Jared Brown said. “Since seventh grade, I could see his potential, and knew that he had something special. I’m so proud, not just for the baseball player he’s become, but also for the man he’s become.”

UConn competes in the American Athletic Conference, but will move to the Big East Conference after the 2020 season. In 2019, the Huskies posted a 39-25 record, including 12-12 in conference play.

“I personally wanted to be committed before the start of school,” Pascarella said. “It is customary in baseball to commit the summer headed into your senior year, so this isn’t too early, but it’s a big relief knowing my plan for college.”

In addition to the list of coaches who have helped him along the way, Pascarella’s biggest influence has been his cousin, Tyler Bortnick, who played at Coastal Carolina University and was later drafted and spent nine years in the minor leagues as an infielder.

“I look up to him for the passion he carries, along with his work ethic,” Pascarella said. “He also is a genuine person and, when I call, he is there to help me out.”

Brown believes that Pascarella will eventually be a big help to the Huskies.

“It doesn’t go to anyone that doesn’t work,” the Trojans head coach said. “Mitchell works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. He put in his time and put in the effort. What he’s done (for the Junior Thunderwolves) and what he’s done at Southwestern, he’s really taken the bull by the horns and done whatever he can.”