Pat Zehnder: Bethel Park
As a high school baseball player, Pat Zehnder was part of only one winning season and never won a playoff game.
But Zehnder returned to high school baseball years later — this time as a coach — and in a two-year span has guided his team to a level of success that only a few teams in WPIAL history have ever achieved.
Zehnder has hit the ball out of the park as Bethel Park’s coach, and this season guided the Black Hawks (21-4) to their second consecutive PIAA Class 5A title. They became only the fourth WPIAL team to win back-toback PIAA baseball titles, joining Riverside (2005-2006 and 2011-2012) and Moon (2001-2002). And just like those Moon teams from two decades ago, Bethel Park has risen to the top despite the “WPIAL champion” label not being attached to its name. The Black Hawks lost in the final in 2021 and in the semifinals this season.
“This is something special,” Zehnder said. “To be the only team to end the season with a win two years in a row is a testament to their leadership, their competitiveness, and just their ability to rise to the moment.”
For his efforts, Zehnder is the Post-Gazette Baseball Coach of the Year.
Zehnder, 33, is a 2007 Ambridge High School graduate who went on to play at Westminster College. Coaching and teaching are in his blood. Both of his parents were teachers. His father, Harry, coached girls basketball and baseball at Wilmington High School. Pat is a special education and mathematics teacher at Bethel Park High School.
It was following the 2019 season when Zehnder took over as Bethel Park’s head coach. He had spent four seasons as an assistant there, the final three as junior varsity head coach. Zehnder’s first coaching job came at North Hills, where he was a volunteer assistant on the ninth grade team before becoming the ninth grade coach the following season. Zehnder then went to Elizabeth Forward, where he was junior varsity coach for two seasons and even spent a season as an assistant swim coach.
“They needed a dry land coach,” he said. “I was one of those new hungry teachers who didn’t know the word ‘No,’ so they asked me to help out. It was a great experience.”
Zehnder has been a part of a couple of great experiences at Bethel Park. Much was expected this season despite the loss of standout pitcher Eric Chalus, who is now at Kent State. But another Kent State-bound pitcher, junior Evan Holewinski (10-0), had an outstanding season, young arms like Nathan Vargo and Ryan Walsh shined after stepping into bigger roles, and veterans David Kessler and Cody Geddes fueled an offense that averaged seven runs per game.
Q: Why did you get into coaching?
A: It became evident quite early on that I probably wouldn’t be able to continue my playing career past college. I love the game. Even just playing video games, you envision yourself as a coach of a team. When you know you’re not going to be playing baseball and you’re in the education field, it’s only natural to get into coaching. I have been fortunate to work with great kids and great coaches. I love coaching and it still makes me hungry to play.
Q: Can you give a funny moment from this season?
A: Our very last practice we had a Slip ‘N Slide. One of our assistants had the idea. It was a very hot day, and at the end of practice we were hosing down the players and they loved it. So we said we should get a Slip ‘N Slide. One of the assistants got one, and we set it up by the bullpen. I dove across it and said, ‘If I can do it without getting hurt, anyone can.’
Q: Your two PIAA gold medals … where are they being displayed?
A: I have a pretty sad mancave. I need to put some work into it. I have a room with some posters and other sports things that I’ve gathered through the years hanging in there. I’ve got some medals along with some balls from the PIAA playoffs. They’re definitely displayed proudly, though. When I walk by them, I think of how fortunate I am.
Q: How good is high school baseball in Western Pennsylvania?
A: It really seems to be going through a boom right now. It’s been really good for
a long time, but the word is now out about Western Pa. high school baseball. Schools in the SEC are looking at WPIAL guys. Notre Dame has gotten multiple commitments. Kent State has figured out we have some really good arms coming through our program. There are so many really good teams. So many state championship-caliber teams. Some guys are being drafted right out of high school. It’s a really cool time to be a part of this.
Q: No WPIAL team has ever three- peated at states. Will Bethel Park do it next year?
A: No complaints here if that can work out again. Obviously, so much has to go your way, and we’ve been fortunate to stay healthy. We want to win the section and the WPIAL, and we’ll have a goal and expectation set that the state championship will be the ultimate goal. This team has set the bar for success very high.