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| Chris DiCrecchio is hitting .455 this season with the Kings. | PHOTO: Cory Nidoh |
As the Malvern-based Kings loosen up with shouts and sprints down the right-field line at Upper Moreland High School, Chris DiCrecchio moves with quiet purpose. The 13-year-old isn’t just preparing for another Philly Select League game against the Philly Bandits Black squad. He’s setting the tone.
With a stoic demeanor, DiCrecchio syncs up with his starting pitcher and settles into his pregame rhythm. Moments later, he jogs to home plate, greets the umpire, and drops into his one-knee-down stance. The first pitch is thrown. His expression doesn't change.
“I learned that from my dad, my coaches and just growing up,” DiCrecchio said regarding his mannerism.
“He feels at home on a sports field or in any kind of sports setting,” said DiCrecchio’s mom, Marisha. “He just feels like he belongs.”
As a toddler, DiCrecchio dabbled in football and basketball, but baseball and hockey emerged as his sports of choice. He’s an impressive defenseman on the Junior Flyers 14U AAA team, and he believes the physicality of hockey gives him an edge on the baseball field.
“For hockey you need speed and be aggressive. That translates to baseball being able to run the bases and being aggressive at the plate,” DiCrecchio said.
“I think it always keeps him active,” Marisha added about her son’s involvement in multiple sports. “It keeps him in shape and it keeps him and us going.”
Despite playing the most demanding position on the field, DiCrecchio rarely comes out for a courtesy runner. His speed and athleticism are rare for a catcher, and a clear advantage at this level.
“He is a lot faster than a lot of guys. He has the green light every time he gets on,” said assistant coach Bret Clarke.
DiCrecchio doesn’t just lead with his legs. He manages the pitching staff and calls his own games most of the time, showcasing a maturity well beyond his age. On Tuesday, it was his approach at the plate that stood out. After popping up to second base in his first at-bat, he drew a bases-loaded walk in the second inning to drive in a run. Then in the third, he smoked a double to left-center to bring in another run, helping lead the Kings to a convincing 10-0 win in five innings.
“I got jammed in my first at-bat. So I was really trying to stay close and short. Stay on top and drive the baseball,” DiCrecchio recalled.
“He is very meticulous with his swings. He doesn’t swing at bad pitches, which is what you need, especially at this age,” Clarke said of his young catcher.
That attention to detail has translated to eye-popping numbers. DiCrecchio is hitting .455 with a .559 on-base percentage. He has 25 hits, including four doubles and a home run, and has driven in nine runs. Perhaps most impressive: he has struck out just twice in 68 plate appearances.
Clarke recognized DiCrecchio’s potential as early as the fall.
“Every Sunday you could tell right away. He took practice serious and was locked in. I never saw him play until our first game and I said, ‘Geez. This is our catcher? That is insane.’”
And while his talent separates him from many of his peers, DiCrecchio’s attitude sets him apart just as much.
“He is a good teammate and a great kid. Especially with his talent, usually they don’t have the right head on them. He has pretty much everything you want in a young player. He is a stud,” Clarke said.
With the win, DiCrecchio and the Kings are in the thick of the race for the top spot in the National League West division of the Philly Select League's 13U Division, right where their steady catcher wants them.
“I just want to win,” DiCrecchio said.
