For most incoming college freshmen, earning one role on the field is challenging enough. Nolan Kolanko is hoping to earn two.
Kolanko, a 2026 Pennsbury High School graduate headed to Delaware Valley University as a first baseman, has spoken with the Aggies’ coaching staff about developing into a two-way player at the collegiate level. If his performance Tuesday night was any indication, he is building a compelling case.
Given an opportunity to start on the mound, Kolanko delivered a complete game on 94 pitches for Philly Bandits Black in an 8-4 victory over the Philly Mummers in a rain-shortened, six-inning game at Munro Community Park in Warminster.
Although the Bandits fell behind 4-0 through three innings, none of the runs charged to Kolanko were earned. Four errors in the opening frames put the right-hander in difficult situations, but he never allowed the game to unravel.
Kolanko pitched effectively to contact, inducing a steady stream of weak ground balls while consistently working ahead in the count. He allowed five hits, struck out three and walked only one, giving his offense time to recover.
“I felt good out there,” Kolanko said. “The fastball had a lot of movement on it. That’s the primary pitch. That’s my go-to.”
Bandits head coach Steve Melly has come to expect that type of poise from Kolanko.
“I love Nolan on the mound because he comes at guys,” Melly said. “He attacks hitters and doesn’t mess around. He’s come up clutch for us a couple times this year.”
Kolanko’s four-pitch mix — fastball, curveball, slider and occasional changeup — is coneentional. His method of deploying it is not.
Although he primarily uses a traditional delivery, Kolanko will occasionally alter his arm slot and drop into a submarine-style motion with his fastball, giving hitters a different look and disrupting their timing.
“I don’t really pitch, so I gotta mess with hitters the best that I can,” Kolanko said. “Throwing submarine-style works for me.”
The delivery was not something Kolanko was formally taught. It developed almost by accident.
He began experimenting with the submarine motion while playing catch in high school and soon realized he could throw strikes from the lower arm angle. It has since become another weapon in his arsenal.
“He’s a free spirit with that,” Melly said. “When he feels it, he feels it. Today it looked pretty good. He was filling up the zone. It’s just a different look for opposing hitters so they can’t time him up.”
Melly also credited Kolanko’s ability to get ahead early, forcing hitters to put the ball in play rather than allowing them to extend at-bats.
“He gets ahead early with first-pitch strikes and forces guys to swing the bat,” Melly said. “That’s good because it keeps our defense engaged and limits free passes and extra runs.”
The Bandits scored once in the fourth inning before erupting for seven runs in the fifth to complete the comeback. Knowing the lineup was capable of producing that type of response allowed Kolanko to remain aggressive on the mound, even after the early defensive miscues.
“I think we have the best offense in the league,” Kolanko said. “I’m always confident in my guys to come through and put up the runs that I need.”
That confidence extends beyond the box score. While Kolanko’s complete-game effort highlighted his potential as a two-way player, his teammates also feed off something less measurable: his energy.
“He’s a character. He’s a really good glue guy,” Melly said. “He’s always in the game and keeps his teammates in it. He’s a lot of fun to be around, the guys love him and when he’s on the mound, the guys go extra hard for him.”
As Kolanko prepares to begin his collegiate career at Delaware Valley, he hopes to contribute both at first base and on the mound. Tuesday’s outing showed that his value may not be limited to either position. It comes from his willingness to compete wherever he is needed.
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