Fairviews Vinny Campoli in detail injured path to the baseball scholarship

Vinny Campoli smiled when he remembered how his final year was going on.

Campoli was subjected to knee surgery on the first Tuesday in October. The day before, he toured the Seton Hill University, curious about the school's baseball program.

Campoli's injury – one that ended the Fairview High School football season deleted his last basketball campaign and in question his baseball career – anything but fun. This applies in particular to an earlier injury that extinguished part of his junior year.

Moments after the start of a walk-off Grand Slam to seal a league championship for the Tigers, however, like to reflect on Campoli how far he got.

After all, he will play baseball in Seton Hill next year. First, Campoli has not yet completed in FairView.

The one with 13: 3, five-in-end victory against North East on Wednesday, has sealed the title of the Tigers' sixth district of District 10 since 2015. Could a fourth D-10 title come next?

In both cases, Campoli remains grateful: for his health, his last weeks in the baseball of the high school and even for his turbulent recruitment process.

“The biggest thing I learned was to appreciate the game,” said Campoli. “Only to be out here with your boys. You only get four years and one of them was taken away.”

In case of doubt

Vinny Campoli's junior basketball season ended in early January 2024. An injury at the end of the season meant that he also missed baseball-maybe his most important campaign for recruitment.

Campolis did not shake this. Another serious injury during football the following September triggered doubts about his future.

“There were definitely doubts there,” admitted Campoli. “But I went through it and trusted the process. I knew that I had the experience through my first (injury) and knew that I could make it.”

Seton Hill liked Campoli's film in the second year and appreciated his sportiness. Campoli liked the campus.

On November 16, 2024, he undertook to play baseball for the grip.

“(Visit to Campus) really brought my hopes to the operation and motivated me in the early phases, which is very difficult,” said Campoli. “I really appreciate that you cut this time for me because it was a really short time.”

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Campoli could only watch FairView in the UPMC Park in last year's D-10 class 3A final in last year's D-10 class 3a the Mercyhurst Prep with 5: 1.

This marked the third title of the Tigers in a row. Two years earlier, they had achieved the program's first Piaa Playoff win in which Campoli recorded the final.

FairView proved in 2024 that it could win short -handers. However, the group of head coach Joe Spinelli has nothing to improve another title.

“(Campoli) changes our line -up,” said Spinelli. “It makes the children around him better. It makes our line -up longer and helps the children who have to beat around him.”

Spinelli prescribed a ramp-up program for Campoli's return, with the aim of being ready for the playoffs. After two weeks in which he had only beaten and beaten, he began playing the third basis, and he was ready to play shortstop until Wednesday.

The plan, said Spinelli, worked floating.

“In addition to the ability, we get his experience back,” said Spinelli. “You can't train that; you have to play and learn. He is an experienced, experienced player who was in many big games.”

Tiger trio

Pitching defined Fairviews 10-3 start by 2025.

It's more than Campoli. The seniors Tyler Benford and Caleb Szklenski paved the way on the hill, the duo that combines 55 innings, and a deserved run of less than one.

The tigers are otherwise young. But Pitching promoted an 8-0 start in Region 5 and relaxed the Fairview league title in the hand-before the D-10 playoffs.

“We didn't always meet and on some days we didn't always catch it, but we set it up pretty well this year,” said Spinelli.

FairView will soon be fighting up to nine other D-10 teams in his search for a further title defense in class 3a. For Campoli, however, the Tigers work is estimated every day.

Injuries were not part of his plan for high school athletics. But maybe Seton Hill gets a better ball player – and a more sophisticated young man – because of them.

“If you trust yourself, you can do what you want,” said Campoli. “Discipline is the key. Four years passes quickly, so enjoy it.”

Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @Realjuveino.

In case of doubt

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Tiger trio

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