Pittston Area’s Kyle O’Fier commits to playing baseball at Bloomsburg University

YATESVILLE – When Paul Zaffuto started noticing Pittston Area’s more successful baseball opponents were bigger than the Patriots, it was time for a change.

In a routine once reserved for football teams, the team made a greater commitment to the weight room in the past two years.

That commitment paid off for shortstop Kyle O’Fier, who signed his National Letter of Intent Friday to continue his academic and athletic careers on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II level at Bloomsburg University.

“When he was a sophomore, Kyle already had great mechanics and the natural ability to field the ball the way a college player does,” Patriots coach Paul Zaffuto said.

O’Fier, however, did not get to the point of drawing interest from Division I and Division II colleges until he became stronger physically through being one of the team’s most committed players to the offseason workouts.

“They put the gun on you and they want to see how hard you throw the ball across the diamond,” Zaffuto said. “He was throwing it across at 75, 76 (miles per hour), now he’s got it up to 84, 85.

“He picked up 10 miles per hour from using his back, using his legs, using his shoulders. Before he was just throwing the ball, now he’s using his body and his body has changed.”

O’Fier, who played second base with Baseball U, a summer program that helped his expose him to college recruiters, expects to play one of the middle infield positions at Bloomsburg. He will study mathematics and secondary education with a minor in special education.

“It was very stressful,” O’Fier said of the decision process in which he also made recruiting visits to Division I Monmouth, Division II Lock Haven and Lackawanna College, a junior college, while exploring other options. “There were a lot of schools to be narrowed down.

“Bloomsburg was the best fit geographically, financially and with its baseball team.”

The Huskies play in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division.

“They’re one of the best in PSAC East, the best Division II conference in the state,” O’Fier said. “I can’t wait to get out there and get ready for the next chapter.”

Bloomsburg finished 23-23 last season.

Pittston Area shortstop Kyle O’Fier committed to play college baseball at Bloomsburg University where he will be an education major. O’Fier had a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. He is seated along with his parents, Mary Ellen and Dan O’Fier. From left, standing, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, athletic director Charlie Turco and assistant principal Chris Lazevnick.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_OFier-1.jpgPittston Area shortstop Kyle O’Fier committed to play college baseball at Bloomsburg University where he will be an education major. O’Fier had a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. He is seated along with his parents, Mary Ellen and Dan O’Fier. From left, standing, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, athletic director Charlie Turco and assistant principal Chris Lazevnick.