Washington’s Wilmer stars in win over Esperanza

Don't think for a minute, even a second, that Aaron Wilmer remotely gave thought to not playing baseball this spring for George Washington High.

Wait, wasn't he a top-notch quarterback for the Eagles' Public League championship squad? Won't he participate in just one sport at Division II West Chester?

"No way!" he darn near roared. "I'm going to be playing both sports. I love them both equally. Really, because of my dad [Tom, former Jules Mastbaum Tech third baseman], baseball was my first love."

OK, so once Wilmer gets to West Chester, let's say the coaches of football/baseball get together and decide he should indeed play only one sport. What would happen then?

"I might have to transfer," he quipped.

The occasion yesterday was a Public League quarterfinal, and the 5-10, 195-pound Wilmer, playing third base and batting third, enjoyed a starring role as the host Eagles thumped Esperanza Academy Charter, 12-2, in six innings.

Overall he went 3-for-4 with two RBI and as many runs scored, but here's guessing he most wanted to discuss his two-run homer to dead centerfield in the third.

The ball cleared the short fence that runs from leftfield to center, and it landed near the high fence that runs from right to center.

"I'd say 420 feet, at least," Wilmer said. "It was a 2-0 count and after 4 years of varsity baseball, I knew what was coming. It was a fastball. Right down Broadway. With a guy already on second, he sure didn't want to wind up with another baserunner, so he had to give me a good one.

"I knew it was out. My right ankle has been hurting a little, so I went into the home-run trot real early.

"My girlfriend, Demi Cuffari, was the loudest person there when I hit that homer. Well, except for my brothers [Thomas, Damien]. She was really yelling. 'Go, baby! Go!' You know how that goes."

Wilmer, the coaches' MVP of Division A, is also Washington's No. 1 pitcher. Coach Calvin Jones made the decision to try to get past Esperanza without using him and, thus, he'll be fresh for tomorrow's semifinal vs. Frankford.

Tom Marano went 4 1/3 innings, followed by Dan Meade.

"I talked with Mr. Jones about how we were approaching this," Wilmer said. "I agreed with his thinking, but I also told him I'd be ready, if necessary. That didn't happen, so I'll be good to go in the semis, and then in the final, too."

Yup, that's what he said. Wilmer is known for being feisty.

Originally, he thought he'd be heading to Fordham for football. But that hope vanished.

"Once the D-IIs knew I was still on the board, they hounded me like a dog," he said. "I visited a few. Talked to some others. I loved everything about West Chester, so that's where I'm going. I already have my playbook and I'm studying everything. Really, I'm ready to go now.

"They say they're going to let me battle against the projected starting quarterback, [Chestnut Hill Academy product] Mike Mattei. Well, he better watch out. Hurricane Wilmer is coming."

Told ya he's feisty.

Dean Grande posted a two-run single in Washington's three-run first while Meade had an RBI double and ended it with a walkoff single in the sixth. Luis Santos had two RBI for Esperanza.

In other PL quarterfinals:

* Frankford 6, Franklin Towne 1: Edimil Brito's RBI single made it 2-1 in the home third while a two-run fifth featured a successful squeeze by winning pitcher Brandon Gonzalez and an RBI single by Francisco Bonilla (3-for-3). Gonzalez yielded nine hits and struck out just three, but his teammates played errorless ball.

* GAMP 11, Northeast 3: Jimmy Coin went 2-for-3 with four RBI, Dom Raia went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI and Anthony DiVincenzo fanned six while allowing eight hits. Luis Contreras managed two hits for the Vikings.