A hint of déjà vu
for Central senior

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Last year Jared Farbman came in as an unknown hurler.
This year, he entered as a known commodity.
And aside from that one difference, the two seasons have been eerily similar.
Farbman, a senior at Central High School, pitched the Lancers into the Public League championship game when he helped his team down Northeast, 2-1, in a league semifinal match on May 24.
This will be the second year in a row that the Somerton resident will lead the Lancers into the championship game against Frankford, and the third straight year that Central is going for the crown (the Lancers won a title game and lost one). The game was scheduled for Tuesday, after the Times went to press.
"It feels great to have such a successful season," said Farbman. "We’ve all worked really hard, and it’s great to make it so far again this year."
Farbman had 12 strikeouts during the eight-inning face-off in the semifinals. The four-year varsity player — who threw more than 100 pitches — made pitching a three-hour game look easy.
"I was ready to keep pitching if they asked me to," he said. "I wasn’t too worried. You can’t let the pressure get to you. Regardless of the game, the team . . . it’s still baseball. You still have to pitch. You still have to hit your spots."
The 6-foot-4 hurler didn’t see too much playing time until his junior year, thanks largely to former Central ace Andrew Reynolds. But now, during his final season with the Lancers, Farbman’s patience has paid off with a trip to the title game.
"Jared has been doing this for years," said coach Bob Barthelmeh. "I don’t think there’s a better pitcher in the Public League than Jared. And he’s continuing to get better every year. He started off on varsity as a freshman and has become a better hitter, fielder and pitcher. And I’m really proud of him."
Last year, Farbman started for the Lancers in a 10-9 victory over West Chester Henderson in the first round of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA tournament. That win was historic because it was the first time a Public League squad won a game in the state playoffs.
That wasn’t the end of Central’s success — they went on to win a second-round game, a 1-0 victory over Central Douphin. The Lancers’ streak ended one game later when they fell to Delaware Valley, 7-1, in a state semifinal.
This season, the Lancers are hoping to see history repeat itself.
"Sometimes I think I might be a little overconfident because we did so well last year," said Farbman. "But we know that we have to work hard to get back to where we were."
With their win over the Vikings, the Lancers will return to the PIAA playoffs because the top two finishers in the Public League earn spots in the tournament.
Farbman expects success, but he knows it’s not going to come easily.
"I’ve worked hard and I know what I have to do," said Farbman. "I just have to do my job and get people out. I kind of like that it’s all on me. I have to throw my strikes — throw my pitches. And my fielders do the rest."
Farbman has four solid pitches to choose from, including an 87-mph fastball.
"Before a game, I get their lineup and talk to my catcher about everything — what I’m going to pitch and who I’m going to pitch it to, and what we think will work to help us win," said Farbman.
After graduation, Farbman will be headed to Philadelphia University in the fall, where he plans to study business and play for the Rams.
"I liked the school a lot when I went to visit," said Farbman. "I liked the program and I really liked the coach, so it was a great fit.
"I’m excited to play college ball. But I still do get nervous sometimes," he continued. "You can ask my teammates — ask anybody, really — but once I’m out there on the mound, I’m ready to go." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com