Jim Myarick is ready
to be a Griffin

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

s the fall arrives, Jim Myarick will move out of his parents’ Somerton home and into a college dorm room.
The 18-year-old isn’t nervous about living on his own. This time last year, Myarick was venturing along the streets of Europe — he visited Italy and Greece for two weeks.
"It was a great trip," he said. "The Greek people were very friendly, so Greece was fun for the social aspect. They are just happy people. In Italy, the food was great. And the weather was perfect everywhere."
Myarick had the opportunity to travel abroad while attending Holy Ghost High School. The international expedition was coordinated through the boys school, allowing Myarick and 30 classmates to travel the globe.
"At the time of our trip, the World Cup was going on over there and America played Italy when we were in Italy," said Myarick. "It was an insane time. It’s just ridiculous over there. Everyone is going crazy, and there is soccer stuff everywhere. We think Eagles fans are bad, but they’re nuts over there. It was a great experience."
Myarick even got to sample the sport firsthand when he played some locals in a friendly game of soccer.
"They just whupped us," Myarick said with a laugh. "And they were young, like thirteen! But it was fun playing with locals. It was pretty cool because they knew what Philadelphia was, and actually a lot of them heard of Geno’s (steaks), which I thought was funny."
Now, a little more than one year after that international journey, Myarick is preparing for another trip, this one much closer to home. The recent Holy Ghost graduate will attend Gwynedd Mercy College in a few weeks. He will live on campus and study business.
But that’s not what he’s most excited about.
"I can’t wait to start playing college baseball," he said. "College is coming up quick. I can’t believe how fast summer has gone by, but I’m really excited to play ball for Gwynedd Mercy."
Having played four years of high school ball with the Firebirds, the righthanded hurler is confident in his skills.
"We played a lot of big schools at Holy Ghost," he said. "I think it helps you because you have to go out with the same mentality every game, despite who the opposing team is. That’s what you have to do in college, too. You have to work hard every game. It doesn’t come easy."
Myarick’s decision to wear a Griffins jersey in college wasn’t too perplexing. It fact, it was Griffins coach Paul Murphy who initially approached Myarick.
"The coach there was great, and the other players on the team said they liked the way the coach worked with them," he recalled. "And I was recruited with them, so it all seemed like a good fit."
Murphy created the baseball program at Gwynedd Mercy College in 1999. Since then, he has led the Griffins to five PAC championships and has compiled 200 career wins.
"We’re real excited to have Jim here," said Murphy. "He’s a committed player, and we think he has a lot of potential. We heard some great things about him. We’ve seen him play in Legion ball and at Holy Ghost Prep. And we expect great things from him both on and off the field."
Myarick has been playing baseball since he was old enough to swing a bat. Defensively, he stood strong on the mound as a kid, and continued to refine his pitching skills over the years.
"I’ve been playing baseball since my tee-ball days, so basically my whole life," said Myarick. "I’ve been pitching since I was eleven. I always liked playing other positions, and I still do, but I really enjoy pitching. And it’s what I got recruited for, so I figured it’s my best position."
Myarick has mastered an 85-mile-per-hour fastball, as well as a curve, slider and change-up. He’s working on his newest pitch, a splitter.
"I’ll throw whatever is working that day," he said. "If you give up a bad pitch, it’s on you. It’s not necessarily a control thing but I like being up there by myself, working toward the hitter. I throw almost every day, warming up to keep my arm stronger. I try to throw as much as I can."
The soon-to-be collegiate athlete is staying in shape over the summer with the Bustleton American Legion team, which finished the regular season in first place with a 12-4-1 record.
"There are a lot of talented players in the Legion league," he said. "Legion is a little harder since its summer. It’s a little tough because you see your friends going down the shore, but I like baseball. And everybody has to sacrifice something."
This is Myarick’s third season with Bustleton. Last year the squad lost to Ivy Ridge, 10-5, in the semifinals. The loss was discouraging for Bustleton, which has failed to win the city championship for two consecutive years after winning six straight titles.
But all of that could change this year.
"I’m really excited for the playoffs," said Myarick, whose Bustleton team was scheduled to play on Wednesday as the Times went to press. "The whole team is really coming together, and I’m confident that we’ll win." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com