LAKE ORION - Coaching changes did not sway the decision Ethan Papacek felt was best for him. The Stoney Creek graduate liked what Sacred Heart had to offer.

“The whole Northeastern Conference was looking more suited for me,” Papacek explained about his college choice made just months before the school year began. “I like the smaller school and I’m religious and this fits that.”

A large list of colleges were being considered by the 39th-rated 2022 right-handed pitcher in Michigan, including Indiana State, Western Illinois, Binghamton, Milwaukee, Illinois State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Michigan State, Merrimack and Western Michigan. But the Stoney Creek product is confident that the private Catholic university located in Fairfield, Ct., was right for him.

“I could tell that Sacred Heart was more invested in me,” Papacek noted. “They seemed to care about me. Coach Wayne (Mazzoni) helped me alot when I was applying to the school and kept me in the loop. It seemed he really wanted me there.”

But Mazzoni, who took over as interim head coach after Nick Restaino stepped down in the middle of June, is no longer in charge of the program and Pat Eagan, an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator the past eight years at Quinnipiac, is the head coach.

“I didn’t rethink it,” Papacek related about a new coach taking over the program. “Coach Egan is well-suited for me and he has some other great coaches coming in.”

The connection with Sacred Heart began during Papacek’s senior season of high school baseball.

“I reached out to them by email a few times and eventually the pitching coach at the time, Wayne Mazzoni, messaged me back,” Papacek reflected. “It was around mid-May. A few weeks later the head coach left and Wayne became the interim head coach. I kept him updated, took a visit and he offered me on the spot. I told him on the visit that I planned on going to Sacred Heart but that I had not been accepted yet. That happened three weeks after taking the visit.” 

When Eagen took the top position in the program, things did not change in regard to the 6-1 200-pound righty.

“I know they like the stuff I have, not just my velo” Papacek said. “They like my performance in games. I just go out for five or six innings and do my thing. I’m a guy they can count on.”

While college interest became strong this past year, it was minimal until then.

“It didn’t pick up much until winter,” Papacek pointed out. “I knew last year that college baseball was what I wanted to do so I did a throwing program with the South Oakland A’s from October to February with lifting and throwing. I refined my mechanics and that took me from 78 to 90. It was a night and day difference from last year to this year.”

There was more that benefitted the 103rd-rated 2022 in the state.

“I did a PBR showcase before high school season and that helped in getting me a little more exposure and confirmed my stats,” Papacek explained. “I tried to make myself marketable to coaches and eventually it all came together.”

Though uncommitted as a senior, Papacek stayed positive.

“I just kept playing,” the 18-year-old said. “What’s the worst that could happen? Getting in the recruiting process late, I tried my best not to stress out and take it too seriously. Eventually coaches took a chance and I’m grateful for that.”

The current college freshman is confident about what he can provide Sacred Heart.

“Hopefully, I’ll get some innings this year,” Papacek said. “I think I’ll develop well. There are a lot of guys there I can trust.”

Kinesiology is the planned major for Papacek, who finished high school with a 3.88 GPA.

“There was a lot of stress relief finally getting my college plans figured out,” Papacek concluded. “Now I’m looking forward to practicing and working to get better. I can’t wait to get going.”