Baseball
Favorite athlete: Aaron Nola
Favorite team: The Philadelphia Phillies.
Favorite memory competing in sports: Closing out the game against Neshaminy this year to win the SOL Patriot Division back-to-back years and celebrating with the team afterwards. That was something I’ll never forget.
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: During an early morning summer ball game on turf, I struck a kid out for the third out, but right after the pitch my foot slipped and I landed flat on my back.
Music on playlist: Mostly country, especially older country from the 60s and 70s.
Future plans: After graduation, I plan on joining the electrical apprenticeship program with The IBEW 269 and starting my career in the electrical trade.
Words to live by: “The ironic tragedy is that life must be lived forward but only makes sense in reverse.”
One goal before turning 30: Start a family and be half the man my father is.
One thing people don’t know about me: In middle school, I stopped playing baseball to focus on football, but once I got to high school, I ended up quitting football and going back to baseball full time.
By GORDON GLANTZ
It was one of those moments every pitcher dreams about, and that’s where Colin Boraski found himself as Pennsbury was looking to silence rival Neshaminy and claim a second straight Suburban One League Patriot Division title.
Boraski called the opportunity to be on the mound “one of the most meaningful of my baseball career.”
He added that he was ready to relieve Quinton Shaffer, who had set the tone, and he credited coach Joe Pesci for giving him the opportunity to close out the 10-3 win.
“I stayed focused the entire game, knowing my name could be called at any moment,” he said. “When I finally heard coach Pesci tell me to get warm, I was ready.
“As a competitor, those are the situations that you dream about, and being able to come through for my team in a moment like that is something that I will always dream about.”
Added Meaning
The moment was made even more meaningful, considering that Boraski battled back from Tommy John surgery that cost him his junior season.
He reflected: “After getting through Tommy John surgery before my junior season, there were a lot of tough days between rehab, between physical therapy, late-night training sessions, bullpen sessions, spending countless hours in the gym just trying to get back on the field.”
The meaning of it all was not lost on his dad, Jeff, who Boraski considers his greatest role model.
“After the (Neshaminy) game, my dad said that everything – from the surgery to the rehab - was wrapped up in those three outs,” said Boraski. “Honestly, that’s exactly what it felt like.
“Being able to help my team win a division title, and after everything it took to come back, just made the moment more special.”
After being named best teammate all the way through his Pennsbury career meant the teammates he cheered on as junior - while scoring contests on GameChanger and other roles he assumed on the comeback trail - were aware of his support.
“Colin has been one of the best kids to coach,” said Pesci. “He brings a solid work ethic and a positive attitude to everything. He volunteers when you need something done, even if it's undesirable jobs. He gets really excited when we need an extra guy to hit infield fungoes, too.”
What impressed Pesci the most was that positive attitude and team-first persona from Boraski, who coaches 14U baseball.
“He had Tommy John surgery,” said Pesci. “That's a lot of adversity for a young man. Battling back 
from that surely earned a lot of respect from the team and coaches.”
Gaining Inspiration
Boraski can relate to Aaron Nola, his favorite athlete, because Nola had elbow issues in 2016 but rehabbed without Tommy John surgery.
Boraski, who met Nola a few times, was not as fortunate after injuring his pitching elbow in a fall game during his junior year.
“I started throwing again, and it was still bothering me,” he said, figuring it would be okay with rest. “I went to the doctor. I was told that if I ever wanted to play again, I would have to get surgery.”
Ever play again? After playing his whole life – except for a brief retirement to play just football in middle school – walking away from baseball was not a consideration.
The only concern was feeling involved and then returning as the only senior with no varsity innings as an underclassman.
He said: “I wasn’t even on the team yet. I had finished my sophomore year on JV. I didn’t really know where I was going to be or if I was ever even going to play again. Coming back out as a senior - that was really tough on me. It was a shocking experience.”
The fears were allayed when – after his surgery - he was welcomed as an honorary bench coach/statistician/equipment manager.
“I was fortunate enough to have coach Pesci there,” said Boraski. “He involved me and allowed me to stay a part of the program. I wasn’t even on varsity yet, but he took me into the team and allowed to me to do whatever everyone else did. He played a huge part in my recovery process.”
Going Electric
A lover of classic country music, Boraski is looking to follow his father and brother, Jeff, by helping bring light into the world.
He chose to go the “earn while you learn” path after graduation – working five days a week and going to school two nights a week – instead of playing baseball at the next level (older brother, Tyler, is a catcher at Clarion).
“My dad and brother are union electricians, and that’s something I’ve always been interested in,” said Boraski. “It was a tough choice for me. I did have a good amount of looks for baseball from colleges, but my interest has always really been more on doing that.
“It wasn’t a late choice. I kind of debated over doing one or the other for a while. After having that injury, I had to sit out my junior year, which is a main time for recruiting. But, really, being an electrician is what I really want to do.
“My mom always says that everything always happens for a reason, and that everything always eventually works out. Like, when my surgery happened, I was thinking, ‘Why did that happen?’ But, now I think about all the great things that have come from it.”
One of which was becoming the soul of the team.
“I was able to focus on being a teammate,” said Boraski, who was voted the PhillyBurbs Bucks County High School Baseball’s top teammate.
Hand of Fate
Boraski played football as a freshman, “hated it” and then fate stepped in when his brother, Tyler, got a bat for Christmas and needed someone to throw to him for some batting practice.
“I went with him and we had a catch,” he recalled. “I threw and I took a few swings as well, and it sparked my interest to try and play again.”
But there wasn’t much time to get ready for tryouts, as this was in January and tryouts were in March.
“It was three months of hard work, and I ended up making the freshman team,” said Boraski. “I got my love for the sport back, mainly from coach Mike Thomas on the freshman team. From there, I just kept on grinding.
“Mike Thomas was probably the biggest reason why I kept on playing baseball. He helped me to learn to love the game again. Without him, I wouldn’t be here.”
In addition to his coaches and his father, Boraski credits his mom, Dawn, for her ongoing love and support.
“Both of my parents have always been there for me,” said Boraski. “My dad, he texts me every day. He has always been there for me and my brothers. I just hope to be as good as a dad as he is one day.
“My mom has been through it all with me. She went to every doctors’ appointment. She was there for surgery. She had always been by my side through it all. She has played a huge part in my success throughout my career. She was always driving me to physical therapy.”
The positivity he has received from his parents, brothers and siblings is surely a reason why Boraski has been formally acknowledged for being a superlative teammate every season – he was the recipient of three consecutive Heart of the Clubhouse awards for ninth grade, JV and varsity.
“I think that is a reflection of how I am as a teammate, and I think the other guys recognize that as well,” he said. “I’m always the first one off the bench to congratulate people, and I’m always cheering on my team.
“It means a lot, especially when I couldn’t play. It meant that I was still having an impact on the team.”
Back in the Saddle
Patience was virtue, as Boraski has been a steady relief arm for Pesci this season, usually using off-speed pitches to get ahead in the count, but it was not always easy.
“After surgery, you can’t do anything for three months,” he said. “You are just kind of sitting around. That’s where I have to credit coach Pesci.
“He really impacted my career. Allowing me to stay around and be a part of the team is a big reason why I was able to come back and be successful and why the whole recovery process was easier for me than it was for other people.”
At the end of the regular season, Boraski had thrown 16 innings in relief with 16 strikeouts and 4 walks.
Said Pesci: “He had 2 great short outings in Myrtle Beach, including 6 strikeouts over 2 innings vs Keystone. He has thrown in games that we won vs Bensalem, Truman, Penn Charter, Council Rock South, Council Rock North, Pennington, Neshaminy, and Pennridge.
“Even after his Tommy John surgery at the beginning of March 2025, he was still a part of everything we did. Went to Myrtle Beach with us, was at every home and away game, and did our Game Changer. He worked really hard since then to get back on the mound and he has been able to give us several innings this year. Anyone that can put in the work without complaint earns the respect of his teammates and coaches.”
Which brings up the important point of legacy. Pesci says he checks all the boxes.
“Colin has set the precedent on what it means to be a leader and a good teammate,” said Pesci. “There are so many great kids on this team, and I think they know the importance of playing different roles. And with Colin's engagement with the middle school players, he is laying the groundwork for the future of Pennsbury Baseball. Colin will be greatly missed for sure.”
