Upper St. Clair two-sport standout picks JMU for baseball
Dom Cepullio lives life to the fullest. The Upper St. Clair senior doesn’t waste a moment of time.
“I try to do something every day to improve,” said the 17-year-old son of Dan and Kim Cepullio.
Such efforts have netted him many rewards in athletics. The biggest perhaps occurred when Cepullio inked his name to a national letter of intent accepting James Madison University’s scholarship offer. A standout punter and receiver on the football team, Cepullio, instead, will play baseball in college.
“To be honest,” said football coach Jim Render, “I was hoping Dom would have put off his baseball decision until after he saw what offers he would get in football. But if he’s happy, then I’m happy.”
Render was thrilled to have Cepullio start for the Panthers these past three years. This season, he averaged 31.3 yards per punt while also corralling 34 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s a good athlete and a likeable guy,” Render said. “He’s been successful as a student and an athlete so there is no reason not to think he will continue to be so in college.”
While he has dabbled in football – what he dubbed his hobby – Cepullio has excelled on the diamond. A starter since his freshman year, Cepullio batted .500 as a sophomore and over .400 as a junior. A left-handed pitcher, he “evolved” into a centerfielder the past two years for the Panthers. He also plays for the Steel City Wildcats, who won the Western Pennsylvania Elite Baseball League this past summer.
“Dom is a very confident young man,” said USC manager Jerry Malarkey. “When he first came onto the varsity, the other players accepted him right away. He emerged as a leader. The players respected him not just for his abilities but for whom he was as a person. He gets along with everybody. He keeps an even keel.”
In baseball, that is critical, says Malarkey.
“Dom’s mentally prepared to step in and step up. If he strikes out, then he’s going to make a defensive play. It’s what makes him special.”
Work ethic, a competitive nature and drive distinguish Cepullio, too. He started playing baseball and football around age 5 because he relished the “competitive nature” of sports. He gravitated to baseball because he said he “loved” the game. He trains constantly.
“I have a schedule and I don’t deviate from it. There is a point and purpose to all I do,” he said, adding he runs, throws and catches on a daily basis. “I do something to improve myself as a player every day.”
His work ethic, not to mention talent, earned the attention of many colleges. Coastal Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Hofstra, High point and Winthrop recruited Cepullio but he selected James Madison where he plans to major in business finance.
“I wanted to go to a big school and get an education because you need something to fall back on once baseball is over,” he said. “JMU is a beautiful school and campus. They have great coaches and there’s a great playing environment there. It’s a good fit and a great package.”
As he did at USC, Cepullio anticipates making an immediate impact at JMU. He looks to get plenty of playing time as a freshman and contribute to the success of the team.
“That’s just my nature,” he said of his lofty expectations. “I like being competitive and I’ll outwork anybody. In sports, effort is the big thing.”
Effort, no doubt, will enable Cepullio to aim higher once he reaches his full potential. If he progresses, there is no doubt in Malarkey’s mind that Cepullio could become the latest Panther to play in the Major Leagues.
“Dom has the tools to play at the next level,” said Malarkey, who managed Sean Casey (Cincinnati Reds), Kevin Slowey (Minnesota Twins), Mike McHugh (Texas Rangers) and Kevin Orie (Chicago Cubs) among others. “At JMU, he will do well and he’s only going to get better. He has not reached his peak as a player.”
If that means a call up to the majors, then Cepullio will take it.
“I would love to play at that level. It’s something to shoot for,” he said. “It’s definitely the dream.”