Bethel Park pitcher gains all-star nod
Eric Chalus
Eric Chalus
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Eric Chalus was a standout at Bethel Park. As a senior, he led the Black Hawks to a section title, WPIAL runner-up showing and a PIAA state championship trophy.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ of Mt. Lebanon isn’t the only local baseball all-star. Eric Chalus of Bethel Park has earned the distinction, too.
While Happ will compete in MLB’s All-Star Game, Chalus will play in the Northwoods League All-Star Game set for 7 p.m. July 19 at Witter Field in Wisconsin.
The Northwoods League All-Star Game annually celebrates the top talent from the world’s largest organized baseball league. Bringing together the best of the best among elite college players, the All-Star Game provides a valuable opportunity for student-athletes to play in front of major league scouts.
Players are selected by a league-wide vote of coaches and media members, with each team having at least one representative.
The Northwoods League is a proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. It is now in its 29th season. Nearly 300 Northwoods League players have advanced to the major leagues.
A 6-1, 187-pound southpaw, Chalus will represent the Great Lakes Division against the Great Plains Division squad in the all-star game.
In seven starts, Chalus is 4-0 with the Lakeshore Chinooks, who are in third place in the Great Lakes West Division at the all-star break. In 38 innings, he has struck out 44 and has a 1.89 ERA.
When Chalus isn’t pitching for the Chinooks, he throws for Kent State University. As a freshman this spring, he appeared in 12 games, making10 starts.
Chalus ranked second on the pitching staff in innings pitching (56.2) and strikeouts (54). He became the first Golden Flash since Joey Murray (2019) to strikeout 10-plus batters in back-to-back starts against Bowling Green (11) and Toledo (10).
During his days at Bethel Park, Chalus earned back-to-back Almanac and Observer-Reporter MVP honors.
As a sophomore, he posted a 5-0 regular-season record with a 1.12 ERA and 57 strikeouts.
After a one-year hiatus because spring sports were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chalus beat those numbers as he guided the Black Hawks to their first state championship since 1988.
Chalus racked up an 11-0 record with 91 strikeouts in 72 innings. He walked only five. He maintained a 0.85 ERA.
At the plate, Chalus batted .400. His five doubles gave him a .483 slugging percentage and nine walks a .493 on-base percentage. He drove in 19 and scored 13 runs.