Bethel Park catcher comfortable at home
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
John Chalus catches a pitch thrown by Evan Holewinski during warm-ups before Bethel Park defeated Connellsville, 4-3.
Bethel Park catcher John Chalus has thrown out eight base runners this baseball season.
John Chalus puts on his chest protector as he prepares to catch for the Bethel Park baseball team. A three-year starter and all-state performer, the senior has the Hawks poised to clinch a third straight section banner as well as compete for a WPIAL title in May.
John Chalus
John Chalus of Bethel Park chose to be a catcher.
Obviously, being the youngest in a family of pitchers contributed to the decision. Necessity, however, proved the greater reason.
“My dad got me into (baseball). Because of my brother, it was convenient that I caught,” explained the 18-year-old son of Eric and Darla Chalus.
Mr. Chalus served as the ace of the Steel Valley pitching staff before competing at Point Park University. He managed a youth team for which Eric, Jr. pitched long before he hurled Bethel Park to a state championship in 2021 and became the current ace of the Kent State University staff.
“One game my dad asked who wanted to catch,” Chalus said. “Nobody volunteered, so he stuck me there and I stayed.”
Chalus embraced the opportunity to be the team captain behind the plate.
“Catchers play a big role on a team because they are involved in every pitch and every play,” he said. “They see everything that is happening on the field. The position keeps them engaged. They are doing things with purpose.”
Some of those simple objectives, says Chalus, are being a good teammate; calming down a pitcher and making sure they don’t get too stressed out or too high; keeping runners close to the base or being in proper position for cut-offs or throws to the plate.
“Catchers have a big leadership responsibility,” he added. “I like to think I am a good fit for the position and that I am a leader.”
For the past three seasons, Chalus has started behind the plate for the Blackhawks. He has developed into one of the finest catchers in the WPIAL, not to mention the PIAA, where he has been recognized in the past as All-State.
This spring, he has Bethel Park poised to capture its third consecutive section title, make a run at a WPIAL and challenge for a third straight state title. The Hawks were 7-1 in Section 2 after a two-game sweep of Connellsville, 4-3 and 10-4, this week. After a 3-2 exhibition win against Indiana, they were 10-4 overall.
Chalus has thrown out eight runners. There have only been four stolen bases against the Hawks this season.
Chalus has maintained at least a 2-to-1 ratio in runners thrown out versus runners stealing successfully every season he has played at BP. Additionally, he has allowed only one passed ball in three seasons.
“Most coaches would agree that John is the best catcher in the WPIAL, particularly at handling the running game and blocking balls in the dirt,” said BP manager Patrick Zehnder. “He just refuses to let balls get behind him. His ability to not only keep balls in front, but also control the ball after blocking it to keep runners where they are or throw them out trying to advance is just unreal.”
It’s not always easy. In fact, it can be down right painful.
“I do have a lot of black and blue marks. Badges of courages,” said Chalus. “Sometimes it hurts, especially foul balls. You are constantly practicing though. You have to have the heart and courage to keep the ball in front of you because you don’t want that winning run to score against you.”
Because of his defensive skills, Zehnder said, that Chalus would be one of the best infielders in the WPIAL, too.
“His glove skills translate extremely well to his position,” Zehnder said. “John has a very strong and accurate arm. He has taken very good care of his body to be able to catch basically every inning of every game since his sophomore year.”
In 2021, he played in 26 high school contests as the Hawks finished 22-4 and won their first PIAA title in over 30 years. Last spring, he played in 25 games as BP captured a second state crown and finished 21-4. So far, he has played in 65 high school games, plus a plethora more during his AAU stints with the Steel City Wildcats. This summer, he will play in Youngstown in preparation for his collegiate career at Mercyhurst University, a Division II program that has produced MLB talent.
“Merchyhurst offered the whole package. It’s a beautiful campus, great coaching staff, a winning program, good education,” said Chalus, who plans to major in business. “It’s a good opportunity for me. A good fit.”
According to Zehnder, Division I programs that passed on Chalus missed an opportunity. As a sophomore, he did garner interest from Youngstown State.
”He should have received more attention,” Zehnder said. “With his work ethic, mindset, and talent, his best baseball is still ahead of him, which is pretty scary when you consider of how good he already is. He has an opportunity to compete right away. No matter where he ends up or what situation, he encounters, in baseball or in life, success is ahead for John.”
At the plate, Chalus has been a success as well. He bats in the No. 2 slot in BP’s lineup.
As a junior, he batted .333 with a .415 on-base percentage. He smacked five doubles and a triple, scored 22 times and drove in 15 runs. This spring, Chalus has raised his batting average to .260 with a team-high eight RBI.
“I’ve always been a slow starter but I am putting the barrel on the ball and getting on base more,” he noted.
Regardless of whether he reaches base or not, Chalus always produces quality at-bats.
“John is mainly thought of as an elite defensive catcher but he was one of our best hitters last year and continues to be this year,” Zehnder said. “He has a great approach, and seemingly always finds a way to be productive at the plate. If he happens not to be having a great offensive game, you never know it because he handles himself so well in the dugout or behind the plate.”
Chalus’ personality and character are added assets for the Hawks. His steadiness instills confidence in the pitching staff, says Zehnder.
“His baseball IQ is outstanding. He always makes the correct read on plays and is able to think ahead. His demeanor and interactions are positives with pitchers.
“John is a special guy,” he continued. “An elite baseball player and athlete in general, but he is so consistent in every way. He listens, cares and acts. He treats everyone with respect and supports those who are having a rough day.”
Zehnder added that Chalus epitomizes the team’s motto. Based on a quote by legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, the team adheres to the mantra that things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.”
In the next month and a half, Chalus expects to help the Hawks turn in another championship performance. He said that the state title BP won his sophomore year was special because the team made history and he caught his brother in the final.
“Both titles are awesome and I’ll take either of them any day,” Chalus said. “We’d love to experience that success again because it was fantastic. Obviously, winning a WPIAL is a goal that we strive for because we don’t have one yet, but winning states is the best feeling of them all.
“We just have to continue challenging ourselves and getting used to feeling uncomfortable because in those moments of discomfort, you make the biggest progress. We have to practice and play with purpose.”
Age: 18
Birthday: July 6
Parents: Eric and Darla
Siblings: Paige, 24, Candace, 22, Eric, 20
Grade: Senior
GPA: 3.98
College choice: Mercyhurst
Major: Business
Food: Tacos
Color: Green
Restaurant: Condado Tacos at South Hills Village and Pasta Too
Music: Morgan Wallen or Rap
Book: The Mental Keys To Hitting by H.A. Doorman
Movie: Bench Warmers
Favorite athlete: Andrew McCutchen
Dream destination: Los Angeles. “I’ve been to close to all of the states with travel baseball but I have not been there. It seems like a cool city. Good views and popular.”
People might be surprised to know this about you: I like to fish.
Best fishing hole: Canonsburg Lake. “I caught my biggest bass there.”
Person with whom you would like to have dinner: Roberto Clemente. “I would have loved to have me him and had a conversation with him because of all the good done and that fact he was a good player.”
Lesson baseball has taught you: “It’s mainly mental stuff. You can’t get too down in the downs and too up with the ups. You have to stay in the middle and tackle things as they come up. You have to be willing to take the failure with the good because in baseball, there is a lot of failure. You have to push it away when it hits and move on.”
In 15 years, I will be: “Playing major league baseball is every player’s big dream, but sometimes it doesn’t go your way. So, hopefully, I will be working with kids at my own baseball facility.”