Owen Tappy starring for Providence Day baseball
Owen Tappy didn’t play a major role on the Providence Day baseball team in his first two high school seasons.
Tappy played on the Chargers’ junior varsity team as a freshman, before becoming a role player on the Providence Day varsity team as a sophomore, playing in the outfield (hitting .343) with spot duty on the mound (pitching 6.2 innings).
But in the past two years, Tappy has exploded into an all-state performer both on the mound and at the plate for the Chargers.
As a junior, Tappy went 7-1 as a pitcher with 62 strikeouts in 51.2 innings of work while boasting a 1.63 earned-run average (ERA). With Tappy among its stars, Providence Day (18-7) that advanced to the NCISAA state semifinals before losing to rival Charlotte Christian.
This year, the Chargers’ senior has been even better. He has a 4-1 record with 41 strikeouts in 27.1 innings, while boasting a 0.76 ERA.
Tappy hasn’t allowed a run in last two starts, surrendering only four hits, striking out 19 batters without a walk in that span, which included back-to-back complete-game shutouts of CISAA rivals Covenant Day (Apr. 3) and Charlotte Country Day (Apr. 10).
Tappy tossed a one-hitter in the 1-0 victory over Covenant Day with 11 strikeouts, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning before giving up an infield single.
One week later, Tappy had a three-hitter against Charlotte Country with eight strikeouts in the 1-0 win.
He also tossed one-hitters in wins over Metrolina Christian and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes earlier this season.
“My confidence in my game is definitely higher this season, I don’t really feel like there’s any team that can beat us when I take the mound,” Tappy said. “One of the major reasons for my success is that I’ve really focused on not beating myself. By that, I mean just trying to throw as many strikes as possible, and either getting the guy out, or relying on my defense to make plays. We have a great defense. I’ve worked really hard on spotting up all my pitches and it’s paid off.”
His coach agrees.
“Owen (Tappy) has worked really hard to get to where he’s at right now, and how good he’s pitched last year, this year and in the last two games even,” said Providence Day baseball coach,Jim Cerbie, who is in his 31st year as Providence Day’s baseball coach and coached Owen’s dad, Skip Tappy, at Providence Day. “He’s basically had two bad innings in the last two years against Charlotte Christian. Other than that, he’s been great for us.”
Tappy and his teammate and best friend, John Miralia, provide a big-time one-two punch on the mound for Providence Day.
Tappy and Miralia, who have been friends since they were eight years old, played on many of the same baseball teams and live in the same southeast Charlotte neighborhood. But the two good friends have completely different styles on the mound.
With Tappy, a 6-foot-1-185-pound righty, it is all about control and location, meanwhile Miralia (Duke University commit), at 6-foot-6, 235-pound lefty, is all about power with a fastball in the 90s.
“John (Miralia) has always joked around in the past about being Providence Day’s best pitchers together and dominating the conference,” Tappy said, with a big laugh. “It’s been fun to actually become the top two guys on the mound. We really try to help each other and we’re competitive with each other and push each other all of the time.”
Tappy is also quick to credit his catcher, junior Colin Ravin, noting that his backstop is big part of his and the entire Chargers’ pitching staff’s success.
While Tappy has made a name for himself at Providence Day on the mound, he is also a great hitter, currently is batting .382 with a home run, four doubles and 15 RBI this season.
Providence Day (11-5, 4-2 in the CISAA) will rely on its pitching staff to continue to hold opponents down. Coach Cerbie believes if the Chargers want to contend for a state championship they will have to be able score runs.
Providence Day has advanced to the state semifinals each of the past three seasons.
“We’ve talked a lot about scoring more runs, making more quality pitches and making more quality defensive plays in the big games, and we’ve been focused on working on that all off-season,” Cerbie said. “I believe we can get back to that game (state semifinals), but then we are going to have to make the big plays (offensively and defensively) to get where we want to go (championship game).”
Tappy agrees.
“There’s no question we’ve come up one game short of our goal the last three years,” Tappy said. “Our team’s goal (2019) has been to win a championship since day one. Our team chemistry is as good as anyone’s in the state. We believe we can win the whole thing, but we’re going to have play great baseball.”
Regardless of how Tappy’s final high school season ends, he has already accomplished one of his dreams, as he will continue his academic and athletic career in high at Hampden-Sydney College (VA).
“I’m really excited about being able to play baseball at the next level for another four years,” Tappy said. “I believe Hampden-Sydney is a great fit for me and I’m ready for the challenge (college baseball).”
Owen Tappy didn’t play a major role on the Providence Day baseball team in his first two high school seasons.
Tappy played on the Chargers’ junior varsity team as a freshman, before becoming a role player on the Providence Day varsity team as a sophomore, playing in the outfield (hitting .343) with spot duty on the mound (pitching 6.2 innings).
But in the past two years, Tappy has exploded into an all-state performer both on the mound and at the plate for the Chargers.
As a junior, Tappy went 7-1 as a pitcher with 62 strikeouts in 51.2 innings of work while boasting a 1.63 earned-run average (ERA). With Tappy among its stars, Providence Day (18-7) that advanced to the NCISAA state semifinals before losing to rival Charlotte Christian.
This year, the Chargers’ senior has been even better. He has a 4-1 record with 41 strikeouts in 27.1 innings, while boasting a 0.76 ERA.
Tappy hasn’t allowed a run in last two starts, surrendering only four hits, striking out 19 batters without a walk in that span, which included back-to-back complete-game shutouts of CISAA rivals Covenant Day (Apr. 3) and Charlotte Country Day (Apr. 10).
Tappy tossed a one-hitter in the 1-0 victory over Covenant Day with 11 strikeouts, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning before giving up an infield single.
One week later, Tappy had a three-hitter against Charlotte Country with eight strikeouts in the 1-0 win.
He also tossed one-hitters in wins over Metrolina Christian and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes earlier this season.
“My confidence in my game is definitely higher this season, I don’t really feel like there’s any team that can beat us when I take the mound,” Tappy said. “One of the major reasons for my success is that I’ve really focused on not beating myself. By that, I mean just trying to throw as many strikes as possible, and either getting the guy out, or relying on my defense to make plays. We have a great defense. I’ve worked really hard on spotting up all my pitches and it’s paid off.”
His coach agrees.
“Owen (Tappy) has worked really hard to get to where he’s at right now, and how good he’s pitched last year, this year and in the last two games even,” said Providence Day baseball coach,Jim Cerbie, who is in his 31st year as Providence Day’s baseball coach and coached Owen’s dad, Skip Tappy, at Providence Day. “He’s basically had two bad innings in the last two years against Charlotte Christian. Other than that, he’s been great for us.”
Tappy and his teammate and best friend, John Miralia, provide a big-time one-two punch on the mound for Providence Day.
Tappy and Miralia, who have been friends since they were eight years old, played on many of the same baseball teams and live in the same southeast Charlotte neighborhood. But the two good friends have completely different styles on the mound.
With Tappy, a 6-foot-1-185-pound righty, it is all about control and location, meanwhile Miralia (Duke University commit), at 6-foot-6, 235-pound lefty, is all about power with a fastball in the 90s.
“John (Miralia) has always joked around in the past about being Providence Day’s best pitchers together and dominating the conference,” Tappy said, with a big laugh. “It’s been fun to actually become the top two guys on the mound. We really try to help each other and we’re competitive with each other and push each other all of the time.”
Tappy is also quick to credit his catcher, junior Colin Ravin, noting that his backstop is big part of his and the entire Chargers’ pitching staff’s success.
While Tappy has made a name for himself at Providence Day on the mound, he is also a great hitter, currently is batting .382 with a home run, four doubles and 15 RBI this season.
Providence Day (11-5, 4-2 in the CISAA) will rely on its pitching staff to continue to hold opponents down. Coach Cerbie believes if the Chargers want to contend for a state championship they will have to be able score runs.
Providence Day has advanced to the state semifinals each of the past three seasons.
“We’ve talked a lot about scoring more runs, making more quality pitches and making more quality defensive plays in the big games, and we’ve been focused on working on that all off-season,” Cerbie said. “I believe we can get back to that game (state semifinals), but then we are going to have to make the big plays (offensively and defensively) to get where we want to go (championship game).”
Tappy agrees.
“There’s no question we’ve come up one game short of our goal the last three years,” Tappy said. “Our team’s goal (2019) has been to win a championship since day one. Our team chemistry is as good as anyone’s in the state. We believe we can win the whole thing, but we’re going to have play great baseball.”
Regardless of how Tappy’s final high school season ends, he has already accomplished one of his dreams, as he will continue his academic and athletic career in high at Hampden-Sydney College (VA).
“I’m really excited about being able to play baseball at the next level for another four years,” Tappy said. “I believe Hampden-Sydney is a great fit for me and I’m ready for the challenge (college baseball).”
