Fox Chapel baseball coach hits 100 wins, likes program’s direction
By:
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Fox Chapel coach Jim Hastings looks on duiring a WPIAL Class 5A first-round playoff game against Latrobe on May 14.
Fox Chapel pitcher Blake Krushinski delivers against Shaler during a Section 3-5A game March 25.
Fox Chapel pitcher Tristan Blum delivers against Mars on April 16.
Jim Hastings has always appreciated the support of his coaching staff and the players in his program.
Before Hastings took over at his alma mater Fox Chapel in 2018, he spent three years coaching at Springdale. Hastings, who recently hit the 100-win mark at Fox Chapel, took the Dynamos to two playoff appearances in three years. The year before he took over the Foxes, they finished 5-15 and missed the postseason entirely.
“I wanted to have a consistent program where year in and year out we made the playoffs,” Hasting said. “We’ve won a section championship during two of the past three years. Everyone’s goal is to win. That’s our goal. We are taking steps in the right direction.”
Fox Chapel wrapped up the past season with a 15-6 record. The Foxes lost 2-1 to Latrobe in the first round of the playoffs.
Making the playoffs wasn’t easy for Fox Chapel. The top two teams in the section — Pine-Richland and Shaler — both earned spots in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game.
Hastings expects the Foxes to be back in the mix for the postseason next year. West Virginia commit Blake Krushinski will return to the mound.
Fox Chapel will also bring back another pitcher in Tristan Blum.
“We’ll have good pitching coming back,” Hastings said. “Blake and Tristan will be back. We also have some younger guys who are coming up through. In the last few postseasons, we haven’t been able to score runs. In the playoffs, you need pitching and offense.”
The Foxes made the WPIAL quarterfinals in two of the past three seasons. Hastings believes the foundation is set to meet or exceed those expectations going forward.
Hitting 100 wins at Fox Chapel was another nice milestone along the way.
“I’m proud of it,” Hastings said. “I’m grateful to the players and coaches that have helped me get to 100 wins as a coach. Without them, I’m not there. You don’t win games without good players and kids buying in.”
Tags: Fox Chapel
More Baseball
• Shaler baseball, softball, boys volleyball teams share success at WPIAL, PIAA level• After historically strong season, Quaker Valley baseball expects growth to continue
• Trib HSSN baseball team of the week for June 14, 2025
• Trib 10: State champs occupy top spots in final baseball, softball power rankings
• Indiana works out of 1 last jam, beats Montoursville for PIAA title
