Senior’s return from elbow troubles gives major late-season boost to Franklin Regional rotation

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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NJ Ramchandran plans to pitch at Division I Fairfield (Conn.) next year.

The Franklin Regional senior, however, has been limited on the mound this spring as he recovers from inflammation in the elbow of his throwing arm.

To say the Panthers (10-7) are glad the right-hander is back would be an understatement. Remember, this is the same guy who threw a no-hitter in last year’s season opener.

With his elbow better, he made his first start last week against Armstrong and pitched a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in a 3-0 win. He worked five innings and was solid.

“Getting back on the mound was awesome,” Ramchandran said. “I couldn’t wait to be back competing every pitch with my boys. I couldn’t wait to be back, but now I’m back. I know I have a great defense behind me, so I know if I make my pitches, then they would make plays and back me up.”

Ramchandran had not pitched since last year’s WPIAL semifinal loss to Penn-Trafford at Gateway.

His first start of the season came with butterflies — and strikes.

“I had complete control of my fastball and curveball, throwing them for strikes whenever I wanted,” Ramchandran said.

Ramchandran was 3-2 last season in 10 appearances with a 1.97 ERA, 51 strikeouts, 22 walks and a save in 39 innings.

“Any time you add a D-I arm to your pitching staff midseason, it gives the entire team a boost of confidence,” Panthers coach Bobby Saddler said. “His addition extends the depth of the pitching staff, which always helps out late in section play.”

Ramchandran joins an already steady staff that includes Jonah Willochell, Ethan Raver, Nico Firoavanti and Christian Dunn.

Willochell was 3-0 with 0.90 ERA and a team-high 35 strikeouts in 31 innings. James Templeton was 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 18 Ks in 19¹⁄₃ innings. He also had one save, as did Raver.

Teams were hitting .254 against Panthers’ arms.

Now that Ramchandran has returned, Saddler can unleash him.

“NJ is a guy that we leaned on in high-leverage situations last year,” the coach said. “We expected him to do the same this year, but we had to be cautious with his arm early in the season. Now that he’s back at 100%, there are no restrictions. NJ is able to control both sides of the plate with the fastball and mix in multiple quality offspeed pitches. Moving forward, we are comfortable with all of our pitchers.”

Saddler, a former standout pitcher at Penn-Trafford, has enjoyed watching his staff develop and get healthy.

“Jonah Willochell has impressed as a starter this season,” he said. “I can’t say enough about his competitiveness and consistency each time he has taken the ball.

“James Templeton stepped up as a starter and gave us quality starts in NJ’s absence. Ethan Raver, Nico Firoavanti and Christian Dunn are all guys that we feel confident in handing the ball over to in any situation. They all have the ability to get guys out with a variety of weapons.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional