After a lifetime of baseball, coach Jim Pernick is being recognized for his efforts inside the lines on the diamond as well as along the base lines and in the dugout. On September 18th, Pernick is part of a 13-person Class of 2013 that will officially be inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame.
Since 2011, Pernick has managed the Hawks baseball program and had a firm hand in the turn-around in the Hawks’ positive attitude and success. His induction to the Hall fits the timing in his life. He is at a point in his career where he still shares his knowledge and love of the game with the younger generation at all levels after hanging up his cleats in 1996 following a very competitive playing career.
The Tonawanda, NY native played high school ball at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (Buffalo) where he served as team caption and earned All-Catholic honors his senior year as a pitcher and a catcher. Following his Marauder days, Pernick was a Division I three-year starter (catcher/3rd) at Niagara University where he served as team captain his senior year. After college, he played MUNY AAA (Ken-HY), suburban baseball (Gateway Saloon and H&H X-rya), AABA (Lann Post) and Legion ball (Braunscheidel Post) until 1996.
Pernick has been involved in coaching baseball for the last 22 years with manager duties ranging from little league to travel teams, to AABA to MUNY AAA leagues. His skill teaching and game managing produced winning teams along the way. His Ken-HY AABA team made it to the national title game in Johnstown, PA in 2009 while his MUNY AAA team (Island Dugout) stunned the league in 2010 by advancing to the NABF championship game competing against the eventual victors.