Steve Bucci is a baseball man if ever there has been one. He left the game in 2009 to spend more time with his family, only to bring his newborn son to the Daily News League finals later that summer.
He always makes time for baseball, but not for nonsense. In other words, he was no longer interested in staying as Bethel Park's baseball coach.
With a legal battle brewing and South Park's baseball position open, one of the area's most respected coaches went home again.
“I felt like my job was on the line with every pitch at Bethel Park,” Bucci said, noting the legal issues taking place there. “I'm very, very happy to be back at South Park.”
Bucci started his high school coaching career at Serra Catholic before moving on to South Park. He spent seven seasons at South Park, from 2000 through 2006.
The Eagles qualified for the playoffs in each of his seven seasons.
“That's something I'm very proud of,” Bucci said.
He then left South Park when a chance to manage a Class AAAA team, Canon-McMillan, became available. Bucci promptly led Canon-McMillan to the 2008 PIAA championship. Following that season, he left the game to spend more time with his family.
That urge to manage again, however, hit Bucci hard after the 2009 campaign. One of the area's best baseball jobs caught Bucci's attention and, next thing he knew, the Bethel Park coaching position was his.
However, late in the regular season, a bizarre situation unfolded.
Tony Fischer, who previously coached on Jim Righter's staff, was retained by Bucci. Late in the season, Fischer filed a grievance claiming that he should have been hired as coach instead of Bucci.
The legal battle has never been resolved.
“It's sad to say but that's what happened and it still isn't done with,” Bucci said. “I could have stayed around and seen what happened, but I don't have time for that. He basically stabbed me right in the back.”
Bucci failed to reach the playoffs during his one season at Bethel Park, and South Park has failed to reach the postseason in the four subsequent seasons since his departure. He is looking forward to the challenge of returning South Park to its high level of play during his time as coach, and while he made some friends at Bethel Park, he simply wasn't willing to wait around for a judge's ruling.
The Bethel Park administration has sided with Bucci, but a court ruling is pending.
For a man who works long hours and who has a young family, baseball is supposed to be fun. For Bucci, there was nothing fun about fighting for a job that he believed was rightfully his the entire time.
“Being back at South Park just made sense and was the right thing for me,” Bucci said. “I live in South Park. I like South Park. Don't get me wrong, Bethel is a great job. Peters Township is the best baseball job in Washington County, Bethel is the best in southern Allegheny County and North Allegheny is the best in all the WPIAL. So I know what a great job Bethel Park is. The kids there were great, but I don't need to be in Class AAAA. I already proved I can win a state title at that level. I just want to be happy.”
Bucci is looking forward to his second stint with the Eagles. He will be joined by assistant coaches Jordan Abromowitz and Tim Miller. Ken Barna, the legendary local manager who has always been by Bucci's side, will not be on his staff at South Park. But Bucci credits Barna with much of his success.
“He has been instrumental in everything I've done in baseball,” Bucci said.
South Park's competition is aware that Bucci brings enormous credibility to the program he once raised to power.
Jeff Rubinsak was an assistant of Bucci's at Bethel Park and has now returned to his alma mater at West Mifflin Area.
“It was a pleasure working for Buce,” Rubinsak said. “He's a great game manager and has two very good assistants. (West Mifflin Manager Jeff Kuzma) Kuz, (West Mifflin assistant coach Tom Simcho) Chim Chim and I are looking forward to matching wits with him.”
Bucci is looking forward to being back at South Park. He isn't promising immediate success, but his track record indicates another successful run of baseball at South Park could be imminent.
“I waited Bethel Park out as long as I could,” he said. “I'm not going to wave a magic wand and say South Park is back. But I'm looking forward to the chance, and I know there is talent there.”
