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Fond of pushing himself to greatness, Joe Brinkman soon will gain a more robust understanding of applying his academic and athletic talents by becoming a University of Pennsylvania student.
The 18-year-old will strive to further his mathematical and scientific penchants and to bash baseballs as well for the Ivy League institution as he did for the Girard Academic Music Program Pioneers, 2136 W. Ritner St.
“I’m excited about all the possibilities, but I know it’s going to take hard work to maximize them,” the resident of Sixth and Shunk streets said Tuesday. “I’ve known since December that I’ll be going there, so I’ve valued knowing I’ll go from one great school to another.”
The Whitman dweller certainly possesses the brain power to excel at Penn, as he ranked second at his Girard Estate alma mater, with numbers especially appealing to him. Digits became a diamond interest, too, as he devoted four years to putting up solid statistics for coach Art Kratchman.
“He’s a great motivator who always expected our best,” Brinkman said of Kratchman, under whom he also played basketball. “I’m happy we were able to put together a decent season because so many people saw us as a real underdog.”
Last year’s Public League runner-up, the Pioneers finished last in the eight-team Division A with a 4-10 mark yet, like many Kratchman clubs, exorcised regular-season woes with a solid postseason. They blasted W.B. Saul 15-0 in a Class A semifinal at Sabres Field, Seventh Street and Packer Avenue, with Brinkman whiffing five in three innings and plating a run with a double, and downed rival Masterman 5-4 for the title.
“That was huge to get that one,” Brinkman said. “Everything else before that seemed like practice.”
The victory sent the Pioneers to Richie Ashburn Field, 20th Street and Pattison Avenue, for the league semifinals, with Brinkman absorbing a 4-2 loss to Franklin Towne. Qualifying for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament as District 12’s Class-A representative, they fell 3-2 to Calvary Christian.
“The loss to Franklin Towne was rough because we really wanted to get another shot at Frankford,” the teenager said of the now-three-time defending champions, whom the Pioneers dumped 4-2 in a regular-season meeting. “Overall, though, I’m proud of how the guys performed and happy to have served as their captain.”
For his efforts, Brinkman received a First-Team Division A commendation, along with junior pitcher Jacob Kurtz. The distinguished senior earned MVP honors in June 6’s Division A/B All-Star tilt at Frankford in which he collected two hits and a walk to help his unit score a 7-5 victory.
“I was always proud to represent GAMP, and that and [the] Carpenter Cup were great ways to end my time wearing that uniform,” Brinkman said of the All-Star Game and the showcase competition at Ashburn Field, where the Public League, including players from Prep Charter, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., and Horace Furness High School, 1900 S. Third St., and Masterman’s Harry Taggart, a Pennsport resident, fell 14-4 to Inter-Ac/Indy. “I’m prepared to walk on at Penn and try to win a spot on their roster. It should be another great learning experience.”
From his baseball and classroom pursuits, Brinkman has picked up valuable experience with coming full circle. Sabres Field served as his introduction to the diamond and yielded many joyous high school memories, too. Penn likewise had played a preparatory role in his life before accepting him Dec. 15, as he twice took the SAT on its campus.
“I had doubts about getting in because I hadn’t thought my scores were high enough,” Brinkman, who also pondered matriculating in California, Florida or Texas because of each state’s rich baseball pedigree, said. “I’m thrilled to be going there and really want to make everyone proud.”
Coming from a large family that includes seven siblings, he likely will not fail in pleasing his supporters, especially because of his unflagging attention to his scholastic identity.
“That really picked up in 10th grade, and as my grades improved, I figured I would give my all to my studies,” Brinkman, who will enter Penn undecided on his major yet is drawn to engineering, said. “With that said, I believe GAMP really prepared me for the rigors of what’s to come.”
Maintaining close friendships with other prominent South Philly ballplayers, Brinkman likely will not join them in playing summer ball. Regardless of whether a coach will have the luxury of adding his name to a lineup over the next two months, he will practice on his own and be ready for the fall. He also anticipates the end of the year, as it will find him preparing for his New Year’s Day involvement with the Pirates Wench Brigade.
“I’ve been in the Mummers Parade since I was 11,” he said. “It’s the best time you can have besides playing baseball.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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