Michael Pascoe was one of those rare three-sport athletes during his time at Panther Valley.

When it came time to choose which sport he wanted to pursue in college, however, baseball won out.

Pascoe might not have had Division I programs knocking down his door, but the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder had a plan. He wanted to find the right college baseball program while pursuing a degree in accounting with a concentration in finance.

He found both at Chestnut Hill College.

Now heading into his senior year with the Division II Griffins, Pascoe has no doubt he made the right choice.

“I felt so comfortable about my choice, and now that I’m a senior, it was the right place for me,” Pascoe said recently.

Pascoe has become a key part of a Chestnut Hill program that competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, developing into a versatile player who can contribute in several ways.

This past spring was perhaps his best season yet.

“The past spring season was exciting and rewarding from both a team and personal perspective,” Pascoe said. “As a team, we experienced both success and disappointment throughout the year.”

Pascoe’s versatility has made him especially valuable to the Griffins.

A team captain, Pascoe primarily plays third base, but also sees time at first base and on the mound. He put together the best offensive season of his college career this past spring, hitting .350 with nine home runs and 56 RBIs in 45 games. Pascoe also scored 40 runs and finished with a .443 on-base percentage and .583 slugging percentage.

The performance pushed Pascoe past a pair of career milestones. He recorded his 100th and 150th hits during the season and enters his senior year with 154 hits, 20 home runs and 133 RBIs while carrying a .330 career average.

That workload played a role in Pascoe’s decision to take a different approach this summer.

Rather than playing summer baseball, Pascoe worked for an electrical company in the Lehigh Valley and gave his body an opportunity to recover from the demands of the college season.

“I needed to give my body a rest,” Pascoe said. “My coach, Robert Spratt, felt that it would be beneficial if I had the summer off and came back fresh. Coach and I decided that the best approach was to allow my arm and body to recover after a demanding season that required me to move between third base, first base, and the mound.

“Instead of playing summer baseball, I have focused on strength training, improving my speed, and continuing to develop my defensive skills.”

Pascoe’s work on the mound increased significantly this past season. He made 10 appearances, including nine starts, and worked 52 innings while posting a 4-3 record.

He also earned the opportunity to start Chestnut Hill’s opening playoff game against Jefferson University.

For Pascoe, however, the individual numbers and milestones remain secondary to what he hopes to accomplish with his teammates.

“On a personal level, this was my most successful season both offensively and on the mound,” Pascoe said. “I was fortunate to reach several milestones, including recording my 100th and 150th career hits and breaking both single-season and career home run records.

“While those accomplishments are certainly meaningful, I would gladly trade every individual record for a conference championship. Team success will always be the ultimate goal.”

Pascoe’s success hasn’t been limited to baseball.

He was recently named to the 2025-26 Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) Academic Honor Roll. Student-athletes must have at least sophomore eligibility and a minimum 3.40 cumulative GPA to qualify for the recognition.

For Pascoe, who is majoring in accounting with a concentration in finance, succeeding in the classroom carries just as much significance as his accomplishments on the field.

“The academic recognition is especially meaningful because it demonstrates that student-athletes can excel both on the field and in the classroom,” Pascoe said. “Earning Academic All-American honors remains one of my biggest goals heading into next season.”

Pascoe has also never seriously considered entering the transfer portal in search of an opportunity at another program.

Instead, he is preparing for his senior season at Chestnut Hill with a group that has grown particularly close during its time together.

“We are a brotherhood,” Pascoe said. “I love our attitude. I really like my coach. He is old school and reminds me of my coaches back at Panther Valley. Most of the seniors came in together and we are sticking together.”

That continuity has Pascoe excited about what could be ahead for the Griffins in 2027.

“We have an outstanding freshman class joining us, and with eight of nine starters returning, I believe we have the potential to compete for a conference championship,” Pascoe said. “I’m also looking forward to continuing in my role as a team captain.

“Leadership is a responsibility that I take seriously, but I’m fortunate to be surrounded by teammates who are highly motivated and committed to improving every day. The culture within our program makes leadership a shared effort, and that’s one of the reasons I’m so optimistic about the future.”

For Pascoe, that future will be about more than adding to the records and milestones he has already accumulated.

The goal that matters most is the one he and his teammates are still chasing — a conference championship.