Baseball: La Salle's Parisi steps down

Joe Parisi has stepped down as La Salle's baseball coach after 28 seasons, citing time commitments and health issues.

"I didn't want to cheat the kids at all," he said. "I couldn't give them everything they possibly deserve."

Parisi, also the school's athletic director, has been nagged by an ailing back. "I always say to the kids, 'You have to give 100 percent.' But there were times, with batting practice and such, when I wasn't able to do that."

In the recently completed season, Parisi guided the Explorers to a 21-6 record and the program's second PIAA Class AAAA state championship in three years.

"It's kind of like a storybook ending," the 57-year-old said. "It's not anything I anticipated."

Parisi compiled a 453-238 record (.656 winning percentage), won four Catholic League titles (1988, 1994, 2005, and 2013), and earn three District 12 crowns.

"I'll still be around baseball in some shape or form," said Parisi, who has assisted in the past with the Phillies RBI program.