GW's Siley fired up for Pub final

IT WAS EARLY April when Scott Siley went on his first call. In the moments just before the scanner squawked at Station 27 in Bensalem, the senior third baseman for George Washington High was helping to clean out the station's rec room.

Within seconds, Siley, a volunteer firefighter, threw on his gear and hopped onto the truck for his first real action.

"It was awesome," he said. "It's just so much fun, roaring down the street with the sirens blaring and everything."

The call was a car accident on Street Road, he said. Siley, who plans to start fire school in September, simply assisted the driver of the truck while others tended to the scene. He still has to wait before it's his turn to do the actual rescuing, but Siley doesn't mind - he's literally living out his childhood dream.

"I just wanted to be a firefighter since I was really little and that's all I've ever wanted to be," he said. "Dad [Scott Sr.] is an ironworker and my mom [Rose] is a nurse, so I don't know why. I guess I just saw a fire truck and fell in love with it."

Today at 3:30 p.m., Siley will lead the Eagles (10-2) in quest of another dream when Washington takes on Franklin Towne Charter in the Public League baseball championship at Ashburn Field.

"Hasn't really hit me that we're in it yet," he said. "It's incredible that we made it. Last year I thought we would go, but it's just awesome to be a part of a team that made it."

Last season, the Eagles faltered, 7-4, in the Pub quarterfinals against Frankford. Today, they will face a Coyotes team they beat, 3-0, on a one-hitter thrown by senior righthander Roger Hanson.

The Coyotes (11-1), led by sophomore slugger Zackery Beltran, junior righthander Stephen Callahan and senior third baseman Brian Bradley, were undefeated in Pub Division A play until they were tamed by Hanson.

Siley, who had three of Washington's five hits in that May 9 game, was among the team's top hitters last year as a first baseman, but he has since ceded that position to talented junior Ishmael Bracy.

"When I found out our first baseman 'Ish' was going to play, I knew coach [Ken] Geiser would want to get him into the lineup, and [Bracy] deserves it," Siley said. "He's a good player."

After discussing options with Geiser, Siley said he honed his third-base skills at the indoor training facility, Sluggersville, under former Ss. Neumann-Goretti baseball coach Mike Zolk. A difficult transition to be sure, but not exactly unnerving for someone who has dreamed of running into burning buildings.

"Right now, it's just fun for me," Siley said, "but once I see more fires and go to fire school and see the more serious sides, you have to control [your emotions and fears] and learn what to do in those kinds of situations."

For now, the Parkwood resident (near Academy and Byeberry roads), goes to the firehouse 3-4 times a week and has passed tests to ride on two trucks ("engine" and "squirt") during calls. His plan is to forgo college, complete fire school and take the firefighters test in 2015.

Just 2 months into his volunteer service, Siley said the experience hasn't necessarily hardened his nerves on the diamond. Maturity and teamwork have already helped with that.

"Throughout high school, I've learned to control my nerves through baseball, because a few years ago I would let my emotions get the best of me," he said. "But as I've moved on, the team has made me play better and my nerves settled down. Once the team is playing together, you have no nerves because they're playing around you and you're playing around them."

Winners of seven of their last eight, Siley is hoping the Eagles can carry that momentum to Public League glory.

"I just can't wait to play with my team because it'll feel right if we play our best game [today]," he said. "We've been playing together and rolling this whole season, so it's only right if we do it again [today] and hopefully come out with the 'W.' "