Quakertown's Qualteria keeps racking up school stolen base records

HORSHAM — Danny Qualteria has mastered the art of the steal.

The Quakertown senior shortstop broke his own single-season school record with 29 stolen bases this spring and has yet to be thrown out. He had 25 steals a year ago when he earned first-team All-Suburban One League Liberty Division honors after compiling 14 in 2022 and one as a freshman.

Qualteria, the Panthers' leadoff hitter, also secured the Quakertown baseball record with 69 career stolen bases, surpassing 2017 graduate Jake Reed, who had 62. Reed owned the single-season mark of 24 in 2017, too.

"Sophomore year, I sat down with coach (Jon Pallone) and I said my goals were to get the most stolen bases in Quakertown history and the single-season record," said Qualteria, a left-handed batter. "It's something I pursued and really worked toward."

So when Qualteria gets on base via a hit or a walk, he tends to end up at second or third base by stealing a bag or two. Getting caught stealing four times as a junior helped him learn from his mistakes and become a highly effective base stealer.

"Every time I steal a base, it makes it easier to get me in to score," Qualteria said. "I move over, we get runs and we win."

Qualteria also provides a tangible boost to the Panthers, similar to what drawing an offensive foul in basketball does for that player's team.

"It's almost automatic," said junior catcher Gunnar Rahn. "Every time he gets on base, it's like, 'This kid's going to steal.' Every team knows it, but somehow he finds a way to get to the next base. It really brings the energy up in the dugout."

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"When he gets on base, opposing pitchers know he's going to be on the move and that affects the rest of the lineup," Pallone said. "It isn't a coincidence that he is leading our team in runs scored this year (with 26), as well."

For his record-setting 63rd career steal, Qualteria swiped third base in an 8-1 victory at New Hope-Solebury on April 26.

"Most of the pitchers we face, I know their move (because I've) seen them before," said Qualteria, a Quakertown resident. "Sometimes I wait a pitch to see (the delivery to the plate). Usually I know I can make it successfully by my jump."

When a left-handed pitcher is on the mound, he tends to go on the first move. That fits with how he trusts his speed and is aggressive.

After coming within one victory of reaching the PIAA state playoffs for the first time in school history a year ago — in addition to winning its first district playoff game since 2007 — as the No. 23 seed, Quakertown is enjoying a terrific season.

Thursday's 3-0 victory over Hatboro-Horsham was the Panthers' 12th in a row against SOL Liberty and Freedom Division opponents. The pitching continues to be a real strength, with two runs allowed (one of which was unearned) in the last five SOL contests. Senior Matt Marsten tossed a two-hit complete game shutout with seven strikeouts vs. the host Hatters.

Along the way, Pallone's team handed Plymouth Whitemarsh its first loss, 2-1.

With 13 seniors on the roster, Quakertown (14-5 overall) is seeded first in the 24-team District One Class 6A playoffs after PW lost to Upper Dublin on Thursday. The Panthers, who are tied with PW at 13-2 atop the SOL Liberty, have one regular-season contest remaining (Tuesday night vs. Abington). Districts begin Monday, May 20.

Seeds Nos. 1-8 earn first-round district byes and second-round home games, with the top six finishers advancing to states.

"We want that home playoff game and a bye," Qualteria said. "We know we want to get to states and we're going to do it."

And the more times the Panthers play, the more opportunities Qualteria has to add to his record-setting steal totals.

"(I hope) we've got a lot of games left, so I can get more," he said.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Qualteria steals way to school records for surging Quakertown baseball