Helping Central Bucks West baseball make school history has familiar feel for head coach

Central Bucks West advancing to the PIAA state baseball playoffs for the first time in school history and then becoming the first Bucks' team to win a District One championship was an unforgettable experience for the players and everyone associated with the program.

For head coach Brian Weaver, it resonated at an even higher level.

That's because Weaver's dad, Dwight, coached Avon Grove in Chester County to its first state appearance and initial district title in 1983 — 40 years earlier. Talk about coming full circle …

A first for CB West in baseball: Bucks capture first district championship

"I think 'surreal' is probably the best word," said Brian Weaver, who was born five months after his dad's squad secured the '83 district crown.

Dwight Weaver, who retired from music sales last August and is the patriarch of a musical family of six, has enjoyed being able to attend the playoff games and watch Brian and the Bucks.

"Forgetting about the link with me, it's been so much fun sitting in the stands, watch him and be there with the parents supporting their kids," he said. "I get much more nervous because I have no say in anything. I'm not sitting up there making any decisions, so I get a knot in my stomach."

Having his dad at games is a treat for the younger Weaver.

"No matter how old you get, it's still kind of a thrill to look up and see your mom or dad in the stands," Brian said. "Afterward, it's not just my players and their families celebrating — I have my dad. It's beyond my ability to describe. It's just fantastic."

Now 39, Brian played baseball for Dwight in the Octorara Little League and again at Octorara High School in 2001 and '02. Octorara finished second at districts in 2000 after his Avon Grove team won Class AA districts in 1983 by defeating New Hope-Solebury and again in 1989 by downing Bishop Shanahan after losing twice to Shanahan during the regular season.

"It was fun (coaching him in high school)," said Dwight Weaver, now 65. "He was just a sponge at just absorbing stuff. He would sit and make moves along with me. He was a quintessential coach's son."

One thing Brian acquired from his dad is a sense of humor. He's not afraid to tell a joke even in the tensest of moments.

"That's 100 percent from him," Brian said.

Brian was an assistant baseball, football and boys tennis coach at Central Bucks West until becoming the head baseball coach in 2019. The Bucks entered districts this spring as the 14th seed and defeated the top three seeds — No. 3 Methacton (10-0), No. 2 North Penn (14-1 in five innings) after losing twice to the Knights in the regular season (sound familiar?) and, finally, No. 1 Spring-Ford 4-0 — on the way to the Class 6A championship.

CB West opened the state playoffs Monday with a 3-0 victory over District 3 runner-up Wilson West Lawn behind senior Julio Ermigiotti's 80-pitch perfect game. The Bucks will face District 12/Catholic League champ Father Judge in the quarterfinals Thursday at Plymouth Township (Villanova Ballpark) at 4.

Unforgettable PIAA opener: Perfect state baseball debut for CB West, Ermigiotti; Wood rolls to 1st-round win

Brian, a social studies teacher at West, is grateful he can call his dad to ask questions about practices in the postseason and other matters as his team navigates uncharted waters.

"I'm relatively sure he'll pick up the phone," Brian said with a chuckle. "It can be something as little as 'Did you have snacks on the bus?' to 'How much did you change your late-inning philosophy?' 'How hard are you practicing?' 'Are you doing more batting practice or less?'"

"I appreciate that he reaches out and is receptive to that but, honestly, there's nothing I can tell him," Dwight said. "The game was so much different. The last time I coached him back in the early 2000s, homework was looking at box scores. We didn't have game films. He's so much more detail-oriented with his practices."

Brian Weaver downplays his role in West's unprecedented success, calling himself "the least important piece of a really complicated machine."

Familiar baseball duo: CB West's Ermigiotti, McGlone know each other well on, off field

"So much is relying on the players to stay cool and execute in these situations," he said. "Once in games, your role is pretty reduced."

Dwight Weaver respectfully disagrees.

"It seems like he's developing a program," Dwight said. "To me, a program is where every year you expect to be competitive. … I think he is an even better coach than I ever was and I couldn't be prouder of him — not because of his success but because of the way he goes about his business. He's a credit to the teaching and coaching professions, and also to his family."

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Central Bucks West baseball head coach following in familiar footsteps