Cole McManimon is looking to make up for lost time this spring in his senior season with the Princeton Day School baseball team.

The Lehigh-bound pitching ace missed most of his junior campaign due to a broken hand suffered in PDS’s opener. While McManimon did return last spring, he wasn’t 100 percent.

At full strength by June, McManimon pitched through the fall for his Gallagher AAU team and began his preparation for the 2015 season by starting to throw after Christmas.

Displaying his considerable gifts on the mound, the 6’7, 225-pound righty mowed down the Hill School (Pa.) last Wednesday in the Panthers’ home opener, striking out a career-high 15 and giving up one hit in six innings as PDS rolled to an 8-0 win.

“I thought my fastball was working well; going into the game I didn’t think I would have the velocity that I had in Florida because it was warmer there and it was in the 50s last Wednesday,” said McManimon, who started the season by getting the win on the mound in an 8-1 victory over John Burroughs School (Mo.) in PDS’s opening game, which was played on its Florida trip.

“I had my cold weather stuff on but I think I was throwing as well as I did in Florida. I started off the game going to a 3-1 count on first batter and then I struck him out. I started picking up speed after that. By the fourth and fifth inning, my velocity had slowed but I was still hitting spots. I felt good in all of my pitches.”

McManimon is also looking to make an impact this spring with his hitting and he succeeded against Hill, going 3-for-4 with a double and 4 RBIs.

“I really missed it last year; I wish I had been out there, pitching and hitting and helping the team,” said McManimon. “I think I can contribute in the fourth spot with the intimidation factor, if nothing else, being 6’7, 225 pounds, teams won’t want to walk JP (Radvany) to face me.”

PDS head coach Ray O’Brien believes McManimon can be an intimidator this spring for the Panthers.

“Cole can make any manager or team look good, it was the McManimon show today,” said O’Brien.

“His command has never been a problem, he has three or four pitches. His velocity has gone up. He’s a man; he is a monster out there. He is sitting around the mid-80s on his fastball. He was in the 84-85 range against Hill.”

In O’Brien’s view, his mound staff should be very good, with seniors JP Radvany, Jake Alu, and Sean Flahive and a pair of sophomores, Ryan Sparks, and Chase Fleming.

“JP has been throwing the ball well, he will get plenty of innings,” said O’Brien of the Villanova-bound Radvany.

“Ryan Sparks and Chase Fleming are the two sophomore left-handers. Senior Sean Flahive will also get innings.  Jake Alu will be the closer. I can run kids out there and feel comfortable. We will use everybody, we will take it game by game and see how the weather shakes out.”

O’Brien is also comfortable with his batting order. “It is Jake at leadoff and Dom Gasparro at two, he has been hitting well and playing a dynamite third base,” said O’Brien. The middle of the order is JP, Cole, Sparks, and Paul Franzoni. We are off to a good start.”

Winning its first four games in 2015 after going 5-10 last spring, PDS is certainly off to a promising start.

“If the pitching holds up with the tough schedule that we are playing and we put some runs up, we’ll be OK,” said O’Brien, whose team improved to 4-0 with a 2-1 win over Delran last Monday and will look to keep on the winning track when it plays at Robbinsville on April 9, hosts Lawrenceville on April 10, and plays at Hamilton on April 14.

“The three seniors (McManimon, Radvany, and Boston College-bound Alu) have been through the wars with travel teams and their first three years here. I know what I am going to get from those guys, a lot depends on how quickly the young guys step up. I am really looking forward to the season, I think it is going to be a fun ride.”

McManimon, for his part, believes the Panthers could have a lot of fun as the season unfolds.

“I think we are a team that could shock people this spring,” said McManimon, noting that the Panthers outscored their foes 29-4 in the first three games.

“We do have a nice mix of players. We have three seniors up top and some of the younger guys are really contributing like Dom Gasparro and Paul Franzoni. I have been very happy with their approach, jumping on first pitch fastballs, they are very aggressive.”