Pete Galiano was a defensive back who became a quarterback and led his team to the most football victories in the history of the school.
He was a cleanup hitter who moved to the top of the order and cracked three home runs in his first baseball game in the leadoff spot.
It was that kind of senior year at Camden Catholic for Galiano. He took his game in two sports to another level and made two All-South Jersey teams.
He is The Inquirer's South Jersey Senior Athlete of the Year for boys' sports.
First-year Camden Catholic baseball coach Bob Bergholtz knew Galiano was special the first time he saw him.
On the football field.
"First time I saw him was that Friday night game against Pennsauken," Bergholtz said. "I was like, 'Wow, if this is what he does in football, I can't wait to see what he does in baseball.' "
On that Oct. 21 night at Shamrock Field, Galiano threw an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage, finishing with 230 passing yards and 107 rushing yards in leading Camden Catholic to a 42-35 victory in what probably was the best game of the 2011 regular season in South Jersey football.
Galiano, who never played quarterback in his life before being thrust into the position last August, passed for 881 yards and 10 touchdowns and ran for another 487 yards as Camden Catholic went 10-1 and reached the Non-Public 2 state title game.
Beyond the numbers, Galiano's leadership was one of the keys to Camden Catholic's season.
"The thing about Pete is that his intangibles jump out at you," Camden Catholic football coach Gil Brooks said. "He's so determined. He's a leader. He's such a fierce competitor."
Galiano, who also was a standout defensive back and punter for the Irish, said he was surprised by his success at quarterback.
"I thought I might be decent at it, but it went better than I thought," Galiano said.
Baseball might be Galiano's better sport. It's the one he's likely to pursue in college as a walk-on at the University of Delaware.
Galiano batted .441 this season. He had 41 RBIs and led South Jersey with 10 home runs, including three in a Ralph Shaw Classic tournament game against Gloucester.
Bergholtz had Galiano hitting in the No. 4 hole before that game. He decided to move Galiano to leadoff to spark the offense.
"The ball jumps off his bat," Bergholtz said.
Galiano said his three-homer game was the first of his career at any level.
"The third one was the worst-hit one," Galiano said. "When it went out, I started smiling because I couldn't even believe it."
Bergholtz said Galiano's season was defined by an at-bat late in the season against Pennsauken, with two outs and Camden Catholic trailing by 5-4.
"He was facing [Alex] Polanco, who isn't a pitcher but he throws hard," Bergholtz said. "Pete kept battling and battling, fouling off pitches, and he finally hit a two-run single up the middle and we win the game, 6-5.
"He wanted to be in that position. He wanted the bat in his hands in that spot. That's what he was all about."
Contact Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
