Jimmy Boyle struck out 100 batters in 60 innings this spring, went 6-1 with a 0.93 ERA and led the Haverford Fords to a second straight Central League title. On Monday, Aug. 24, the Delaware County Daily Times named him its 2026 Baseball Player of the Year, the first Ford to win the award since Ronny Tanner in 2009.

The honor caps a three-year All-Delco run for Boyle, who held opposing hitters to a .131 batting average while also contributing at the plate with a .281 average, a .465 on-base percentage, two home runs and 19 runs scored.

What makes Boyle's rise unusual is where it happened. He never joined the elite travel-ball circuit. Instead, he trained with Chuck Bushbeck, a former MLB scout and longtime local pitching coach who has helped more than 20 players get drafted.

"I've had the same mechanics for seven years because of him," Boyle told the Daily Times.

Boyle's roots in Haverford baseball run deep. His grandfather Jim spent afternoons hitting Wiffle balls with him in the backyard and at Oakmont Park. His father, John, a music teacher, coached him as a youth. His first organized coach was the late Mike Essery, who coached Haverford youth baseball and died before Boyle reached high school.

Head coach Brian Miller took over the varsity program in 2023 and, alongside assistants Tim Noone, Cam McCormack and Mike Boebert, turned a squad that hadn't won a Central League title since 1994 into back-to-back champions. The Fords went undefeated in league play this season.

Their postseason ended sooner than expected. Haverford lost to Neshaminy in the District 1 tournament. Neshaminy went on to win the Class 6A state championship. The Fords then fell 2-1 to Muhlenberg in the PIAA Class 6A first round. Boyle allowed two unearned runs in the first inning of that game before settling down, striking out seven and surrendering just two hits the rest of the way. It was his only loss of the year.

Boyle's batterymate, catcher Shane Durkan, also earned All-Delco first-team honors after returning from a serious football injury to hit .456 with five home runs, 22 RBIs and a 50-percent rate throwing out would-be base stealers. Radnor brothers Austin and Blake Havertine were named All-Delco pitchers as well.

Boyle spent this summer playing for the Ridley Black Sox of the Delco League alongside several Haverford alumni. He heads to Thomas Jefferson University this fall. Coach Jarad Carney, who recruited Boyle while at Wilmington University, was hired by Jefferson in June to lead the program.

The Rams' season opens in spring 2027.