Thomas Lovelidge, a 2024 Salisbury High School graduate, helped bring the Falcons baseball and basketball programs back to postseason contention during the 2023-24 seasons. He earned postseason accolades in both sports as each team competed in the Colonial League and District 11 tournaments.
Lovelidge, along with good friend, classmate and teammate in multiple sports Jake Zellin, were voted this year’s Salisbury Press co-Male Athletes of the Year.
The Falcons boys basketball team finished 14-10 overall and 12-8 in the Colonial League and qualified for both postseason tournaments. Lovelidge was the second leading scorer on the team, averaging about eight points per game and connecting on 19 three-pointers.
“We were looking to build off our five-win season,” Lovelidge said. “We had six returning seniors, so we knew we had a legitimate shot at making it to the postseason. With the help of some of the underclassmen, we were able to make it back to the playoffs, which some of us got to experience before, during my sophomore year.
“I believe the season overall was a team effort. Everybody had a game where they stepped up when others were struggling and I feel like that is a testament to the kind of team we are and the hard work that we put in. Although the playoffs didn’t go as planned, I was happy that we were able to get Salisbury basketball back to the playoffs. Hopefully, they can stay there and make some noise these next few years.”
Falcoon boys basketball head coach Jason Weaver is a big fan of Lovelidge and enjoyed leading him. His willingness to do anything for the team was apparent on both ends of the floor.
“Thomas is a quiet, determined leader,” said Weaver. “He is extremely coachable and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team and his teammates be successful. His season-record breaking 18 charges shows his willingness to sacrifice for the better of the team.”
Salisbury baseball was 19-7 overall and 14-6 in league play, making it to the Colonial League semifinals as the third seed. The Falcons went on to finish as the District 11 Class 3A runner-up, advancing to states.
Lovelidge was one of the top hitters in the lineup, recording a .329 average with 15 RBIs. On the mound, he had a 2.85 ERA.
“Starting from last year, I think we fell short, and a lot of us thought we should have made the playoffs,” said Lovelidge. “Losing in the first round of districts my sophomore year, I knew I really wanted to make a run in the playoffs. And from the beginning of the season after the Pen Argyl loss and the bounce back win against Northwestern, I feel like something just clicked and we were able to carry it throughout the season.
“During the regular season there were definitely some times that tested us, where we made games closer than they really should have been, but throughout it all we were able to pull through and get the wins we needed to finish with the second-best record in the Colonial League. I also believe that those games where it was close, or we had to come back late, served us well in the postseason as we were able to come back against Central Catholic to advance to the district finals and qualify for states, which were both phenomenal experiences.”
Salisbury baseball head coach Justin Aungst reflected on his time with Lovelidge.
“Thomas has been a huge part of our program throughout his entire high school career,” said Aungst. “His success in the classroom and on the field really made him a great leader. He wasn’t always a vocal leader, but did so more by example. This year he was a key part to our team both on the mound and batting in the top of the lineup.”
Baseball has always been Lovelidge’s favorite and No. 1 sport. It’s one that has been with him almost his entire life.
“While I started playing basketball in fifth grade, I have been playing baseball from the moment I was able to lift one,” said Lovelidge. “It’s not just that I have been playing it the longest, but it’s also because of its level of difficulty and the amount of detail in the game. Every little thing you do can always be refined, so there is always room for improvement and getting better.
“Baseball is the only sport in which you can fail seven out of 10 times and be considered good. It is impossible to perfect. And baseball is also one of the only games without a clock. Every team has a chance until the final out because you have to throw the ball over the plate and give the other team a chance. You can’t just run out the clock. As Yogi Berra famously said, ‘It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.’”
This fall Lovelidge will be attending Penn State University where he will study Aerospace Engineering. While there is no plan to play try out for the Nittany Lion the baseball team, he would like to play intramural sports, especially baseball. His time at Salisbury the last four years gave him a lot of successes in athletics to look back on.
“My time as a student athlete at Salisbury was incredible,” said Lovelidge. “First off, Salisbury is a great place for athletics. This is not only because we have the talent to make playoffs, but kids have the opportunity to play multiple sports. When you look at schools like Emmaus or Parkland, kids really only play one sport. But at Salisbury I was able to play multiple sports, on top of participating in other extracurricular activities like Model UN and debate. Being able to participate in all of those made me the most well-rounded student-athlete I could be and allowed me to enjoy all parts of high school.”