Will Henderson is always ready to do whatever is best for the team.
That was his attitude sophomore year at Father Judge High School, when the career catcher had a bat the Crusaders wanted to get in the lineup, but not a spot behind the plate.
Henderson could have transferred. He could have quit. Instead, he expanded his game and became a better ballplayer.
“I always played catcher growing up, I’m still a primary catcher, but when I got here we had a really good catcher, still do, so I had to play somewhere else,” said Henderson, who is going into his senior year at Judge. “I always liked catcher, but I moved to first base to get on the field.
“It’s not too bad, it’s pretty simple. It’s not one of the harder positions on the field, so I’ve been able to pick it up. It took a little time at first, in practice and all, but once it came to gametime, it was good. I was happy to do it, it’s definitely what’s best for the team, and it’s working out.”
It certainly worked out for the Crusaders this year.
Henderson was exactly what Judge needed.
He provided them with the perfect glove at first base while also chipping in as one of the best hitters not just on Judge, but in the Catholic League.
And because of that, he was asked to change positions once again, but this time, it was to have a little fun at the ballpark.
Henderson got the call shortly before the third round of the Carpenter Cup, where the Catholic League team had already won two games and was bound for the semifinals.
A previously booked trip by a senior on the team meant there was an open roster spot, and the call was made to get Henderson on the squad.
Obviously playing in a tournament featuring the best players from the tri-state area is a huge honor, but making it even more special was that the semifinals of the Carpenter Cup, which is sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies, is played at Citizens Bank Park.
“It was awesome, it really was a dream come true,” said Henderson, who played second base for the Catholic League and drove home a run with a sacrifice fly. “I had two plays in the field, luckily they both went well. It was pretty cool, I was playing where all my favorite players played. Just to play where they play, it was awesome. And my girlfriend’s favorite player is Bryson Stott, and I was playing where he played.
“They called me a couple of days before and told me I was playing. Coach (Bobby) Hill called and said I’d be playing with them. I was an alternate. I think there were kids going to Florida, so I got to play. It was great.
“It was fun, getting to know the guys you always play against. We had some fun, shared some laughs. They were good guys. We all liked playing at the park.”
Henderson enjoyed making his pro ballpark debut, but he’s been enjoying Father Judge baseball long before he attended the school.
His older brother Brooks Henderson helped lead Judge to the Catholic League championship and the state championship two years ago.
His younger brother was a freshman on that team, and he looked up to his older brother the entire time. He still does, as Brooks has moved on and is now playing Division I baseball at University of Maryland, Baltimore County after playing at Lackawanna College the past two seasons.
Baseball is just one thing the two boys have in common. Their love for each other is another.
“My brother played and I was always around the team,” Henderson said. “I would hang around those guys because my brother was friends with all of them. From seventh grade on, I knew I wanted to have the same thing he had and it’s very similar. I play for Judge, we have a great team, and it’s all great guys.
“My brother is a great role model, he taught me everything I know, other than some coaches. Me and Brooks have been doing this forever. He also grabbed (2020 Judge grad and former Kutztown baseball star Ethan Martini), when Brooks is home, we hit every day.
“It’s the best time ever other than just getting work in. Brooks is older, and Ethan is done with Kutztown, but he’s trying to play at the next level. He had a very good career at Kutztown. So it works out really well. I’m learning from good players.”
His older brother is a great role model, but it’s certainly not his only one.
“My mom, before us, she had no clue what was going on in baseball, but me and Brooks got her into it,” Henderson said. “Brooks got into it first, I don’t know how he got involved, I’m thinking friends, but he loves it. And I love it. And now my mom loves it. She’s always there for me when I need something, she supports me even if I make some crazy decisions, she supports me. Through baseball and anything else, she’s always there.”
Now he hopes he can celebrate another Father Judge PCL championship with his family.
The Crusaders did lose some talented players this year, but they return quite a few, too. Henderson believes if they put it together, the Crusaders can be a very good team next year.
“I think we have a really good team next year,” said Henderson, who also plays on the Crusaders golf team. “I think we could be really good next year. I want to be known as a good guy that people can talk to, easy to talk to, hopefully people can learn from me and I can learn from them.
“I think we had a really good season this year. That was thanks to the seniors, the friendship I had with them, it was the best thing that ever happened. We hang out after games, practices are so much fun. I didn’t want to take it for granted, I’ll miss a lot. They’ll definitely be my friends for life. And now I’m excited for next year.”
