Mt.Lebanon’s Kitchen named Almanac MVP
Austin Kitchen, Almanac Most Valuable Player
Austin Kitchen recently signed a contract with the Colorado Rockies.
Austin Kitchen ranked among the top pitchers in the WPIAL with a 6-1 record and 85 strikeouts this spring.
Austin Kitchen helped Mt. Lebanon capture a second straight section banner. With a 12-0 record, the Blue Devils completed their first undefeated season in section play at the Quad-A level.
You can’t have million-dollar dreams with a minimum-wage work ethic. That’s Austin Kitchen’s philosophy.
And, the recent Mt. Lebanon graduate is working extremely hard to be a major leaguer one day. In fact, his penchant for practice reminds his manager of another Blue Devil standout–Ian Happ, who was recently selected ninth overall in the MLB amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs.
“Austin did not achieve his success with just natural ability,” explained Patt McCloskey. “He worked just like Ian did. Austin’s work ethic continues the tradition begun by Ian.”
An example of Kitchen’s determination to succeed surfaced after he tossed a complete game on April 23 and one-hit Canon-McMillan at night when temperatures hovered around 45 degrees. “After he got off the bus and went home and changed clothes, he ran a couple of miles so that his arm could recover quickly,” McCloskey said. “That’s Austin. He outworked everybody out there with his strength and conditioning training.”
Those labors paid off in the way of a big league season this spring for Kitchen. He pitched Mt. Lebanon to its first undefeated section title ever at the Quad-A level. The Blue Devils finished 12-0 in Section 5 and finished 15-3 overall.
“Without a doubt,” McCloskey stressed, “Austin was the straw that stirred the drink for us all year long. He was asked to pitch the biggest games for us and responded.”
The 18-year-old son of Linda and Edward Kitchen rolled up a 6-0 record before losing to Norwin in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. In 51 innings of work, he struck out 85 batters. Of those strikeouts, three came in a row to end a game against Peters Township after Kitchen lost his no-hitter in the top of the seventh inning.
“His competitiveness,” McCloskey said. “I’ll remember Austin for being the most fierce competitor that I have ever coached. He simply was not going to allow someone else to out-prepare him for a game.”
That preparation yielded outstanding numbers. Opponents batted .150 against him and his WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) was a remarkable 0.94. Kitchen maintained a 2.29 ERA.
“This year marked the culmination of his career,” McCloskey said. “He was the most dominant pitcher we have had at Mt. Lebanon during my tenure.”
In four years, Kitchen, who served as Lebo’s designated hitter when he wasn’t pitching, helped the Blue Devils reach the WPIAL playoffs four years in a row and capture back-to-back section banners. Kitchen compiled 161 strikeouts and had 14 career wins.
Following the 2015 campaign, however, the honors rolled in for Kitchen. He was voted Quad-A Pitcher of the Year. He also earned All-Section 5, first-team laurels. Most recently, he was named The Almanac’s Most Valuable Player.
During the summer, Kitchen plays for the Steel City Wildcats. He helped them win two Western Pennsylvania Elite Baseball League championship titles.
Kitchen, who is ambidextrous, earned a scholarship to Coastal Carolina. He will major in business management. So one way or another, Kitchen will make his millions.
“I cannot wait to see what he goes on to accomplish in college and professional baseball,” said McCloskey. “Austin is clearly on a mission to make it to the next level.”