Jun 26, 2018 By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 8 min read

While Taylor Lehman and Jared Skolnicki dreamed about becoming Major League Baseball players, Scott Crimone never doubted their fate. From the moment he saw their skills on display at the youth camps he conducted for the Keystone Oaks School District, Crimone knew their fantasy would become reality.

“There was something special about these two young men,” said Crimone, who coached both when they played for the Golden Eagles. “I had a feeling someday I would be feeling the joy I felt when I heard that they both had been signed.”

Last week both signed free agent contracts and they recently reported to their respective teams. The Philadelphia Phillies acquired Lehman and he is in Clearwater, playing in the Gulf Coast League. The Colorado Rockies agreed to terms with Skolnicki, and he is headed to Grand Junction to begin his pro career.

After receiving the call, Skolnicki flew out to Colorado on June 21 and was on the mound the next day for Grand Junction. He pitched in two innings, striking out three. He added another 1.2 innings of work, picking up three more Ks. He has walked none.

“I’m off to a good start,” he said. “I’m throwing strikes, which is good, and what you need to do in order to stay here.”

Crimone predicts Skolnicki will not stay long in the Pioneer League, which just started its season, a schedule that runs through September.

Noting his 5-1 season and 3.19 ERA, including a 1-0 mark and 1.93 ERA in the playoffs this spring at Kent State Coach Crimone expected Skolnicki to continue that success beyond his stint in Grand Junction.

“I believe he will ride that success from Kent State to make his way through the Rockies system quickly and one day we will see Jared in a Rockies uniform pitching for the big league club,” he said.

While wearing Golden Eagles’ uniform, Skolnicki and Lehman were quite the successes. They helped KO win a section title, advance to the state playoffs for the first time in school history and reach the PIAA semifinals. All-WPIAL and All-Section honorees, both were recognized as Almanac baseball MVPs their senior years.

A four-year letterwinner, Skolnicki maintained a 0.27 ERA and owned an 11-1 record in 2013. In 78 innings, the 2013 graduate struck out 113 batters. He batted .435.

A three-year letterwinner, Lehman struck out 84 batters in 43 innings and maintained a 1.48 ERA in 2014. He also batted .476 with 20 runs scored.

Lehman also played summer ball for the Steel City Wildcats and fall ball for the Allgheny Pirates Scout Team. He helped the Wildcats win the WPEBL championship before he succeeded at Penn State and in the Big 10 Conference.

“The biggest thing that has stuck with me though was a saying that Coach Crimone used to build the baseball program around,” Lehman said. “It was three things: hard work, discipline, respect. Everything that I do and have done so far has been based on that philosophy.”

In addition to coaching, family has played a key role in paving the road to greatness for Lehman and Skolnicki. Both credited their parents and siblings for their success thus far.

“The support of my family has been overwhelming,” said the 22-year-old Lehman of his parents, Colleen and Drew, and two younger sisters, Katie and Alicia. “They have been there every step of the way.”

“I owe a lot to my family,” echoed the 23-year-old Skolnicki of his parents, Walt and Rebecca and older sister, Catherine. “They sacrificed for me, supported me and helped me. They knew this is what I always wanted to do and they never discouraged me from going after my dream.”

How they got their start towards a Major League Baseball career does not deter from the joy of reaching their goal.

Living the dream

Though the Florida Marlins drafted Lehman right out of high school, the southpaw opted to attend Penn State University. After four years, he did not get selected in this June’s Amateur Draft.

“It would have been sweet if it had happened, but I went into the draft without any expectations,” said Lehman. “I just knew I’d find a way to get here. I’m excited to get the opportunity and make the most of it.”

Lehman has developed three solid pitches, a fastball that has been clocked consistently between 92 and 93 miles per hour, a slider and a change-up. Lehman is an imposing figure on the mound, standing in at 6-feet-8 and weighing in at 240 pounds.

He laughed when asked if he were the next Randy Johnson.

“That would be the best-case scenario,” he said. “He was one of the greatest of all time.”

Because he will be consistently playing baseball on a daily basis, Lehman should prosper at the pro level, says his former coach.

“He’s got the build and the mental makeup to become a very successful pro,” Crimone said.

After reaching Florida last week and dispensing with the medical requirements and physicals, Lehman is anxious to get to work and he anticipates being able to pitch in an upcoming contest.

“In baseball, you have to be self-motivating to have success,” he explained. “There are still a lot of lessons to be learned and so far it has been a great learning process because I have been able to talk to the other pitchers and pick their brains. It’s been pretty cool so far.

When the time comes, Lehman may fall back on the agricultural business management degree he received from Penn State this spring. Right now though he said he is not planning on using it.

“I’m focused on baseball,” he said. “For as long as I can remember this has been my childhood dream and I am fortunate to be living out that dream and turning it into a reality.”

The long road

According to Skolnicki, the reality is that on average it takes about four years from the time a player is drafted to make it to the big leagues.

“It’s a process,” he said. “There are a lot of levels and I’m going to take it one step at a time, keep adjusting and getting better.”

Skolnicki plans to get better in all areas but he hope to become more consistent throwing his curveball. He wants to improve so that becomes a “plus” pitch for him like his change-up, which he rates as his best.

“My strength is I have a high-pitch ability. I am able to throw multiple pitches for strikes. I fill up the zone with strikes. I mix speeds a lot and keep batters off balance. That’s always the goal to get the batter off balance,” said the lefty.

While MLB scouts threw him off balance when they did not draft him, Skolnicki did not give up hope for an opportunity to explore a pro career. He reached out to the scout that pursued him and thanked him for efforts.

“I know he was not in charge of the draft decisions but they use his information so I told him that if anything would open up, I’d love the opportunity to still play,” said Skolnicki, who planed on playing i n a local league in the area this summer in an effort to stay in shape just in case.

When he received a call last week, he was ecstatic.

“I was so excited to be playing at the next level,” he said. “As a kid, it’s something you always wanted to do.”

Just in case his dream does not pan out, Skolnicki can fall back upon his education. While at Kent State, he earned two degrees: one in accounting and one in math, with a minor in economics.

When told he would be able to thus manage his own finances, Skolnicki laughed and said, “You don’t make the big money until you get the call up to majors. It’s not so much money now. But, I’m just happy to still be playing the game.

“It’s a big adjustment because there is a game every day,” he added. “You are traveling and playing every day against very talented players, who all want to be the best in their profession. There are no weak links in the line-up. And for any kid, who wouldn’t want to be doing this? Playing the game they love. And, I want to play for as long as I can.”