First Posted: 4/20/2015
Michael Schwab graduated in the top of his class at Pittston Area. He was also the baseball team’s ace on the mound.
One year after his high school baseball career ended, Schwab is making a lasting impression on NCAA Division 1 teams while pitching for Lehigh University in Bethlehem.
Schwab, a 2014 Pittston Area graduate, picked up his first collegiate win in a 7-4 decision of Iona on February 28 in South Carolina. Schwab delivered two innings and gave up one run while facing 10 batters. Schwab came into the game after a teammate was struggling.
“It was great, especially because it was so early on in the freshman season,” Schwab said. “Things were still developing and I was put in a pretty crucial situation. It was very memorable. It just goes to show you that everyone has each other’s back here.”
Lehigh currently sits at 15-24 on the season. The Mountain Hawks are 9-7 in the Patriot League and currently sit in third place. The Mountain Hawks are in prime position to make the Patriot League tournament.
Schwab has appeared in 11 games so far this season as a relief pitcher. He said his fastball is near 80 miles per hour and he’s just trying to hit his spots. He’s thrown 17.2 innings and currently holds a 6.11 ERA. He’s allowed 12 earned runs and struck out five so far this season.
“The number one thing is I have to be precise with every single pitch,” Schwab said. “As a reliever, the key is to coming in a big situation. Most guys expect fastball first pitch. I have to work backwards.”
In high school, Schwab was a starting pitcher for the Patriots. His role was to get ready prior to the first pitch. Now, he always has to be ready.
“To say it wasn’t a big adjustment would be lying,” he said. “Now I have to warm up a lot quicker. Every single time we go out on the field I have to be ready. That’s the biggest difference so far. It constantly reminds you of your role.”
That role has led Schwab to sit back and take a look at how some of the veterans on the team handle the process. He said it’s a learning process. One of the biggest reasons the transition has been easy is veteran catcher Tim McKay.
Schwab has been able to learn from the senior and has yet to shake off the upperclassman.
“He calls such a great game,” Schwab said. “He has a knack of knowing what hitters are trying to do. To have that veteran leadership it’s really a comfort level. That’s been such a help.”
In 2014, Schwab and the Patriots led twice and extended top-seeded Valley View to 10 innings in the PIAA District 2 Class AAA tournament. Pittston Area eventually fell to the Lackawanna League Division 1 champions, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.
Schwab is studying chemical engineering at Lehigh. His older brother, Anthony, plays football at Muhlenberg College, which is just 15 minutes from Lehigh. That was one of the reasons why Schwab chose the school.
“I think I wanted to be away and I wanted to have some kind of independence,” Schwab said. “My parents really wanted me to experience that level of being away and making my own decisions. It’s the best of both worlds.”
The process in selecting Lehigh University was a tough one, Schwab said. It came down to King’s College and Lehigh. Schwab was awarded the Presidential Scholarship at King’s, but it came down to Lehigh coach Sean Leary.
“He was awesome throughout the whole process,” Schwab said. “He was up front with me and he really liked my attitude. I’m grateful he has given me this chance.”
Schwab is the son of Tony and Jolyne Schwab, Pittston.
