Belle Vernon pitcher wowed by Kent State baseball program

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 8:35 PM

Parker Lind was on a campus visit when the magic happened. When he saw his baseball future flash before his eyes.

Belle Vernon’s hard-throwing southpaw said he was close to committing to one of the top Division II programs in the country in Seton Hill, but the awe he felt by what Kent State had to offer was too tempting.

The 6-foot-2 pitcher was drawn to a program that checked all the boxes and, at the same time, seemed tailored to his needs.

He announced a verbal commitment to the Golden Flashes on Friday night, the result of a summer connection with coaches.

Lind was playing for the Allegheny Pirates fall team in Ohio when Kent State assistants Mike Birkbeck and Zeke Pinkham approached him and invited him for a visit.

Birkbeck, the Golden Flashes’ associate head coach, is a renowned pitching coach.

Lind did his homework on Birkbeck and was honored the veteran coach was scouting him.

“They told me they wanted me to come up to campus, so I did,” Lind said. “Once I got there, they showed me around. I saw the jerseys and the field and that’s all lovely, but what really made me want to commit was the pride and the drive the coaches have in their team. And the message behind Kent State … wanting hard work, wanting respect and wanting just a heartfelt family bonding team who has each other’s backs. That’s what really sold me.”

Lind said the Division I opportunity gives him a better path to professional baseball, his dream goal.

“So for Kent State to have a legendary pitching coach and a great history of drafting lefty pitchers, I knew that was the right fit for me,” Lind said.

Saint Joseph’s, West Liberty, Garrett and Pitt-Johnstown also offered, and Lind had talks with Penn State, Pitt, Purdue and Houston. He didn’t wait for an offer from those programs.

Lind helped Belle Vernon earn the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

He went 2-1 with a 2.80 ERA in 30 innings and led the Leopards with 49 strikeouts.

He walked 16 and had one save.

“He has a great work ethic and leadership abilities,” Belle Vernon coach Tony Watson said. “He has been working his tail off to get to this point. Parker has proven himself to be a big-game pitcher and is a clutch performer when the lights are brightest.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon