Catching his break
CHERRY TWP — A catcher since fourth grade, Jared Lominski loves the position.
He just hasn't had much of a chance to get behind the plate the past couple of springs at Moniteau High School.
“We've had a pretty good catcher here in Wyatt Geibel, so I've gotten a lot of my playing time at designated hitter,” Lominski said.
Understandably so, since Lominski has hit .352 (31 for 88) the past two seasons for Moniteau baseball teams that won 31 of its 43 games during that stretch.
Lominski will get the opportuinity to show what he's got as a catcher this spring — and for seasons beyond. The senior recently signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and baseball career at Chesapeake College, a premier junior college program in Maryland.
“It's an excellent place for him,” Moniteau coach Ross Martin said. “Jared is an extremnely gifted individual and he's very coachable.
“His strengths are his intelligence and all-around defense. He has a strong arm that will serve him well in the outfield or behind the plate.”
Lominski will be the Warriors' catcher in 2019 and hopes to catch for the Skipjacks of Chesapeake the following two seasons.
“Their starting catcher is in his last year, so the position will be open,” Lominski said. “I know there are no guarantees. I'm gonna have to work for it.”
Chesapeake was 45-8 last year and won the Maryland JUCO state title. The Skipjacks are 106-49 over their past three seasons.
Coach Frank Szymanski is 533-367-7 in 19 seasons as Chesapeake head baseball coach.
“It's a first-class program and I know Jared will do what he has to do to get on the field there,” Martin said.
Lominski joins a growing list of Moniteau baseball players advancing their careers to college. Austin Blauser is playing at Clarion, Derek Boben at Slippery Rock, Jake Jewart and Aaron Marterella at Butler County Community College.
Lominski considered Heidelberg, Thiel, Clarion and Mercyhurst Northeast before deciding on Chesapeake.
“I'd like to move on to a four-year school after that,” he said of his career at Chesapeake. “We'll see where I stand at that point. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.”
Lominski hit two home runs at Kelly Automotive Park his sophomore year. He's also hit four triples in the past two years.
“It's hard to hit one out of that place,” Lominski said, smiling.
Carrying a 3.2 grade point average, he plans to major in either business management or sports management in college.
Moniteau won the District 9 championship last spring and reached the state quarterfinals. Lominski either hit fourth or fifth in the lineup.
“I imagine he'lll be right back there in one of those spots this spring,” Martin said. “He's one of our more dependable bats and he can drive the ball.”
“I think we'll have a team in place this coming season that can go as far as last year's, if not do better,” Lominski said. “That's the goal.”
