One way or another Corey Augenstein is going to have a big month.
He’s going to graduate from Bethel Park High School with a 4.75 GPA, then go on to the University of Pittsburgh in the fall and major in mechanical engineering.
But you’ll forgive him if that’s not what Augenstein was most excited about this week.
For Augenstein is the Bethel Park baseball team’s top pitcher and started the Black Hawks’ Class AAAA playoff opener at Gateway High School against Hempfield Area on Wednesday. Considering this future Pitt hurler could start three of the potential four games for Bethel Park in the 15-team WPIAL postseason tournament, coach Tony Fisher will likely be riding Augenstein’s left arm for most of the Black Hawks’ championship drive.
Going into Wednesday’s game this 5-foot-11 senior southpaw had won his past four decisions for a 5-1 record with a 1.50 earned run average on a team that finished the regular season 11-7. Batters were hitting just .193 against Augenstein and in 42 innings he had a 51/17 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
“He’s a coach’s dream, which translates to success,” Fisher said. “He takes his mother to church. He plays the violin. I’ll bet he has perfect attendance. I like my 6-year-old son, Colton, to hang around him in the dugout. That’s what a positive influence he is.”
Augenstein’s reputation was such that before he signed with Pitt, he was receiving interest from Ivy League schools, but the lure of the Atlantic Coast Conference and quarter-scholarship as well as his lifelong Pitt fandom made the Panthers an easy choice.
“I’ve always been a Pitt fan, my father, Jeff, and I would watch games,” said Augenstein, who is also fluent in Spanish. “Anything that was Panthers, I was watching. I think their program is the greatest. Love their field, love the city; perfect for me.”
Augenstein first garnered attention as a sophomore at Bethel Park. Following four scoreless relief appearances he moved into the starting rotation and dominated Woodland Hills in his first start. By the end of the season he had a 3-1 record and started the Black Hawks’ first playoff game, a 6-3 triumph against Franklin Regional.
Augenstein had a tough-luck junior season, going 1-3 despite posting a 2.32 earned run average. This year Augenstein has proven not only to be a big winner, but a control artist as well.
“Our first game against Fox Chapel was very cold. Didn’t know what to expect and I threw a shutout. Once we got into section play first game against Baldwin I surprised myself, throwing harder, spotting well. Everything was working and starting to click,” he said.
“Against Upper St. Clair he threw a 7-0 shutout with 63 strikes and 17 balls — a masterpiece,” Fisher said. “Completely dominated the zone. He followed it up with the clincher against Baldwin. Since that Baldwin game he’s thrown four straight gems.”
The same determination and hard work that has Augenstein at all of the Black Hawks’ voluntary practices is probably the reason for his command. Corey’s father, who also served as his coach in Little League and Pony League, had him throw 100 pitches on the side in addition to his regular games.
Yet he still has good velocity. Earlier in his career Augenstein’s fastball was clocked at 88 miles per hour. He’s not been clocked recently, but there’s a belief he’s throwing even harder now. He also throws a curve and circle changeup.
In addition to his father, Augenstein has sought out advice and practiced for numerous pitching coaches and tutors. Among those who most influenced his mechanics are former Duquesne University coach Mike Wilson, who coached Augenstein with the summer league Steel City Storm, former Pirates pitcher Chris Peters, Dick Thomas of the Family Sports Complex in the South Hills and Augenstein’s friend Chris Steeb, who warms up Augenstein before every game.
Fisher believes his protegé can have an immediate impact for the Panthers.
“I dad the opportunity to go down and watch games there,” Fisher said. “Pitt has a sophomore pitcher, Sam Mersing, from Montour who is a weekday starter for Pitt and I can see Corey following in the same footsteps.”
First Published: May 15, 2015, 4:00 a.m.