April 15, 2008
Lafayette College baseball coach Joe Kinney likes his players to have a little toughness about them.
East Stroudsburg South graduate Kevin Reese fits the mold perfectly.
The Leopards' senior went to the Easton college to play football and baseball four years ago. It was on the football field where Reese left his first impression of what kind of athlete he is.
"The football guys told me after his freshman year he was the toughest guy on the scout team," Kinney said of the 2003 Cavalier graduate, who kicked and played receiver. "They admired him."
Reese cut his teeth on the baseball field as a freshman, pitching out of the bullpen and throwing nearly 30 innings. Kinney said Reese quickly proved he could pitch and became a key guy in the bullpen.
"Pitching was never really my thing until I came here," Reese said. "I came in as a third baseman/outfielder, but three (pitchers) went down due to grades (in 2005). Coach knew I'd pitched and asked me and I wanted to help the team out any way I could."
Today, the 6-foot, 200-pound senior right-hander is one of the top starting pitchers for the defending Patriot League champions, posting a league-low 2.18 ERA in seven starts.
Reese (3-2) has also become a team leader, a role he embraces.
For the complete article from Mike Kuhns of The Pocono (Pa.) Record click here
