Once the captain of his Jim Thorpe High School baseball team, Richie Strack has continued that role at the college level and has added two other titles to his name.

He’s also a player and a coach for Lehigh University’s club baseball team that last week won the National Club Baseball Division III Regional title, which fielded teams from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Seeded last, the Mountain Hawks defeated top seeded Sacred Heart and won two out of three games against previously undefeated Rowan University to earn their ticket to the NCBA World Series to be held May 15-17 in Butler, PA.

“Last year we won the only club baseball playoff game in Lehigh’s history,” said Strack. “This year we focus on just having fun every time we play and that helped carry us to win the title.”

His team rosters 18 players but never has the same lineup game to game. Between regular season doubleheaders, some go back to Lehigh to study for exams. This is just one unique element to the club level experience.

The NCBA has been recognized as the fastest growing intercollegiate baseball organization in America, providing a structured, high level competitive alternative to varsity baseball at the college level. It enables 300 teams to compete in three divisions for a national championship with non- athletically scholar -shipped students that includes former stand- out high school baseball players. A unique feature about club baseball is that teams are often managed by an elected player - coach which affords him an opportunity to gain leadership skills.

Lehigh qualified as the Pennsylvania representative for the double elimination regional tournament held this year in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey based upon a combined fall and spring successful record.

On opening night at the Regionals, the Hawks came from behind in the top half of the last inning to knock off previously undefeated Rowan University by a score of 9-8, placing them in the winners’ bracket.

On the next day, Lehigh crushed top seeded Sacred Heart 11-1. Rowan then defeated Hofstra and Sacred Heart from the losers’ bracket, matching them again against Lehigh in the championship round.

In the first game of the finals, the bats for both teams were shooting missiles all over the field. Down 6-1, Lehigh battled back to tie the score, but then fell behind, 14-8 going into the last inning. The Hawks scored five runs and had the tying run on base, but a ground out ended their comeback.

“Even though we lost, we forced them to use their closer,” said Strack, “and they played one more game than us and were pretty much out of pitchers.”

His point proved to be true. In the top half of the first inning in the championship game, the Hawks scored 10 runs with the highlight being a long three run home run by Ben Russo from Philadelphia that contributed to an 18-3 mercy rule victory. In four games, the Hawks plated a total of 51 runs.

Strack, who coached third base for much of the tournament, said with a laugh, “My left shoulder hurt from waving all the runners to the plate.”

First year players have been instrumental in Lehigh’s success. “We lost eight seniors from last year’s team. This year we have a lot of freshmen who have come up big in helping us win games,” said Strack, a junior mechanical engineering student at Lehigh.

“We are all friends. We have good chemistry, and we respect everyone who gives up their time to play for us.”

The World Series in Butler will feature regional championship teams from Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Once again, the Hawks will be the last seed and will play top-seeded Adrian College on the opening night of the double elimination tournament.

The concern for Lehigh is fielding enough players for the event. “School is out before that weekend,” said Strack. “Some guys on the team start jobs or leave for home. We have five states represented on our roster, including California. We hope to have just enough players.”

There are other challenges that come with club baseball. The players drive themselves to all the games. Strack will be taking a carload of teammates and baseball equipment to Butler which is located north of Pittsburgh, more than a four-hour trek from Lehigh. The team’s treasury dues will pay for their hotel stay that is close to the venue.

Richie’s father is Rich Strack, a writer for the Times News. Rich has coached multiple levels of baseball for many years including a current position he holds in a Lehigh Valley men’s league.

“Lehigh’s club team is a phenomenal bunch of kids who give it their all on every pitch of the game,” he said. “Every player is difficult to retire at the plate, which has helped boost their on-base percentage and has significantly increased the total runs they’ve scored.”

Asked about his son’s contribution to the team, Strack was emotional with his reply. “I’m so happy for Richie. He hasn’t had this kind of team success since he played travel ball when he was 11 years old. I’m proud to watch him coach and play. He was just elected by his teammates to be President of Club Baseball Operations for next year at Lehigh. Back home at Jim Thorpe, everyone knows Richie’s a great kid. He deserves this moment and I told him to have fun and enjoy the experience at the World Series.”

Win or lose, Richie Strack and his Lehigh Mountain Hawks’ teammates will be making memories next weekend that will last them a lifetime.