April 7, 2006

Kyle Collina has grown used to the extra eyes that are on him when he pitches. The radar guns behind home plate don't bother him. With a fastball that pushes 90-miles per hour and pinpoint control, Collina, a senior pitcher on the baseball team, has drawn the curious eye of a number of Major League Baseball scouts.

But the extra bodies in the stands aren't a concern for Collina. A civil engineering major who wants to get into construction management, Collina's primary concern on the field is helping to design a consistently successful program.

"I want to help with the attitude of players and do anything I can to better the program," Collina said. "Our senior class is as strong as it's been, and we want to set the path for those that follow of how things should be done."

"One of the most special things about Kyle is that his primary goal is to help this team win the Patriot League," said eleventh year Lehigh head coach Sean Leary. "He wants to be sure he leaves the program in better shape than when he got here."

Collina, one of seven seniors on the Lehigh team, wants to ensure that the group remains tied to the program, even after graduation. Plans are in the works for alumni events and other functions to help them remain involved.

For Collina, one of the hardest workers on the team, it isn't about the personal accolades or attention. In fact, while those who follow the program are quite aware of his accomplishments on the mound, casual observers may not know just how successful he's been. Despite ranking among the Patriot League leaders in most statistical categories in 2005, including innings, strikeouts, complete games, and shutouts, Collina was omitted from the all-league teams. He has never earned pitcher of the week honors.

Does that bother him? Not so much. "Nah, it doesn't bother me at all," he explains. "Every time I go out there, I just want to give my team the best chance to win. I don't worry about that stuff, and just do my best."

Collina came to Lehigh from nearby Notre Dame-Green Pond high school, where he earned varsity letters in four sports (cross country, baseball, football, and wrestling). But his first love was baseball, and he knew he wanted to continue playing ball in college.

When he first joined the Mountain Hawks, Collina was both a pitcher and an outfielder, but Leary said he knew Collina would end up on the mound long-term. "In terms of arm strength, you could tell he was a pitcher," Leary recalls.

Concentrating on one sport for the first time, Collina's arm began to develop, and the Lehigh team was the beneficiary. "Kyle has one of the best work ethics you'll find," Leary said. "In terms of training, he out-works others and is very dedicated to keeping his body in top shape."

Collina's velocity began to climb, and scouts started to take notice. First it was one, every now and then. Over time, there would be a couple in attendance when Collina was scheduled to pitch. The contingent has grown to well over a dozen, at times to see Collina, along with junior catcher Matt McBride and senior outfielder Andrew Smith.

"We've almost gotten used to [the jump in attendance]," Leary notes. "Since they're here all the time, it's no pressure any more."

Collina concurs. "It's not pressure. I find it more exciting when they're here. And besides, whether they're here to see Andrew, Matt, or me, maybe they'll see someone else on our team who will pique their interest."

While Collina is not concerned with personal accolades, he does not hide the fact that he would love to continue pitching after this season ends. "I'd be grateful for the opportunity to have the opportunity to continue pitching," he says.

Long-term, Collina aspires to get into the construction management field, and also maintain his ties to the sport he loves by coaching baseball.

Not surprisingly, Leary has the utmost confidence in his number-one starter. "Every kid has potential, but the question is how hard they will work to reach that potential," he said. "Kyle has worked hard in reaching his."

Civil engineering has to do with the design aspect of the field, and Collina's career is already off to a promising start. He has already gained valuable experience in helping to shape and design a winning attitude and work ethic within the Lehigh baseball program - this year's group of seniors will likely leave Lehigh as the most successful four-year class in the program's history. The only thing left to accomplish: winning a Patriot League title.

Collina will take the hill on Saturday, as the Mountain Hawks host rival Holy Cross in the start of a four-game series at the baseball field on Goodman Campus. Game one of Saturday's doubleheader - in which Collina is scheduled to pitch - can be heard live on the Lehigh web site at Lehighsports.com, with streaming provided by Yahoo! Sports.