Leonard named new head baseball coach at Geibel Catholic
CONNELLSVILLE – John Leonard has devoted two-thirds of his life to baseball at just about every level of competition, and now he is ready to move into his biggest challenge so far – high school coaching. Leonard has been named the new head baseball coach at Geibel Catholic High School in Connellsville and is already looking ahead to next spring when he will make his debut in scholastic competition.
He succeeds Dan Kupets, who coached the Gators 12 years.
Leonard said, “This is my first coaching effort at the high school level, although I have been coaching little League and working with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Bulldogs, a 13-14 age group team that plays games throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. We played in Morgantown, Cleveland, Mount Lebanon and Massillon, playing doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, usually three to six games a week. We finished this season with a 34-15 record.
“Coaching high school baseball is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but I never had a job where I could accept such a position. But now I am a dispatcher for Greenridge Waste Services, and can complete this work and still get to the school to coach.”
Leonard played Little, Pony, Teener and Legion baseball, plus three years at Connellsville High for coach Tom Sankovich, graduating in 1979. His senior year he finished 10-0 and set a school record for a seven-inning game by striking out 18 against Ringgold. He went on to play at Yavapai College in Arizona for two years, then went to the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
Leonard might hold a record unequaled in the country. One year he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 14th round and by the Twins in the second round of the winter draft. The following year he was picked by the Orioles in the fourth round, and in the winter draft, Oakland picked him in the first round. The summer and winter after that he was tapped by the Chicago White Sox in the second round and Baltimore in the first. He did go on to play three years in the Orioles system until tearing his rotator cuff and having to give up playing.
Leonard said, “I might be the only player drafted six times, and now there is no longer a winter draft.”
Looking ahead, Leonard said of Geibel, “I have some ideas on what I want to do. There is some good talent on the team, players like Phil Gratchic, Jordan White, Andrew Stroh, Earl Gilbert, Dan Chorba and Matt Mascia. Jake David, Zack and Jeremiah Voithofer, Rob Ramsey and my son Zack – all experienced players. I will try to fit the style of play to our talent, but I do like to run, execute plays, and we will stress defense and pitching.”
Leonard is the son of John and Helen Leonard of Dawson, and the grandson of Fletcher Rimmel, who was well known in local baseball circles.
He is married to the former Becky Means and they have one daughter, Lynnsy, and four sons, Tyler, who will be attending California University of Pa. this year, Zack, Joe and John.