May 22, 2025 By Rob Burchianti 5 min read

Name: Parker Lind

School: Belle Vernon

Class: Senior

Sport: Baseball

Lind’s week: Lind has put on a spectacular performance for the Leopards this postseason. In two starts the senior left-hander came within one out of firing back-to-back, complete-game shutouts to help lead his team into the WPIAL semifinals for the first time since 2012 and only the second time in program history. Lind threw a three-hit shutout with three walks and 13 strikeouts in a 7-0 first-round win over Derry on May 14. He followed that up by pitching 6 ⅔ scoreless innings in a 5-0 quarterfinal victory over Beaver on Monday. In that game he again allowed just three hits and three walks and struck out 11. For the season, Lind is 9-1 with a sparkling 0.64 ERA and 105 strikeouts.

Reviving the Leopards: In addition to helping his team get to the district final four, Lind played a key role in Belle Vernon earning a section championship for the first time in 12 years last season and his win over Derry gave the Leopards their first playoff win in 13 years. “Coach (Tony Watson) had been preaching we wanted to get a playoff win because it’s been awhile,” Lind said of the victory over Derry. “I knew this team could do it, I knew they would back me up, which they did, and we’d get that first win. Then the win Monday to get to the semifinals, it’s awesome. It’s a great experience. Our team is driven. The guys have determination. They want to win. The guys are always up during the games. They’re always motivated and ready to go.” Belle Vernon lost to Indiana in the semifinals on Tuesday but can still qualify for the PIAA tournament with a win in the third-place consolation game against Central Valley at a day, time and site to be determined.

Arsenal: Lind throws a two-seam fastball, a four-seam fastball, a knuckle curve, a split finger and a circle change. “I feel amazing on the mound right now,” Lind said. “All my pitches are working and the team is doing the job in back of me which really helps me out a lot. I just figured out the knuckle curve this year because I was struggling throwing the curveball in past years.” As for miles per hour, Lind said, “I sit 86 to 88 and have topped out at 91.” Lind threw 110 pitches against Derry and 107 against Beaver, and felt he could’ve easily gone longer in each outing if it wasn’t for the pitch-count rule. “The day of I have so much adrenalin pumping I feel I can throw 20 innings,” Lind said.

Kent State: Lind will pitch in college for NCAA Division-I Kent State. “I played with Fred Albert, he coached the Pirates scout team, the Allegheny Pirates, and we were up there for a showcase and Kent State was behind home plate,” Lind said. “I had no idea. I pitched two perfect innings and they came up to me after the game. Within a couple days I was committed. I was trying to decide between Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown. I couldn’t figure out which one I wanted to commit to. Then Kent State came into the picture and it was a no-doubter.” Lind liked what he saw when he visiting Kent State. “I was up there. It’s a beautiful campus,” Lind said. “Everything is very nice, I liked the baseball facilities and I knew I wanted to go to college there.”

Coach Watson: Lind is a big fan of Belle Vernon coach Tony Watson. “Tony is a great guy,” Lind said. “He always tries his best to do what the team needs. He makes sure the pitchers don’t hurt their arms and that we’re all good all the time because he was a pitcher. He really cares about us and he’s helped put Belle Vernon back on the map for baseball.”

Beginnings: Lind, the son of Eric and Shannon Lind, began playing baseball when he was eight years old. “I never played tee ball. I went straight to coach-pitch,” Lind said. “My eighth grade year I moved to Belle Vernon and that’s when I first started going to Tony. I would do lessons with him and he got me started out with pitching and gave me confidence. My freshman year I started on the varsity and just took off from there.” Lind is a four-year starter.

Odd and ends: Lind has two sisters, Hayley, 24, who played softball in high school, and Paityn, 15, who is a member of Belle Vernon’s flag football team. … Lind has had his moments as a batter. “I really don’t hit that much so I try to make the most of it when I get a chance,” said Lind, who is a switch hitter. “I came into the game against West Mifflin in the bottom of the seventh and hit a two-run double.” … Lind is an avid fisherman. “I love to go fishing,” he said. “Mostly all my baseball players are my fishing buddies. We like to go together on our off days. Me and my buddy went last week for three hours and we caught 25 trout, all catch-and-release.”

– Compiled by Rob Burchianti