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Aaron Kucia, LHP, Cuyahoga Heights, Class of 2016

PBR: Why did you choose Lake Erie?

Kucia: I choose Lake Erie because I liked the small friendly campus along with Coach McGee and the whole coaching staff, and the opportunity to compete for playing time immediately. 

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Kucia: Bethel College (Ind.), Niagara, Siena Heights, Youngstown State, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Saginaw Valley State, Malone, Ohio Dominican

PBR: Where did the coaches first see you? How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?

Kucia: Coach McGee first invited me to Lake Erie for "Junior Day" in April and then first saw me play earlier in the summer at Baldwin Wallace University in the Diamond League Showcase tournament and then multiple times over the summer, Coach McGee and I kept in contact the whole summer either by text or call 3 to 4 times per week.

PBR: What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?

Kucia: Coach McGee and the whole coaching staff expects me to compete for a job in the starting rotation and also compete for a job at 1st Base.

PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that you will help Storm baseball?

Kucia: Confidence, staying humble and being a good teammate along with being a good pitcher with multiple plus pitches and the ability to hit the ball and drive in runs in pressure situations.

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was the most memorable experience from this summer?

Kucia:  Next summer I will play for the Lake Erie Warhawks (Abrahamowicz), last summer I played for the Spartans Blue Elite and my most memorable experience from this past summer was hanging out with my teammates and pitching at the University of Cincinnati throwing a shutout against East Cobb. 

PBR: What were your stats for last spring season?

Kucia: Spring Stats: 49IP, 75Ks 1SV ERA 1.41 (5-1) AVG. .376 1HR 28RBIs Summer Stats: 43IP, 56Ks (6-0) ERA 0.34 AVG. .398 17RBIs and 26 Runs Scored.

PBR: Who is the toughest hitter that you have faced in Ohio?

Kucia: I have faced a lot of good hitters throughout the state over the past couple years so I can't really single out one specific hitter.