2016 Darin Cunningham

A 1995 Knoch HS gradudate where he was a three year letterman in baseball. He was a two-time winner of the ACE Pitching Award, and pitched first shutout on Knoch baseball history in 1994. His batting average over three years was .339. He went on to Penn State – Beaver Campusfor two years as astarting pitcher. IN 1995 the PSU team was ranked as high as # 1 in the NJCAA. They won the PHCAC State Championship and Darin was the winning pitcher of the Commonwealth Conference Tournament. In the fall of 1996 they again won the Commonwealth Conference Tournament ending ranked # 5 in the nation. In 1997 Darin pitched a complete game one win of the NJCAA College World Series in Batavia New York. The PSU Team was again ranked # 1 in the nation. In 1997 Darin was awarded the John Egli Award as the Outstanding Scholar Athlete of the 19 Commonwealth Campuses of Penn State. His record at PSU -Beaver was 14-1 with 3 saves and an ERA of 2.01, and 99 strikeouts. He also maintained a 3.39. IN 1998 he accepted a scholarship to play baseball for Lander University in Peach Belt Conderence in South Carolina. His record was 5-3 at Lander. He went from Lander University to return to Penn State Main Campus to play baseball. He optioned to Red Shirt his in the 1999 season. In 2000 he led the PSU pitching staff ERA for most of the season at 1.87era as a middle reliever. Penn State was ranked as high as # 18 in NCAA Division 1 rankings. There record earned them a spot in the NCAA Div. 1 College Baseball Regional playoffs with Army, Rutgers,and North Carolina. They won the Regionals and moved on to play Texas in the Super Regionals. He made the Deans list both years at PSU Main Campus and was named to the Big 10 Scholar Athlete in 2000. He went n to take Post Graduate courses at Slippery Rock University and assisted for Coach Messer with pitchers while at Slippery Rock. After college Darin played for Saxonburg for several years in the Eagle County League. He helped Saxonburg win three championships.