Peter Agostinelli and Richard Reynolds both started their careers at Brockport High before making their way to minor league baseball. Rick Czajkowski played three of varsity baseball at Bath-Haverling and was selected out of high school by the Houston Astros. Pep Johnson‘s Batavia high teams won four sectional titles during his 26-year tenure, and Richard Smith struck out 156 batters during his senior season at Irondequoit. For these achievements and more the quintet will be honored later this month when Section V Baseball presents its 2017 Hall of Fame Class.
Peter Agostinelli
Pete was an outstanding athlete at Brockport High School where he excelled in baseball and basketball. He was a pitcher/outfielder on the baseball team from 1985-1987, earning First Team All-County honors in each of those years. Pete won 19 games and struck out over 300 batters in that three year period.
Pete went on to Monroe Community College for the 1988 season, winning five games and helping his team to the regional finals. The following year was he was a starting pitcher at Brevard Community College which went on to win the 1989 Junior College World Series. While at the University of South Carolina-Upstate from 1990-1992, Pete’s pitching stats led the team. He was honored to accept an invitation to participate in the Pan Am Games in 1991 and played in the Alaskan Summer League that year. He was selected to the All-Region team as a senior.
In 1992 Pete signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and played for four seasons in the minors advancing to A+ level. He threw a no-hitter in 1993 while playing in the New York-Penn League. Pete’s 64 appearances in a 134-game season in 1994 led the team and all of the minor leagues in appearances. It still stands as a Phillies minor league record.
Rick Czajkowski
Rick excelled at shortstop on the Bath-Haverling varsity baseball team from 1986-1988, carrying a batting average of .500 or more in each of his three seasons. He was selected to the Steuben County All-Star team as a sophomore. The next season Rick was selected MVP by the Bath Elks and named to the Star-Gazette All-Twin Tiers Team. At the conclusion of his senior season, Rick received several accolades including MVP Class A Steuben County League, Star-Gazette Player of the Year, and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Sports Excellence All-Star.
Rick was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 40th round following his senior season but chose to accept a scholarship to Ohio University where he played from 1988-1992. In his freshman year he led the team in hits and at bats earning Honorable Mention All-MAC. As a sophomore Rick led the team in several hitting and fielding categories, and was named 2nd Team All-MAC shortstop. Rick broke Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt’s season record of 49 runs scored as a junior. By the end of his senior year Rick held six career Bobcat records. He earned First Team Academic All-MAC honors in 1990-1992. Rick was the shortstop for the Columbus All-Americans of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League during the summers of 1989-1991 where he was a three year all-star.
Pep Johnson
Pep was a multi-sport athlete at Batavia High School where he played varsity football and baseball for four years. The baseball team earned the Section V championship in 1959, Pep’s senior year. After college at SUNY Brockport he went on to enjoy a very successful coaching career at his alma mater where he taught physical education. After seven years at the JV level, Pep became Varsity baseball coach in 1973 and continued until 1998. He also coached JV football for over 25 years. In his first season at the helm of Batavia baseball, they were league champions. The team also achieved that status in 1975, 1979, 1980, and 1987. Batavia was the county champion in 1975 when the team was victorious over Fairport in the East-West game. Pep coached his teams to sectional championships in 1980, 1991, 1994, and 1998. He reached the 300-win milestone in May, 1993. In 1996 Pep was awarded the Tri-County Umpires Bob Flick Memorial Varsity Sportsmanship Award. He had the honor of being one of the Western Division coaches in the Monroe County League Exceptional Seniors game in 1987. Coach Johnson was inducted into the Batavia High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Richard Reynolds
A 1950 graduate, Richard was an outstanding athlete at Brockport High School earning varsity letters in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track. He was the starting outfielder on the varsity baseball team for four years and was named to the All Monroe County Team as a junior and senior. In his senior year Richard was recognized as the Senior Athlete of the Year.
Upon graduation, Richard was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and played for one season with the Batavia Clippers. He enlisted in the Marines in 1952. In 1954 Richard played baseball as a member of the US Marine Parris Island Base Team. The following year he played with the Camp Lejeune Base Team.
Richard returned to Brockport after his military service to earn his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Health and Physical Education. He received his Director of Athletics Certification at Ithaca College. Richard coached baseball at the JV level at Waterloo High School in 1958-59 before beginning his 21-year career at Kendall High School (1962-1982). His baseball teams earned ten Genesee Region Division Championships and were Section V finalists five times. Richard also coached basketball (1963-1977) and was the Athletic Director at Kendall from 1967-1992.
Richard received the New York State Coaches Honor Award in 1977. He was named to the Brockport High School Wall of Fame in 2007 and the Kendall High School Wall of Honor in 2013.
Richard Smith
Rich is a 1985 graduate of Irondequoit High School where he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball. He was an outstanding starting pitcher for three years with a career record of 29-6. Rich led his team to the Monroe County Championship with a 14-0 record and 156 strike outs in 91 innings in his senior year. He was a three-time All-County selection for baseball and was named the Irondequoit High School Athlete of the Year in 1985. Rich also achieved All-County status in football that same year.
Rich went on to a successful college career at the University of Maryland from 1985-1989 where he received a full athletic scholarship. He was a four year starter and was named captain for his senior season. One highlight was a one-hit shut-out against #1 ranked North Carolina State in his senior year.
After graduating from college, Rich joined the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played for two seasons with the Erie Orioles and the Wausau Timbers.
Rich continues his involvement in baseball through coaching at the Little League, Youth, and summer high school levels in Penfield. He was the pitching coach for the Rochester Rage, a summer travel program.
The induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 25th and tickets need be purchased by June 10.
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