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"When he was on, he was tough to hit," retired Indians coach Frank Stellar said. "Most teams couldn't touch him."
Mark Jones can relate. Manheim Township's senior impressed Bill Sassaman this season by blowing his 91 mph fastball past hitters.
"And," the Blue Streaks boss said, "that was on fastball counts."
Wednesday, power pitchers Gorski and Jones joined Penn Manor product and Towson relief ace Josh Squatrito in the next step toward realizing lifelong dreams when they were selected in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
Gorski, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound southpaw and 21-year-old junior at Kutztown University, was a seventh-round pick by the New York Mets.
The 6-7, 205-pound Jones, an 18-year-old right-hander, was taken in the 22nd round by the Houston Astros.
Squatrito, a 22-year-old right-hander who helped pitch the Comets to a state title in 2005, was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 25th round. In his two years at Towson, the Tigers' senior set team records for saves in a season (10) and career (17).
Gorski and Jones expressed as much relief as excitement as clubs mined for unearthed gems on Day Two of a draft laden with premium pitchers like Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Schuster, A.J. Morris and Chris Dwyer.
"I tried not to watch (the draft)," Gorski said. "The anxiety was building with each round."
Jones avoided some of that anxiety by not tuning in until the later rounds.
"I knew I wasn't going to go early," he said. "So I just waited. It really was a surprise (to be drafted in the 22nd round). I was expecting to go later."
The three-day draft, which began with Tuesday's first round and continued Wednesday with rounds 4-30, concludes today with rounds 31-50.
Gorski and Jones will meet with respective Mets and Astros personnel in the coming days to negotiate contracts.
Should they sign, they'll join the list of 10 former Lancaster-Lebanon League athletes currently playing professional baseball.
"It's a nice dream to have, but for most kids, playing professional sports is not a reality," Sassaman said. "But when it comes to baseball, if you're one of the best in our area, chances are you're going to sign a pro contract."
Gorski, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's East Pitcher of the Year, was projected by Baseball America scouts to last until somewhere between rounds 10-12.
Last summer, he was the top prospect in the Atlantic Collegiate League after going 7-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 61 innings. This spring, the Golden Bears' golden arm went 8-2 with a 2.17 ERA and had 100 strikeouts in 79 innings.
"I'd like to say I'm a power pitcher," he said. "But I also like the mental part of the game."
He credits his father, Gary, for his development as a player.
"He's been a big help, very supportive," said Darin, whose younger brother Devin was a Section Three All-Star for the Indians this spring.
"My dad comes to my games, videotapes them and shows me what's working."
Jones' earliest memories of playing baseball date back to age six. He said his father, Bill, was instrumental in helping him realize his dream.
"I've always wanted to play baseball, and it's been my dream to play in the pros," he said. "I'm kind of speechless right now."
Jones enjoyed a breakout campaign his senior season. He led Township with a 7-2 record and 1.15 ERA, and had 59 strikeouts in 54.2 innings. L-L coaches were impressed enough to name him to the All-League First Team.
Jones credits Glenn Gallagher for much of his recent success.
He's worked with the former minor league pitcher and operator of the Gallagher School of Baseball once a week for the past five years.
'He's helped me a lot," Jones said.
"I think it says a lot about baseball in our area," Sassaman said of three more L-L players being drafted.
"It's a nice honor and recognition for our league."
E-mail: egruver@lnpnews.com
