Colleges

Koenigsfeld embarks on his latest challenge

The ex-Ridgewood standout will try to make the FAU baseball team as a walk-on.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published August 18, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Jon Koenigsfeld grew up in a baseball family. He was expected to compete against year-round players while splitting his time among three sports. He persevered through injuries.

So, what's another uphill climb?

The 2005 Ridgewood graduate and valedictorian will attend Florida Atlantic on an academic scholarship and try to walk on the Division I baseball team, Rams coach Larry Beets said.

"It's a challenge for him, but he's met every challenge that's been presented to him," Beets said. "I have no reason to think that it'll be any different once they get a look at him."

Koenigsfeld left for Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, and calls to his father, Randy, were not immediately returned.

Koenigsfeld, a four-year starter who played infield, outfield and pitcher, received honorable mention on the Times' 2005 all-county baseball team after helping Ridgewood to the Class 4A, District 10 championship and region semifinals during his senior season.

He missed more than a month with a broken bone in his pitching hand but came back to throw four innings of no-hit ball in a district semifinal victory over Wesley Chapel and a one-hit shutout in a region quarterfinal win over Leesburg.

But then, he's always had a flair for the dramatic.

He made three highlight-reel catches in rightfield against Dunedin in the 2002 state semifinals, pitched a one-hit shutout to beat Tarpon Springs in the district final two years ago and scored the winning run in last season's district championship win over the Spongers.

And this was when he wasn't playing football or basketball.

"Any time he's been put in those pressure situations, he's come through consistently, and there's no telling what he could have done if that would have been the only thing he did," Beets said. "But he wanted to help as many programs as he could. He sacrificed himself to better all the sports he had an opportunity to be in."

Koenigsfeld, whose father and uncle played at Florida International, has two other things going for him. Land O'Lakes coach Calvin Baisley called Florida Atlantic to put in a good word for him, and FAU is aware of Ridgewood's program. Former Rams pitcher Tommy Maclane played there for a year, and the Owls recruited Mike Rabelo before he committed to the University of Tampa.

"That's a key plus," Beets said. "(Koenigsfeld) has been on a team that's been in the championship game of the state finals and played under pressure, and that's got to mean something."

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:05:19]