Nothing, yes nothing, was going to stop Army pitcher and first baseman Justin Lehman from doing all he could to make sure his college baseball career did not come to a sudden halt last weekend.
The visiting Black Knights trailed arch-rival Navy one game to none in the best-of-three Patriot League semifinal round after a 18-11 loss last Saturday. But, Lehman made it clear to just about anyone who would listen, coaches, teammates and even his family, that he would do anything it would take to help Army rally and win the series.
He came through with flying colors. In the second game of the series Sunday, Lehman, throwing 142 pitches through seven innings, gave up just one earned run and struck out six to lead the Black Knights to a 13-2 victory to tie the series. Then, starting about 20 minutes after that game ended, Lehman, playing first base, went 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs to help Army win 6-5 in 10 innings to clinch the series.
For his efforts, Lehman was named the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week by the College Baseball Foundation Tuesday.
The third-seeded Black Knights (25-23 ) will travel to Worchester, Mass. to take on top-seeded Holy Cross (29-23) in another best-of-three series beginning Sunday to determine the league championship and which team will represent the Patriot League in the NCAA baseball tournament that begins later this month.
Army has a lot on the line, especially with the fact that the Black Knights have won the last six Patriot League titles and 13 since the postseason tournament was started in 1994.
“With the loss last Saturday, I think the coaches and players realized that our collective backs were against the wall and Sunday could have been the last time some of us, including me, ever play a meaningful baseball game,” said the 6-foot-2 senior from Fort Mill, S.C. “After we lost that first game, I talked to my family and told them I would do whatever the coaches asked of me. I would keep pitching until my arm either fell off or they took me out of the game.
“Honestly, I was so pumped up with adrenaline that I did not feel exhausted until I sat down on the team bus for the trip back to West Point. Like many of my teammates, I wanted to give everything I had to win the series and get to this upcoming weekend and a chance to win the championship.”
Even by West Point standards, Lehman bleeds Army black, grey and gold more than many other athletes who have attended the academy. Though he knew little of West Point while playing catcher for the Nation Ford High School team in Fort Mill, he met the coaches on a recruiting trip he quickly realized that Army would be an excellent place for him to get an education, serve his country and keep playing baseball.
“I have loved it here,” he said. “I am the type of person who really likes structure and West Point obviously offers that. Plus, the fact that I can play baseball nearly every single day is amazing. I have the opportunity to play a kid’s game and it played a large role in getting me into this institution. I am filled with pride and joy when I think that I had the opportunity to attend West Point.”
Recruited for his catching prowess, Lehman, who bats lefty and throws righty, quickly realized that with several more talented players in front of him, including Derek Berg, an all-league catcher who graduated after last season and is playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, he would see limited playing time behind the plate.
So, during his freshman year, he started lobbying the coaching staff for an opportunity to pitch. He made five pitching appearances and finished the campaign with a 0.00 earned run average and 4.2 innings of work. While he got into 26 games as a utility player in his sophomore year, his big break as a pitcher came when he convinced new pitching coach John Sheehan for a tryout before his junior season.
“I kept pleading with him to get on the mound,” Lehman said. “Finally, he gave me a shot and I threw in front of him. He said he would see me next week on the mound.”
Lehman pitched two innings against Fordham early in the season and, the next week, got the starting nod against Georgia State. He pitched four innings and was the winning pitcher in an 11-3 decision. Then, an opportunity opened up at first base due to an injury and Lehman suddenly was playing virtually every game, either as a starting pitcher or at first base.
“In two weeks, I went from pretty much sitting on the bench as a backup outfielder to become a starting pitcher on the team and its first basemen,” Lehman noted. “I knew I wanted to help this team anyway I could and took every opportunity to get on the field and help out.”
In 2024, Lehman batted .256 with 23 hits, two doubles, two triples, one home run and 15 RBIs. On the mound, he appeared in 13 games, starting 12, had a stellar 2.68 ERA and finished with a 5-4 record. He struck out 49 batters against 25 walks.
This season, Lehman is batting .289 with 37 hits, including 12 doubles, one triple and one home run. He’s drove in 23 runs. From the mound, Lehman has started 12 games, compiling a 5-4 record and an ERA of 4.27 with 45 strikeouts against just 18 walks.
Is a professional baseball possible? Lehman would love to keep playing organized baseball, but realizes the odds are long. Instead, he branched ordinance and will be stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. with the 82nd airborne.
“I would love to pursue a baseball career but, so far, no one has spoken to be about it,” he said. “I am looking forward to an Army career and getting very into the Army and getting on with my life.”
As for the Holy Cross series, he says that Andrew Berg will get the starting nod for the first game Sunday but expects to be on the mound Monday for game two.
“I am ready to do anything to help this team win,” he added. “This season has been a tough one for us, but I think everyone on this team realizes that we can still fight another day and reach the NCAA tournament. Holy Cross is a great ball club and I think it will be a great series between two tough teams. Plus, it is going to be a lot of fun.”
