Newton native Kenny Schechter has achieved a career milestone as a member of the LSU Shreveport Pilots championship baseball team.

Their 59-0 season this year has made them the first college baseball team in history to complete a perfect season.

He discussed how growing up in Newton and learning from local coaches led him to a spot on a record-breaking team, and what he’s planning for the future.

Schechter has been playing baseball nearly his entire life, starting out on the Padres in Newton Little League. He quickly became drawn to pitching, honing his talent through multiple Little League seasons and his time playing for the Newton North Tigers.

He began pitching regularly in the third grade and switched to pitching exclusively by his sophomore year. He credits high school coaches like Joe Siciliano with noticing his skill and helping him develop technique while preparing to play at a collegiate level.

Schechter refined his pitching style playing for the College of the Desert and the University of Rhode Island before playing for LSU Shreveport.

Schechter’s ability as a pitcher was perhaps most on display throughout four critical innings of their National Championship against Southeastern University. Despite an incredibly dominant year, a final win had yet to be guaranteed. LSU was trailing Southeastern 7-6 by the fifth inning.

Things were beginning to look grim until Schechter took the mound. In the face of immense pressure, Schechter maintained his composure. Instead of shifting his game plan, he relied on the same dependable strategy that’d been working so well throughout the season.

“We were already 58-0, so there was no reason to change now.” He halted Southeastern’s offense in its tracks, allowing zero runs for the remainder of the game. His persistence gave LSU Shreveport the chance to come back and finish the game with a 13-7 victory.

Schechter finished the season with a 4-0 record, a remarkable number for a relief pitcher. His performance in the championship game secured the LSU Pilots’ spot as one of the most dominant college baseball teams in history. Schechter credits his success to the positive atmosphere on the field and the years of experience he and his teammates have playing the game.

When asked what made the Pilots’ lineup so outstanding this year, he remarked on the camaraderie the Pilots cultivated throughout the season.

“This was probably the closest team I’ve been on.”

He also stressed the collective work ethic the team shared, remarking that he’d “never been on a team where guys put so much work in off the field.”

Schechter intends to pursue a professional contract, though he’s currently sidelined with an elbow injury.

He credits his hometown coaches with noticing his talent early and giving him the resources to develop into such a standout pitcher.

Schechter is grateful for the lessons he’s learned after a lifetime on the field. While he’s uncertain of his plans for the future, he remains certain of one thing: “Baseball will always be a part of my life.”