Axcess Baseball is excited to announce that Mike Pienkos is the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Simply put, Pienkos was synonymous with Chaminade baseball for 45 years.
Most people do not realize that he holds the distinction of being the head coach of four varsity sports – football, golf, bowling and baseball. It was on the diamond where he was most successful.
He began as the JV baseball coach in 1981. That team went 10-3 and tied for first place. The following year, 1982, he took over as the varsity baseball coach. Pienkos met Jack Lyons in 1983 and he was his assistant since that time.From there, they made Chaminade into the powerhouse program that they are known for today. They went to 24 League Finals, winning 16 Championships and the first ever New York State Catholic League Championship in 2022, where they finished with a remarkable record of 25-2. He won 12 Catholic League Coach of the Year awards. Overall, he won an incredible 675 games, with a 67% winning percentage.
The following players went on to play professional baseball following their playing careers at Chaminade during Pienkos’ tenure:
- Matt Colantonio – San Diego Padres
- Brian Kemp – Houston Astros
- Matt Loosen – Chicago Cubs
- Straton Podaras – Los Angeles Angels
- Joe Suozzi – New York Mets
- Craig Cooper – San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics
- Logan Koester – Philadelphia Phillies
- Kraig Binick – Baltimore Orioles
- Marc Palmieri – Toronto Blue Jays
- John Lannan – 8-year MLB career with the Nationals, Phillies, Mets
Previous Winners:
2024: Bob Hirschfield
2023: Sal Agostinelli
2022: Ron McKay
2021: Dan Palumbo
