Deep Pennsylvania Roots Made Sczepkowski Ready for Any Athletic Season

Ajay Sczepkowski’s historic 30 home run/30 stolen base 2023 season with the Georgia Gwinnett College baseball team can be traced back to the golf course, football gridiron, basketball hardwood, hockey rink, lacrosse field, soccer pitch, volleyball court, and, of course, baseball diamond while growing up in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The blue-collar, hard-working city known for its pretzel making is nestled in the Berks region of the Keystone State, about one hour northwest of Philadelphia. Its four-season climate made it an ideal location for the development of a multi-sport athlete.

Depending upon the time of year, Sczepkowski could be found playing baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, golf, and recreational lacrosse with his friends and classmates. 

“Playing all those sports kept me athletic. It gave me that drive to succeed by being tested in each sport’s disciplines. I became a better athlete,” remarks Sczepkowski. “A hockey shot, golf swing and a baseball swing are similar mechanically. Playing multiple sports didn’t allow me become one-sided as an athlete – being primarily right-handed or left-handed. I grew up being familiar with being mobile and athletic from both the right and left sides (as a baseball hitter).”

As his high school career progressed, Sczepkowski’s passion for baseball grew. He helped lead Governor Mifflin High School to its first baseball state playoff appearance during his sophomore season.

“Baseball is the game of life. There’s a lot of failure, so it teaches you a lot of things. It pushes you to become a better person because it is a team-oriented sport,” he states.

Sczepkowski’s high school success led him to Harford Community College, a successful program in Maryland, before getting a taste of NCAA Division I athletics at Charleston Southern University, facing such opponents as Ole Miss, the eventual 2022 College World Series champion.

“In junior college I got to compete against a lot of older and mature players. It opened my eyes to college life. If I was serious about pursuing baseball then I needed to work harder and give it my all,” he said.

Sczepkowski batted .310 with 16 doubles and nine homers in 50 games with Charleston Southern, which advanced to the championship game of the Big South Conference postseason tournament.

Unsatisfied with his collegiate experiences, Sczepkowski sought a place that reminded him of his days in Reading by making the game fun again. That brought him to Georgia Gwinnett College and Head Coach Jeremy Sheetinger. The Grizzlies were coming off a 46-win season in 2022 and captured the program’s first NAIA national championship in 2021. 

“After Charleston Southern I had other offers to play mid-major Division I baseball, but it wasn’t in my heart to do the same thing over again. Speaking with Coach Sheetinger and the players, it opened my eyes that winning is what I needed to be around. I’m a better person by playing at GGC,” said Sczepkowski.

His first season as a Grizzly started slowly. Five home runs came in February, with a solo blast at nationally ranked Tennessee Wesleyan University late in the month setting the stage for what was to come. 

Thirteen round trippers cleared the outfield fences in March, including a single-game school record three homers in a win against Middle Georgia State University at the Grizzly Baseball Complex. He added eight more home runs in April to bring his season total to 26 with postseason play right around the corner.

“Success in stealing bases came fairly early for him. When he started approaching 20 home runs, that is when we knew there was a lot of season left and it could turn into something really exciting,” remarks Sheetinger, who had a front row seat in the GGC dugout to watch the player’s record-breaking achievements. “He had a string of games where he hit a home run quite frequently. They came in bunches.” 

Sczepkowski hit a pair of home runs against Fisher College (Massachusetts) in the Continental Athletic Conference Baseball Championship tournament. Then, he rounded the bases again in the first game of the NAIA Opening Round Lawrenceville Bracket against Midway University (Kentucky).

Less than 24 hours later the athletic left fielder hit the historic home run to become only the second player in college baseball history to have 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season – matching an achievement by Florida State University’s J.D. Drew, who went onto play in the major leagues. 

Sczepkowski’s strong play at the plate and in the outfield helped the Grizzlies win the Opening Round tournament and advance to the Avista NAIA World Series. He celebrated on top of a dogpile on GGC’s home diamond to celebrate the program’s fifth consecutive World Series appearance.

He wasn’t done yet, after being the talk of the World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, the Pennsylvania native delivered a home run against Indiana Wesleyan University and two more round trippers against Taylor University (Indiana).

Sczepkowski ended his first season at the Lawrenceville, Georgia-based college, with 33 home runs, 36 stolen bases, 102 runs batted in, and a .421 batting average. There were also 90 hits, 95 runs scored, 17 doubles, and five triples in 57 games. 

Those statistics made him an overwhelming choice as NAIA Player of the Year and a first-team NAIA All-American selection. He also was a Preseason All-American heading into this spring’s campaign for the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies. 

“I take pride in playing the game hard. GGC gives you the freedom to fail. I’ve been on teams where you can only steal when given the sign or if you are thrown out you’re in trouble. [Coach Sheetinger] allows us to be an athlete and be better the next time that situation comes up. There’s nothing more an athlete can ask for,” says Sczepkowski.

Sheetinger feels fortunate to have the talents of the 6-foot senior in the lineup for another season. 

Sczepkowski adds, “It meant a lot for my teammates supporting me in the pursuit. Just having that team behind you is what pushes you forward.”

After being moved to center field this spring, he’s still searching for the first home run of the 2024 season. However, he has a strong .364 batting average and leads the team with seven stolen bases – contributing to so many other areas of the game.

That’s helped GGC get off to a 7-1 record, with victories over two nationally ranked opponents.

“I trust my work ethic and process and know that it will lead to success,” Sczepkowski states.

It’s a strong work ethic and drive for success that was developed in Reading, Pennsylvania.