Clarion Athletics

Jim Koontz was one of the top baseball players ever to don a uniform for the Golden Eagles and played for the blue and gold from 1976 – 1979. Jim was a four-year starter on the baseball team, playing third base as a freshman, and was a third baseman – pitcher from his sophomore season through his senior year. 

In his career, he had a pitching record of 11-3 with an overall ERA of 2.47 playing for coach Barry McCauliff. His top collegiate individual performance was an 11-inning, complete game win at the University of Pittsburgh. An All-PSAC selection as a junior in 1978 and a senior in 1979 while  graduating Magna Cum Laude, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 25th round of the 1979 MLB June draft and pitched for six seasons in the minor leagues reaching Class AAA. He was 12-3 with a 2.43 ERA at Stockton in 1980, moved to El Paso (AA) in 1981, and 82, to Stockton in 1983 and jumped to Class AAA Vancouver in 1984 posting a 7-4 record and a 2.91 ERA. He was a combined 5-3 at Louisville and Indianapolis in 1985, and left baseball with a record of 41-31 and an ERA of 3.82. 

Gaining his CPA License in 1987, he is currently employed by Brown, Shultz, Sheridan and Fritz.  A 1975 graduate of Littlestown High, he currently resides in Mechanicsburg with wife, Ann. The couple have a son, Josh, and a daughter, Jessica.