As a lanky left-hander at Eisenhower High School, he had 131 strikeouts and a 0.43 ERA in 65 innings pitched his senior year, and batted .429 with two homers at the plate. Needless to say, he was named former Tri-County Athletic Conference (TCAC) MVP.

More importantly, he was part of District 10 championship teams in both baseball and basketball while at Ike. Yes, basketball, too. He averaged 23 points a game his senior season of 2003-2004.

About 10 years later, he was Eisenhower’s head varsity baseball coach when the Knights — and Cody’s brother Casey, also a pitcher — advanced all the way to the PIAA Class A title game.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. After graduating high school, Cody went on to bigger and better things, signing with Division I St. Bonaventure University’s baseball team.

Earlier this month, Vincent was inducted into the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame as a pitcher from 2005 to 2008. He still holds many school records, including strikeouts and innings pitched. Vincent was one of the Atlantic 10’s top pitchers during a time when the Bonnies enjoyed some of their greatest successes in program history. Vincent is tied for the school record for career wins (23) and complete games (16). He also checks in as the school record-holder for innings pitched (367.1), and strikeouts (227), third in starts (45) and appearances (70), as well as seventh in career ERA (4.07). An All-Atlantic 10 selection as a senior in 2008, the honor came long overdue for a do-it-all performer who became an ace for the team as a sophomore. He keyed a Bona run to the A-10 championship game as he had a sparkling 2.58 ERA, including a 2.06 ERA in A-10 play.

His workhorse career left him ranking first, second and fourth in single-season innings pitched by a Bonnie, including two seasons where he crossed the 100-innings mark, highlighted by a program-record 105.2 innings as a junior in 2007. Over four seasons, his 367 innings on the hill are 78 more than any other pitcher in program history. The team’s top A-10 starter, he also worked high-leverage innings out of the bullpen when needed, standing seventh in school history for saves.

“I was always very competitive; we know that,” said Vincent. “I always wanted the ball. Pitchers are in complete control. I was way more nervous giving a speech last Saturday than any baseball game. The nerves honestly just weren’t really there.

“Hall of Fame weekend started on Friday when we ate at the current athletic director’s house,” he said. “Being inducted with coach (Larry Sudbrook) and (teammate) Brian Pellegrini (baseball, 2007) made it that more special. Coach and I sat and talked and relived the games like it was yesterday. This was the largest HOF class ever and it was well deserved. Andrew Nicholson (basketball, 2012) was one of the best to wear the brown and white. I remember his run in the A-10 tournament and it brought Bonnies basketball back on the map. The ceremony was very well done and I was lucky to be one of the nine there that day. I remember telling my wife afterwards that you don’t realize what you’ve done until someone sits there and says.

“Best memories out of everything was all the people I got to meet and the opportunities it provided,” said Vincent. “I have many friendships due to baseball. I got to travel all over. I got to play against Yonder Alonso, Golden Tate (yes, the Notre Dame football player; he played centerfield).

Submitted Photo Cody Vincent admits he “definitely misses” baseball, but says he could be persuaded to get back into coaching.

“Probably the game that stands out the most is sophomore year against Duquesne. We were down there. Basically a snow storm. I came out to start and walked the first two hitters. I took off the Under Armour and got out of the inning. That would be the last time I ever wore long sleeves while pitching. Threw a complete game that day.

“Sophomore year, A-10 tournament, I pitched the day prior and we came out of the losers’ bracket and coach asked me if I could go. I threw well over 100 pitches the day before. I said, ‘coach, give me the ball.’ I made it to the ninth in a 0-0 game. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the job done.

“Also, just the family memories. Seemed like every game I pitched not only were my parents there, but my grandparents, uncles, always seemed to be there.”

A contingent — including Cody’s mom Desiree and dad Jon, wife Jillian, and in-laws, an uncle and grandmother — attended the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony on June 17 during Alumni Reunion Weekend.

“My dad coached me until college,” said Cody. “My poor mother; she would get home from working third shift and I’d make her pitch to me or hit me balls for hours. They both worked overtime to make sure I had what I needed. They traveled insane amounts, took me to countless games and practices, never complained.

“Coach (Rick) Eaton gave me the chance to start as a sophomore and had confidence giving me the ball,” added Cody. “(Warren Area High School standout catcher) BJ Salerno — where’s a pitcher without their battery mate? BJ and I knew each other for years, played with and against each other, and I was lucky to have him behind the plate for three of my years.

“My neighborhood friends — they were always on board playing ball in the back yard and, to this day, I am a big believer in backyard baseball or Wiffle Ball,” said Cody. “There’s so many people that I’m sure I could spend days thinking about everyone and their impact.”

Reflecting on St. Bonaventure, “there’s so much to miss — the fans, the teammates, the thrill of winning and the agony of defeat… Competing,” said Cody. “I remember all the bus rides with the team, the three straight postseason berths. To this day, I could probably go through each game and give a pretty accurate account of what happened in that game. I tried to soak in as much as I could and enjoy every aspect of it… The only thing I can say I wished was different was us finishing the job and winning the A-10 tournament my sophomore year. I feel lucky I was able to stay healthy for all four years. I loved Bonaventure; it was a perfect setting for a small-town kid.

“I think the biggest thing Eisenhower helped me gain is the winning mentality,” said Cody. “D10 championships, basketball and baseball. You hear it all the time about a winning culture, winning attitude. As I mentioned before, I didn’t get nervous in the moment, but I lived for the moments. The best athletes always want the ball in the biggest spots. I didn’t have the elite fastball. I had to be able to locate and pitch. My change-up became my go-to. I was able to change arm angles.

“Coming from Eisenhower to a D1 school is a big change,” he added. “Biggest change was you just can’t blow guys away with fastballs. I owe a lot to my dad for making me a pitcher and not just a thrower. I remember when I was eight years old, him showing me a change-up. It made the transition so much easier.

“I was actually seen by Bonaventure my (high school) junior year because our playoff game went extra innings,” said Vincent. “They were there to see TJ Pennino from Meadville after our game. So, maybe it was fate. This was before travel ball really took hold so I wasn’t highly-recruited. When Bonaventure called, they were really the only D1 school (to call). I remember, for my official visit, (coach Sudbrook) said along lines of, ‘when you come here, you earn your spot and the innings.’ Other schools, coaches would say, this is where we see you fitting in or you’ll be in this role. I just wanted a chance to prove myself, which coach allowed.

“I mean, we’re going back almost 20 years now,” said Cody. “All the accomplishments mean a lot and I’m very proud of those, but I’m equally as proud of getting a degree from Bonas… I’m heading back to go to school actually in August to be a social worker. Right now, (I’m an) emotional support counselor. All that still doesn’t beat how proud I am to now be a father.”

In his heart and soul, he will always be a pitcher. His son is named after another Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux.

“It’s always easy to question ‘what if,’ said Vincent. “I would have loved the opportunity (to play professional baseball). I will never complain how it turned out. I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to coach Casey, meet my wife Jill, and good chance there’d be no Maddux.”

Later on, something even more remarkable happened as Cody’s little brother was also recruited to pitch D1 at St. Bonaventure.

“Casey was definitely more recruited than I was,” said Cody. “I think, ultimately, his decision was based on the fact he did the dual-enrollment program in high school and had earned almost two years worth of credits. So, education-wise, it made a lot of sense for him. For the most part, I didn’t get too involved. I may have offered more opinions on places to eat in Allegheny and Olean… I think the biggest thing people don’t understand is how hard it is to be a college athlete, let alone D1… Warren has produced numerous baseball players over the years. It kind of started with (Jon) Myler to (Nate) Cameron, then myself and BJ, then Hank (Morrison). Next batch was Casey, (Ryan) Rafalski, (Ben) Berdine. There’s been a lot of talent in a small area.”

Baseball is often on Cody’s mind.

“I definitely miss it,” he said. “I had my little run coaching high school from ’13 through ’16. Having a little one and one on the way, I could very likely see myself getting persuaded back into coaching.”