10/22/2026
“I would like to thank all the Mercyhurst prep Administration for all their support and belief in me over the years. It has been my pleasure
to coach great players at such an excellent school. I have really enjoyed the last 31 years. However, my journey has come to an end. I
felt like this was the perfect time to retire after reaching the State Championship Game last year. Also, with a small senior and junior class
made the decision much easier. Mercyhurst was my second home for over 3 decades and I think we made the most out of each season.
Thanks to Dan Perfetto and everyone involved for the excellent send off and pep rally last year. That was top notch and much appreciated. Those memories will never be forgotten.
My heart has always been at Mercyhurst. I will continue to work with players in the off season if they wish. But the grind of the entire year
is getting harder to do as I get older. I hope this team can continue the tradition of excellence that we have enjoyed for a long time.
I would like to thank all my teams for all their hard work and dedication to my program and their belief in me as a Coach. It felt like
we built a dynasty over the years, The players gave me everything they had each and every year. I was so appreciative of how disciplined and respectful they were. Excellent baseball players but even better people. There was no other place I would rather Coach!
A special thanks to the seniors of 2026. They were the leaders to make history for our school. Those guys had the same passion for the game
that I have. That was a bit scary. They never let the distractions or any team get in the way of the ultimate goal. State Championship game or
bust. They had the confidence and perfect attitude to reach the Promise Land. They were the Best in the West and made the entire city proud of their accomplishments.
Thank you to all my Coaches. I had a special group of people that would do whatever I asked. All of my success couldn't have been done without them. I was very grateful to have you by my side. The 2026 Coaches provided the energy to help us win so many stressful games the last few years. Everyone deserves as much credit for all their hard work and knowledge of the game. I appreciated all your efforts. What a great group of guys!
A special thanks to Nate Lazan for capturing all the memories these last few years. All the time and effort he put in so everyone can relive
those special moments. Thank you to all the Laker Parents for your support, raising the money, bringing food and water to the games and making it a first-class booster
program over the years. Most of all, thank you for choosing Mercyhurst and giving me the opportunity to Coach your kid!
Thanks to everyone in the community that supported me along this journey. I had so many texts or calls over the years and it was much
appreciated.
Thanks to the media for all your coverage. I was always impressed on how much you backed my program. A special thanks to Tom Reisenweber for everything he does for high
school sports. Outstanding job my friend.
Finally, A special thank you to Joe Haas. Your support and guidance have meant so much to me the last 20 years or so. A special parent and a great President at Mercyhurst!”
Go Lakers
Coach Durkoske
