By ALEX SPONSELLER Bishop Hendricken pitcher Brad Lombardi was recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year for 2019-20. Lombardi is the first player to be chosen from Hendricken in Gatorade’s 35 years of presenting the award.

Lombardi was one of the top pitching prospects last season for the Hawks. Hednricken completed a perfect season and won the state championship over La Salle Academy. Lombardi pitched two innings of relief and recorded four strikeouts in the series-clinching win.

The 6-foot-3 hurler finished last season with a 4-0 record and a 0.71 ERA, allowing just 10 hits and recording 30 strikeouts in 19.2 innings of work.

“It means a lot, it’s something that I have been working for and have always dreamed of. To get that award, especially when there isn’t going to be a season, it means a lot. It’s truly an honor, a lot of really great athletes, to be in the same category as those guys is an honor,” said Lombardi, who was especially excited to receive the award during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When I first found out about it, it brought me a little bit of joy about baseball. Obviously, not having a season is difficult, not being with your friends, not being able to have those special moments. So, this brings a little bit of happiness, a little bit of closure to my high school career.”

Lombardi was also highly-recruited by colleges at the conclusion of last season and committed to Division I Boston College over the winter, where he will compete for a spot in either the starting rotation or bullpen.

Lombardi plans on using the added time away to work in the weight room and fine tune his pitching repertoire.

“Hopefully we can have a summer ball season in July, and at BC they are having an extended fall and winter to warm the players up. My main goal is staying healthy, then after that, using this extended time off to work on my strength and the stuff that I wouldn’t have as much time to do during the season. It will also give me a chance to work on my pitches,” said Lombardi.

Lombardi is going to miss the Hendricken community and looks forward to testing his metal against some of the nation’s best ballplayers.

“The relationships and friendships that I made, that is one thing that I will always appreciate about Hendricken. It’s truly a brotherhood. Not having a season, you realize how much the little things matter. The bus rides to games, the practices, the weekends,” said Lombardi. “I’m expecting the best competition and the best players in the country. Having the chance to compete against them, it’s going to take some time to adjust, but I look forward to competing against them.”