CRANBERRY TWP — Whether it’s as a starting pitcher, a middle reliever or a closer, Jay Condit has proved to be the man for the Penn State Behrend baseball team.

A 2009 Seneca Valley High graduate, Condit went 5-0 and added five saves in 13 appearances for the Lions this past spring with an ERA of just 1.49.

For his efforts, Condit was voted the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher after helping the Lions to an overall record of 28-13.

“His stat line was amazing,” Behrend coach Paul Benim wrote in an e-mailed interview concerning Condit’s sophomore campaign. “Clearly, he deserved this honor.”

“It was great to receive that award because it came from my coaches and teammates,” said Condit, a finance major who resides in Cranberry Township.

Before arriving at Behrend, Condit pitched sparingly for Seneca Valley’s high school and Palomino teams. He was recruited as an outfielder, but said, “I always thought I had a better head for pitching.”

In his freshman season, he was given a chance to prove it and did not disappoint. He managed a 3-0 record in 24X\c relief innings in 2010.

This year, he was given a chance to start.

“Due to a couple of rainouts, our pitching got backed up,” said Condit. “Our top starters had thrown a lot of innings and I was given the chance to start against D’Youville (April 15).”

The right-hander earned a win in a 20-6 decision that day. On April 30, he pitched in both games of a doubleheader at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, earning a save in the first game before throwing a five-hit shutout in a 10-0 win in Game Two.

“I’ve shown I can start, but I really like being able to spark the team as a reliever,” he said.

Condit has three pitches in his arsenal — a fastball, changeup and curveball. His stats are not flashy. He struck out 19 batters and walked 10 in 36⅓ innings of work last season.

“I don’t try to strike out many hitters,” he said, “but I do think my accuracy and change of speeds helps me deceive them. I have a good defense behind me.”

For Benim, winning is the most important number and he knows Condit gives the Lions a chance to do just that.

“Few pitchers have the knack for being given the ball in challenging, game-changing moments and always coming through,” Benim wrote. “Jay does. He can start, he can relieve, he can close. He is a tremendous competitor.

“Jay is a terrific student-athlete,” he added. “He serves as a positive working model for the rest of his teammates.”

Notes: Other local players contributing to Behrend’s 2011 season were Butler High grad Ryan Geibel (hit .281 in 89 at-bats as a junior catcher) and SV products Matt Parnes (tallied a save in 102/3 innings pitched as a sophomore) and Vinny Rice (hit .308 in 13 at-bats as a sophomore catcher).