Justin Aungst's coaches saw something in him as a freshman on both the baseball field and basketball court that made him something special.

As a ninth grader, head coach Mike Pochron gave Aungst the start in the Falcons' District 11 Class AA championship game, a 5-2 victory over Pen Argyl. He also appeared in the team's PIAA championship game two weeks later.

In basketball, Aungst broke onto the scene after leading-scorer Mike Schantz injured his ankle in the Colonial League regular season finale. In the team's next game, a nonconference battle against Pius X, Aungst scored seven points in replacing Schantz. Against then-undefeated Bangor in the league semifinals, he scored nine points (with two three-pointers) to advance to the league championship.

That was just the start to Aungst's storied career at Salisbury, which includes two district and Colonial League titles in baseball, and a district and league championship in basketball.

He was a Colonial League baseball All-Star all four seasons (including First-Team selections three times), as well as a two-time All-Star in basketball.

He can now add Salisbury Press Male Athlete of the Year to the list of accolades.

Aungst picked up both sports at a very young age and never looked back.

"I started out playing basketball to stay in shape for baseball, and it was something to do with my friends," Aungst said. "Once I got into high school, I realized I was supposed to be good at it, so I took it a little more serious. I guess it paid off.

"Baseball is the sport I love. I've taken that serious all the way up. I try to work hard and get better each year."

Aungst, an avid follower of the Phillies' Cliff Lee and Chase Utley, batted .356 with 18 runs and 14 RBIs in his final baseball season. On the mound, he went 3-2 with a 3.11 ERA while striking out a team-high 57 batters.

On the court, he was one of the cornerstones for Weaver's unit that prides itself on hard work and defense. Aungst scored 337 points, good for a clip of 14 points per game, while averaging 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.

While it was the first season that Aungst didn't get to taste a championship of any sort in either baseball or basketball, he's satisfied with the success the Falcons have endured over the years.

"I'm pleased, but it would have been nice to go out with either a league or district championship in baseball and possibly basketball," Aungst said. "That didn't happen. In both sports, we had great seasons though. I can't complain about any of that."

As a pitcher, he has been in a number of big games as the most important player. He pitched in his second district championship game as a junior, which resulted in a 9-4 victory over Notre Dame-Green Pond. Also as a junior, he shut out Southern Lehigh in the Colonial League title game. He also hit a two-run home run and recorded five RBIs against the Spartans.

Ever since he could remember, playing collegiate baseball has been a goal for Aungst. That next chapter will begin in nearly a month when he reports to Saint Joseph's University to begin workouts.

"That was my goal my whole baseball career-play at least Division II, and if possible, Division I baseball," Aungst said. "I really thought it was a possibility in my freshman year when I got a chance to start, and I had a lot of success both at the plate and on the mound. I thought to myself that if I continue to get better throughout these next three years of my career, then I definitely have a chance to."

In his eyes, the biggest adjustment will come off the baseball field.

"I've never really been on an actual day-to-day workout schedule," Aungst said. "That is going to be different for me. On the field when it comes to that, I just want to have success on the mound, and hopefully I get a chance to play both ways."

Aungst reports to St. Joe's on August 22. Until then, he is playing on the Northampton Giants in the Blue Mountain League.

"I still don't think I'm at the peak of what I can do," Aungst said.