Steve Zimmerman remembers going to City Island to see Harrisburg Senators' games as a kid.
This weekend, the Pine Grove catcher is going to experience what it's like to play there.
Zimmerman will be one of three Schuylkill County participants in the second annual Big 26 Baseball Classic between Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The senior-to-be will be joined by Tamaqua pitcher/infielder Brett Kosciolek on Team Pennsylvania, which will be managed by Pottsville head coach Mike Welsh.
The best-of-3 series will be held at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, home of the Senators, the Double-A farm team of the Washington Nationals. Game 1 is at 7:05 p.m. Friday, with Game 2 set for 4:35 p.m. Saturday and Game 3 slated for 1:35 p.m. Sunday.
"It's a great stadium," Zimmerman said. "It's going to be a great time. It's going to be a great experience."
A two-time Republican-Herald All-Area Baseball first-team pick, Zimmerman was named to the Pennsyl-
vania High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Class AA first team last month.
Zimmerman hit .373 (22-for-59) with 27 RBIs, six doubles and five homers this past spring, then helped Pine Grove win the Schuylkill-Berks Legion League North Division championship over the summer.
Last year, as a sophomore, Zimmerman hit .370 (34-for-92) with 31 runs scored, eight doubles, an area-best five homers and 34 RBIs in helping the Cardinals win the District 11 Class AA title and reach the PIAA Class AA championship game.
In the state final, Zimmerman launched a pitch into the picnic grove beyond left field at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a first-inning homer.
He learned about the Big 26 Baseball Classic from his head coach, Keith Lehman.
"I was actually told about it by Coach Lehman. He gave me a paper on it and told me to check it out," Zimmerman said. "I went and tried out and eventually got called. It was a great experience."
Sponsored by the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation, the Big 26 Baseball Classic is comprised of players who will be seniors (Class of 2014) or juniors (Class of 2015) during the 2013-14 school year. Zimmerman and Kosciolek were among a bevy of Schuylkill League players who attended one of the two tryouts for the squad, which were held in May.
Zimmerman attended the tryout at Lebanon Valley College shortly after the Cardinals suffered a heartbreaking, 6-5 loss to eventual champion Salisbury in the District 11 Class AA semifinals.
"As a catcher, they made you block a couple of balls, then they made you throw down to third and second," Zimmerman said. "Then everybody hit together in the cage.
"The week before we played Salisbury, and we faced 86 mph pitching. When I got there to hit, they were lobbing it in and I wasn't really hitting alright. My catching was good."
The Republican-Herald All-Area Player of the Year, Kosciolek hit .417 (35-for-84) with 24 runs scored, 27 RBIs, six doubles and an area-best eight home runs for the Schuylkill League and District 11 Class AAA champion Blue Raiders. On the mound, he went 7-2 with a 1.48 ERA, striking out an area-best 81 and walking 25 in 56.2 innings.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander also helped Lehigh Valley reach the finals of the prestigious Carpenter Cup in Philadelphia and is currently playing in the Region 2 American Legion Tournament in Boyertown with the North Parkland Buffaloes.
"It's a pretty big honor. It feels really good," Kosciolek said of making Team Pennsylvania. "I'm just going to go out there and throw like I normally throw.
"Having (Welsh) there, it won't be as nerve-racking; he'll make it more comfortable. It will be the same as any other game."
Welsh, who has compiled a 44-23 record in three seasons guiding the Crimson Tide, was an assistant coach for Pennsylvania in last year's Big 26 Baseball Classic. He will be assisted by West York's Roger Czerwinski, Wilson's Sal Raccuglia and South Western's Mike Resetar.
The Big 26 Baseball Classic gets under way Thursday when players from both teams arrive and register at Milton Hershey School. After team practices, a welcoming ceremony will be held at 5:15 p.m. followed by a Challenger Game at 6:30 p.m.
Zimmerman is looking forward to showcasing his talents on a grand stage.
"I just want to perform well and show what I have," said Zimmerman, who has gotten several college looks and has visited East Stroudsburg University. "This is going to help me out, because a lot of colleges are going to come and watch. It's going to be a great experience."