Pine Grove coach Keith Lehman pictured at Schuylkill League Baseball Media Day (staff photo).

PINE GROVE — One of the Schuylkill League’s most successful and well-respected high school baseball coaches is calling it a career.

The Pine Grove Area School District announced at its Board of Directors meeting Thursday night that Keith Lehman does not intend to return to the position next season.

Lehman, who will turn 67 next month, compiled a 376-180 overall record as the Cardinals’ head coach from 2000-25. During his tenure, Pine Grove won seven Schuylkill League Division I crowns, two overall Schuylkill League titles (2012, 2023) and six District 11 championships (2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012).

Lehman’s most successful season came in 2012 when he guided the Cardinals to a school-record 23 wins and a magical 10-game postseason run that included Schuylkill League and District 11 Class AA championships and PIAA playoff victories over Springfield Township, Philipsburg-Osceola and Brandywine Heights before the Cards fell 5-4 to District 7’s Riverside in the Class AA state championship game in State College.

Lehman’s squads won 31 District 11 playoff games and went 6-6 in PIAA contests. His 2001 club won 22 straight games before losing in the opening round of the state playoffs. His 2007 team reached the state semifinals before coming up short against Kutztown.

Pine Grove finished 10-10 in 2025, falling 3-2 to eventual champion Notre Dame-Green Pond in the District 11 Class 3A quarterfinals.

“We would like to thank and congratulate Coach Keith Lehman on his successful career as head baseball coach for the past 25 years,” the board statement said. “We are saddened that he has chosen not to return next season, but we are grateful for his impact as a coach, role model and mentor for so many young athletes.”

In addition to serving as Pine Grove’s baseball coach, Lehman was the district’s head of maintenance and grounds for more than two decades and was directly responsible for the improvement and upkeep of Walter Stump Stadium, turning it into one of the finest baseball facilities in eastern Pennsylvania.

Pine Grove athletic director Scott Dimon said in a release that the district will immediately begin seeking applicants for the position of head baseball coach. All interested candidates should send a letter of interest and a resume to Brittney Harner, administrative assistant to the superintendent, via email at bharner@pgasd.com.

Keith Lehman’s Coaching Career, Year by Year

(26 seasons)

2000               19-5                   11-AA champs 3-0; PIAA 0-1 (Green-Antrim)

2001               22-1                   11-AA champs 3-0; PIAA 0-1 (Delone)

2002               19-4                   11-AA 1-1

2003               19-2                   11-AA 1-1

2004               18-4                   11-AA 1-1

2005               17-4                   11-AA 0-1

2006               13-8                   11-AA 0-1

2007               19-7                   11-AA champs 3-0; PIAA semis 2-1 (Kutztown)

2008               18-5                   11-AA champs 3-0; PIAA 1-1 (Brandywine)

2009               18-6                   11-AA champs 3-0; PIAA 0-1 (NH-Solebury)

2010               15-8                   11-AA runner-up 2-1

2011               9-10                   11-AA 0-1

2012               23-7                   SL champs 3-0; 11-AA champs 3-0; PIAA runner-up 3-1

        PIAA Playoffs: Springfield Twp (D-1) 11-1, Philipsburg-Osceola 10-0, Brandywine Heights 8-7, 10 inn.; Riverside (D-7) 4-5

2013               13-9                   11-AA 1-1

2014               16-6                   11-AA 1-1

2015               12-9                   11-AA 0-1

2016               8-12

2017               12-11                 11-3A runner-up 2-1 (Tamaqua)

2018               15-8                   11-3A runner-up 2-1 (North Schuylkill)

2019               8-12

2020               No season, canceled by COVID

2021               9-11

2022               18-6                   SL runner-up, 11-4A semifinals 1-1

2023               14-7                   SL champs 3-0; 11-3A 0-1

2024               12-8                   11-3A semis 1-1

2025               10-10                 11-3A 0-1                                                               

Totals    376-180 (.676)        Districts 31-16; PIAA 6-6           

2 Schuylkill League titles, 6 District 11 titles, 1 PIAA runner-up