With Pope lost to graduation, the Thunderbirds’ hopes for a successful 2019 were largely resting on the right shoulder of Majka.

The 5-foot-9 senior relished the opportunity.

Starting 12 of Chautauqua Lake’s 19 games, Majka went 7-2 with a miniscule 0.61 earned run average, striking out 135 batters in just 68 1/3 innings. Of the Thunderbirds’ eight wins this spring, Majka earned all but one.

“Kyler has had a great career his whole time at Chautauqua Lake,” third-year Thunderbirds head coach Bryan Bongiovanni said. “His senior year he found an extra level I didn’t think was possible. The work ethic he brings and the leadership he provides on the field along with his ability was really impressive to see.”

Chautauqua Lake’s Kyler Majka was 7-2 with a 0.61 earned run average this spring.

In the postseason, Majka threw a complete-game one-hitter with 16 strikeouts as No. 8 Chautauqua Lake beat No. 9 Ellicottville/West Valley in the prequarterfinals. He was so efficient in that game that he was able to come back four days later and throw another complete game, allowing five hits and no runs while striking out 11 as the Thunderbirds upset No. 1 Holland at St. Bonaventure University’s Joyce Field.

“He’s had so many great performances, it’s really hard to pick one,” Bongiovanni said. “His last start against Holland … his teammates were nervous and I was a little nervous. He was so calm and poised on the mound. He put the whole team on his shoulders. He pitched phenomenally. That’s the Kyler I got to know the last four or five years.”

For putting up the most dominant numbers on the mound across Chautauqua and some of Cattaraugus counties, Majka is the 2019 Post-Journal Baseball Player of the Year.

Chautauqua Lake’s season came to an end with a 1-0 semifinal loss to Falconer, which three days later beat Frewsburg for the Section VI Class C championship.

“When Kyler pitches you are probably getting seven innings and one or two runs offensively could be enough to get it done,” Bongiovanni said. “Thinking back to that Falconer game, we played a great ballgame. Kyler would’ve been able to go in the sectional final and we would’ve had an exceptional chance there. … You wish you would’ve gotten Majka on the mound in that sectional game.”

Majka’s season was the stuff of video games.

The Onondaga Community College commit opened the season with a five-inning two-hitter, striking out 12 against Panama. He then threw 5 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and taking a no-decision as the Thunderbirds lost to Falconer 7-6.

Five days later, Majka threw 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11 more and taking another no-decision as Chautauqua Lake lost to eventual Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 West league champion Fredonia, 3-2 in nine innings.

In a 2-1 victory over eventual CCAA Division 2 West and New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D finalist Brocton, Majka threw a complete game and didn’t allow an earned run while striking out 11.

On April 29, the three-sport star took another no-decision, striking out 11 while allowing five hits and no runs in a 1-0 loss to Falconer.

On May 3, he threw five innings and did not allow an earned run while striking out nine in a loss to Fredonia and on May 8, he was lifted after 3 1/3 innings of a 3-2 loss to Southwestern so he could pitch two days later. That decision proved fruitful as Majka threw a five-inning no-hitter with nine strikeouts in a victory over Cassadaga Valley. Five days later, he beat the Cougars again with a complete game, allowing one unearned run and one hit while striking out 15.

On May 20, the CCAA Division 1 West Al Stuhlmiller Pitcher of the Year closed his regular season by throwing 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and three hits while striking out nine in a defeat of Dunkirk.

When he wasn’t on the mound, he was behind the plate catching a Thunderbirds’ pitching staff consisting of Nate Engdahl, Zach Martin, Cody Triana, Kalen Miller and Gavin Sauerland. Only Martin and Triana of that group were even juniors with the remaining three freshmen or sophomores.

“When Bryce Rowe graduated we had an opening at catcher. Anybody knows how important that position is,” Bongiovanni said. “With (Majka’s) knowledge of the game and of pitching scenarios, it is like having an extra coach out there.”

“That’s very calming and relaxing to them,” Bongiovanni said of Majka catching his young pitchers. “It gives them confidence with someone behind the plate that can talk them through situations.”

Majka wasn’t too bad at the plate either, hitting .306 with seven RBIs and 20 runs scored out of Chautauqua Lake’s leadoff spot, or later in the season No. 3 hole.

With all due respect to Bryce Jackson, Mitchell Pascarella, Ronald “Bubba” Brown, Tanner Olson and Aaron Hair, Majka had a season aces dream of, one that will be hard to repeat any time soon.

“(Majka) kind of reminded me of Abe Raak,” said Bongiovanni, who won a state title in 2006 at Fredonia with Raak, who was the Class B Player of the Year. ” … That bulldog mentality. Kyler didn’t mess around. … He knew he was better than the batter he was facing.

“He went right at them and made them earn everything,” Bongiovanni added. “He’s one of the best I’ve seen in my years playing and coaching.”