Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Adam DiMichele pitched for Sto-Rox in the WPIAL baseball playoffs earlier this month. Click photo for larger image.

Adam DiMichele gave an indication of his future when he pulled out of an all-star football game this week. Yesterday, DiMichele informed Penn State he would like to pull out of football altogether.

DiMichele, a three-sport star at Sto-Rox High School, will not attend Penn State and has asked for a release from his letter of intent. Instead, he hopes to pursue a career in baseball.

DiMichele, who graduated from Sto-Rox a few weeks ago, signed a letter of intent with Penn State in February. Although he was a star quarterback at Sto-Rox, he was slated to play defensive back at Penn State.

DiMichele does not know what college he will attend to play baseball. An outfielder-pitcher, he said Ohio State and a few junior colleges in Florida have contacted Mike Kosko, the coach of DiMichele's summer-league team, the Diamond Dogs.

"I have not talked to any other schools yet," DiMichele said. "I know this is taking a chance, but, hopefully, someone will take a chance on me and I'll make it worthwhile."

For DiMichele to be eligible as a freshman and receive scholarship money from another school, Penn State must release him from his letter of intent.

"We'll do whatever is best for the kid," said Tom Bradley, Penn State's defensive coordinator who recruited DiMichele.

Penn State was the only Division I school to offer DiMichele (6 feet 1, 175 pounds) a scholarship for football.

"I always thought in the back of my mind that baseball was my first love," he said. "I know it's hard to pass up a scholarship to Penn State because Penn State is top-notch. I respect their coaching staff and I respect everything Coach Bradley did for me.

"He's the greatest guy, and this is hard to do. I feel bad. I don't know what kind of person wouldn't feel bad. But I have to do what's best for myself."

DiMichele said playing defensive back at Penn State had no bearing on his decision. He believed he would eventually be given a shot to play quarterback for the Nittany Lions. He also thought about trying to play both football and baseball at Penn State.

"But I want to see what I can do when I just concentrate on one sport," he said.

DiMichele was supposed to play quarterback in the Pennsylvania East-West all-star game Saturday in Altoona, but never showed up for practice. He was replaced by Greensburg Central Catholic quarterback Greg Mroz.

DiMichele also was one of the top basketball point guards in the state. In baseball, he was a two-time selection to the Post-Gazette All-Area team, which is made up of the 10 best players in the WPIAL and City League.

As a senior, DiMichele hit .551 (27 for 49) with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. He was 4-3 as a pitcher and helped Sto-Rox to the WPIAL Class A semifinals.

DiMichele said he started having second thoughts about his Penn State decision when Sto-Rox made it to the WPIAL baseball playoffs.

"As we got deeper and deeper into the playoffs, it just hit me," he said. "I wondered what I could do if I played just this one sport."