McArthur Leans On Pitching To Carry A Young Squad

The Mustangs have had a lot of talent, but have not won a lot of ball games the last few years. The team is hoping the togetherness and chemistry they have this season will turn that around. They may not be as talented this season, but they believe they will still win more games.

Third-year manager Brian Clark feels as though this year’s squad has the best chemistry of any he’s had so far at the school. The players go out to dinner together, they constantly hang out, and whenever you see one you will see five of them. On Halloween more than half the team went out Trick or Treating together.

They enjoy the group as a whole, and it is helping to build a stronger clubhouse.

“Togetherness is the same as talent,” said Clark. “Kids play for each other and they don’t want to let each other down. They are not just out there for themselves.”

The group is young though, and it is going to take time to bring them together as cohesively on the playing field. The program graduated ten seniors and lost a few others players as well, which has propelled many younger players into roles on the varsity squad. The coaches know it will take some work for them to get used to things at the varsity level.

“Lack of varsity playing is lacking experience,” said Clark. “It’s a big jump from junior varsity, which is what a lot of these guys were playing last year. It’s a learning curve. We’re learning as we go. We’re going to make mistakes and we just have to learn from them.”

The defense is the area where the club is the most focused on improving. Errors plagued them down the stretch as they finished 0-5-1 in their final six games in 2013. This has left the coaches trying guys out all over the field, and no one has been named a starter anywhere on the diamond yet. The coaches want to get a full look at every player in every possible scenario in order to help establish how each player can play their part.

The most important aspect in baseball is pitching, and this is the one department that the Mustangs have the most confidence in their guys. The team returns the core of their staff from last year, as well as several promising new additions that provide depth. With such a young defense behind them, the pitchers will help ease this process by shutting hitters down at the plate.

At the front of the staff is senior right-hander Alex Schulz, a senior in his third and final season with the club. Schulz went 2-2 with a 2.35 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 41 innings a year ago. Featuring an arsenal of four types of pitches, he has emerged as the team’s big game guy.

“It’s about keeping a rhythm for me,” said Schulz. “As long as I can maintain that specific rhythm I can go all night. It doesn’t matter about speed; it’s about the mindset for the different batters. As long as I make sure that I get the ball where I want it to I can go all night if need be.”

With such a new and young defense playing behind him, Schulz has come to understand how important it will be for the other pitchers to lead the group. With everyone in new positions it will be a task to get everyone comfortable, and the pitchers are being counted on to throw strikes and play to contact.

“You have to really focus on your job and make sure everyone is at the right spots in their positions,” Schulz said. “You are dealing with new people so you have to know how they work and what their reactions are going to be if the ball is hit to different locations. You have to get a feel for them. Being a senior it’s great to watch some of these new guys come join the team. It’s great to see them advance and become what they are today.”

It is a great compliment of arms on the rotation, which is anchored by the lanky Schulz throwing over the top and pounding the strike zone. The bullpen includes Mater Academy sophomore transfer Jose Navarro, and juniors Brandon Buchanan, Jason Alderette and Daniel Trummert. Trummert is a side-armer who provides a nice change of pace behind the starters, keeping hitters off balance and chasing side-arm pitches all over the zone.

Senior Jorge Alvarez is a converted closer who has shown he is an all-effort guy by converting to a starter and becoming their most consistent pitcher. In his third varsity season with the club Alvarez, the 5’4” senior tries to keep everything low in the zone and use his strong legs to power his pitches. Realizing that the team has so many new faces, Alvarez focuses on trying to put all of his thoughts and inspiration into baseball so it will rub off on the younger guys.

“I try to tell the guys baseball is baseball, don’t make it hard. There is a method I go by: KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid,” said Alvarez. “Don’t over-think things. Just go out there and do it. Your body knows it, you know it. It’s all muscle-memory. Just do it a million times, the fundamentals, and you will be fine. Win games by keeping it simple.”

The one area that the team remains intact on defense is also a primary advantage in returning catcher Brandon Frantz behind the plate. The sophomore emerged as a late-season addition in 2013 and has now grown to lock down the position, where he works well with the pitching staff and figures to own the starting job for a long time to come. Frantz is a smart kid who wants to someday go to Air Force and become a pilot. His coaches praise him for his ability to do the basics properly.

Simple fundamentals will also be the approach for an offense that does not showcase much power or speed. There will be lots bunting and focusing on moving runners over, an emphasis on base running and stealing. As the team lost the vast bulk of its offense, they understand they much manufacture runs every way possible.

K’Lani Martinez will be the table-setter for the group. The speedy senior will lead off the order, where he does a great job of working the count and waiting for his pitches. He finished last season with an on base percentage near .500, scoring 18 runs and wrecking havoc on the bases.

Coach Clark understands that the rest of the things will need time to work themselves out on the field. He appreciates the fact that now that he has been in place for a few season he is working with guys who have spent their entire high school careers in his system. They simply need to gain playing experience.

One change that has the club excited for the season ahead is that they will travel to the Orlando area for a Spring Break tournament. The team has worked to earn the funds to afford the trip, and also enjoyed donations from some parents to help with the costs. This invaluable bonding experience will help the team play some great competition in par with their typical tough schedule to help get them ready for the district playoffs.

“You see guys who are going to Division I and Division II colleges, guys who throw the ball 92 miles per hour,” said Alvarez, who previously competed in the same tournament his freshman year at Somerset. “It’s a great experience for the young guys to see this talent and see where they have to work harder with the talent that’s out there.”

The Spring Break trip also gives the team an opportunity to spend time together and build lasting memories that make this group and this season special. The players enjoy the experience they receive with this ball club and they appreciate the coaches that they get to work with.

“It’s more of a family with this team and that’s the best thing that I’ve had so far with baseball,” said Schulz. “It’s almost east to understand one another and talk with the coaches. They understand us and they don’t just focus on making sure the kids are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Instead it’s about getting to know us and work more with us individually too.”

This is perhaps the best compliment a coach can ask for. It is a sentiment shared on both sides of the team, and everyone is focused on making McArthur baseball as strong as it can be. Coach Clark knows winning is contagious, and as the team gets going they will just get better and better each day.

“The goal is always to win a district championship, but our goal is also to get better,” said Clark. “Progressing and being better as a team by the end, learning on the job and hopefully being ready for the playoffs are the goals. We’re so new we don’t know the magnitude yet, and when they see somebody do good it is contagious and it keeps going.”

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