 |
My Arm
'n'
Me"To brag a little, to show
up well,
|
TORCH #13 |
|
Cy Young always said that Pitchers, like poets, weren't made, they were
born. I'd have to think, for the most part that's true. I started when I
was 6. Shortstop, 1st, 3rd, Outfield, never catcher though, they're
dirty, grubby freaks, nah, Pitching, now that's where the attention is,
the challenge, the rush of being involved every pitch.
I played for Kerr
Athletic Association (named for the area school) from 6 thru 17. I
pitched, yes, I could hit !!, pitchers are the best and smartest athletes
on the team anyway (grin). My 11 and 12 year old All-Star team won the
Sharpsburg, PA and Morningside, PA tournaments. I won the MVP for the
Morningside tournament, winning two complete games, then returning from
vacation, ironically in Nags Head, North Carolina at near midnight to
close out the championship game. I think I
even remember the sequence of pitches. I certainly remember our 1st
baseman, a then future Georgia Tech Lineman (he was close then) mauling me
in celebration.
So that was the early years, where I met my best friend, threw a pretty
good curve far too early than I'd teach someone today and made people look
funny with this loopy change. But it was here I realized that I could
pitch forever. As High School started, things got more serious. I went
to Fox Chapel High School, lettered three years, co-captained two years
and got invited to some camps, which was cool. We never won the
section, certainly should have, but we had a pretty good group of
players. Actually, I think our team still was the last really outstanding
team at the High School since then...sad. I also was an
assistant coach at FC during my first year of college at Pitt. It was at
Fox
Chapel that I first got the nickname "Torch." I always have claimed that
it was for the speed of my fastball, which at one time, wasn't too shabby.
But more likely, it had to do the the color of my hair. Although, back
then, I had a lot of hair and threw hard. Now, I continue to lose hair
(thanks for those genes Dad) and the speed wanes. Coincidence??? The
jury is still out. I played
American Legion for Riverview and my summer leagues at Kerr and eventually
at Oakmont, PA.
At Oakmont, I played four years and won three regional championships. I was somewhere around 26-5 over those three years. Most of the players were from Riverview and the Fox Chapel or Plum areas. Oakmont was a nice place to play, good people all around. We had some wars with Penn Hills and West Deer but the Oaks normally came out on top. It was here I got to be in my first bench clearer, an idiot from Penn Hills running our catcher, bodies everywhere...fun. I got to play a couple years with Mickey Morindini (gray T-shirt), who now plays for the Cubs. I'm on my left knee holding the trophy.
Pitt joined the Big East Conference shortly before I started
there so we weren't too successful against perennial powers Seton Hall or
Villanova. Seton Hall's line-up included Craig Biggio,John
Valentin and Mo Vaughn
(read: one
big rich mouse). I was the
wonderful pitcher of record for
Mo's freshman Big East baseball record (13th) 500 footer, over
the fence, over the bullpen, down the street...nice.
In reality, I had a lot of success
in the Big East and even played in a
conference All-Star game. Most of the Pittsburgh area teams we beat
regularly, but top level teams can hit, everyone. Hopefully, they'll have
some alumni game or something one day and I'll get to grace the horrid
Panther diamond one last time.
Anyhow, being in NC, I haven't seen many of them play other than the tube
but I assure you that they remember that redheaded, Torch kid from Pitt.
At Pitt and in the summer leagues, I did get my share of interest. I was
looked at alot and worked out by the Giants, A's, Royals and the Bucs.
However, my Senior year I injured my deltoid muscle in my throwing arm and
that hurt any draft chances.
Therefore, restrengthening my arm and plan B went into effect, Grad
School. I actually got into Pitt's School of Public Health and maybe I
should have played another year, but a change at head coach and
uncertainties to my arm decided that this point of Torchamania was on
pause :)
From
1985-89, I went to Pitt and played Varsity Baseball, lettering 3 years and
being a Tri-Captain my senior year. I led the team in appearances twice
('86/'89), ERA twice ('86/'89), innings once ('89) wins once ('88). I was
used mainly as a reliever the first years, then started the rest. My
freshman year, I redshirted since I didn't pitch in conference games.
Looking back, that was pretty hard to take at the time since I really
outperformed many scholarship and older players, but I took that time to
bulk up and learn.
I had some other opportunities,
including being lightly recruited to go
to Miami, but I would have had to walk on without any promises.
Regardless, I'm glad I stayed and played Division I ball, it was one of
the greatest times of my life and I also have to say that Pitt's
bioscience programs prepared me well for Grad School and life. But
baseball will
always be in my soul so be prepared for some vain and not so vain, what
ifs and when I's (grin).
For three years (while with Oakmont,
summers from Pitt), I
played in the Greater Pittsburgh Federation League for St. John's. We won
the league title two years but lost the end-of the year championship both
those years. Again, I did very well, going undefeated one year (11-0). I
pitched in the league All-Star game at Three Rivers Stadium. The
Saints are probably the best team I've ever played on. We were made up of
Northen and Eastern Pittsburgh players, lots from Shaler and Plum. Our
home field was at the VA hospital which made for some interesting but
loyal fans. Plus, the field had the dimensions of Forbes Field (crime
they ever trashed that place), so it was a great pitchers park. It was
tough leaving these guys when I went to Carolina, I have many memories
from games, parties and the best time I ever had playing baseball. To the
guys listed above, love ya Saints! It was here I played
with Curt "Psycho"
Leskanic, who now pitches for the Rockies. Someday we'll get
together if I ever see him at home or somewhere. Now that he's a
millionaire and a tad "big time, we'll still hash out old stories and I'll
let his kids and wife know he was the third pitcher behind me and Price :)
way back when.
So after Pitt and 9 months of work, I came to the University of North
Carolina at Chapel
Hill for Graduate School. I immediately set out to recondition my arm and
played for the UNC Club team for three years. We went undefeated two of
those years and I only lost one game, something like 16-1 in two years. A
couple of tee-shirts, warm weather ball and nice fields. I also joined a team in the
Greensboro Collegiate League now called the Astros
. We are motley group mainly older folk
that still beat all
them southern yutes that go to the cage or play in college all year long.
I often wonder if this team is better than my St. John's team, probably
not in St. John's banner years, Price, Curtis and I were a nice pitching
rotation, but these here Astro folk can hit damn well.
In 1992, I was invited by a regional scout to early Spring Training camp for pitchers and catchers with the Atlanta Braves in West Palm Beach. I survived a little over a week. The only prospect kept around was Wohlers and he kinda threw faster than me (like 10 mphs) but I still had and have way more control than him. Avery had just come up and was there as was Klesko (dork). But for a bit there, it was the real thing, another great experience. They had an interest in placing me at Low A in Greenville, but I wanted to be at High A in Durham and also go to school. They said no, I said no, summer league pitcher with a Masters degree reborn (grin). However, I had "fixed" my arm and made it back, back to where I once was, that felt good. A couple years ago I was throwing pretty well and an A's scout said he's been watching me and would like to recommend I go to their early Spring training. Maybe my fault, but, I told him I was 29, which I was, he laughed...I thanked him for the compliment and head home with another good story for the kids one day. But it's nice to know that the Torch is still lit (grin).
I continue to pitch in Greensboro and have traveled in some regional
tournaments to Nashville and Memphis.
I enjoy it and
would like one more trip to the Eastern Regionals, but when some of my
good friends finally hang up the spikes too, I'll probably head more local
to the Roy Hobbs league, but not just yet.
