LUCAS When Andrew Smollen opened the Mansfield Information Journal final spring, he was shocked to study that he had been named the 2022 Mansfield Information Journal Baseball Co-Participant of the Yr alongside Clear Fork’s Jared Scott.
He was humbled by the consideration and pleased with his accomplishment. However he was additionally rightfully earned. He was the Mid-Buckeye Convention Participant of the Yr, a first-team choice from all 9 Districts in Division IV, and led his crew to consecutive Mid-Buckeye Convention championships. He hit .467 with 35 hits, 5 doubles, one triple and three dwelling runs whereas driving in 40 runs himself.
On the mound, he went 5-4, his losses coming to Division II regional qualifier Tiffin Columbian, 2022 Richland County Energy Ballot champion Shelby, and Division IV district champion Plymouth within the sectional finals, whereas sporting an ERA of two.40 with 89 strikeouts on simply 21 walks. He allowed solely 19 earned runs in 55 innings of labor.
For probably the most half, incomes such excessive postseason honors as a junior would make them consider they don’t have anything left to show and that they might simply undergo senior 12 months with no need to enhance.
Not small.
“Smollen is Smollen,” stated Lucas coach Courtney Church. “He’ll chase him each time he goes out. When he is on the mound, we’re in each match not solely due to his expertise, but in addition as a result of he is such an impressive chief. He retains getting higher. He is a man who may play on the subsequent stage, however he is obtained a head He is strong on his shoulders and needs to go to work. It has been a blessing to teach him. He is in a particular group that features my son (Hunter Church), Corbin (Toms) and an excellent senior class.”
Go to work
Smollen went to work within the offseason like he nonetheless had one thing to show. He is that dissatisfied character that has the Cubs on the verge of a 3rd consecutive Mid-Buckeye Convention championship and a favourite to run to a district championship in Division IV.
However why? Why does a child who achieved a lot in his highschool profession really feel like he has one thing to show in regards to the baseball diamond? He already has two league titles, convention and native paper Participant of the Yr honors, and sufficient medals to show his varsity jacket right into a wind chime when all is alleged and finished.
Smollen is not pursuing the game to the subsequent stage and is as an alternative entering into the workforce. He divides his faculty day between faculty and work as a drywall installer whereas selecting up carpentry expertise alongside the way in which with the concept of having a useful commerce when he graduates.
So, this 2023 baseball season is like that. It is the final time he’ll put on a Lucas uniform, or every other faculty, and he needs to make it memorable.
“It is the final rush for all the things,” Smollen stated. “As a three-sport athlete, my senior 12 months, the final sport, and my favourite, I simply needed to profit from the final alternative I’ve to play sports activities in highschool. Being my senior 12 months and understanding we have been going to to be strong sufficient, I simply needed to deliver consideration. It was very nice to be named participant of the 12 months for the Mansfield Information Journal, what an honour, to go head-to-head with loads of nice gamers from actually huge faculties, however it’s all about doing it once more. I have never egocentric objectives, however I do know that if I come right here and play nicely day by day, I may help my crew win and with that come postseason awards.”
And they’re going to little question comply with quickly. Offensively, Smollen leads the crew in practically each statistical class. He’s hitting .465 with 20 hits, three doubles, one triple and three dwelling runs. He had 18 RBIs, 11 steals and 18 runs scored and hit simply as soon as in 43 at-bats. He has a .640 on base proportion.
However its greatest impression is on the mound. In seven video games, Smollen is 6-1 with a 0.51 earned run common that permits simply three earned runs in 41 innings of labor. He had 86 strikeouts in simply 10 walks and allowed solely 23 hits all season.
Rising belief
Smollen was huge in a 4-2 win over beforehand undefeated Colonel Crawford and had 13 strikeouts and hit a solo dwelling run and 3-run shot in an 11-0 win over Mount Gilead. However nothing touches his opening day, 10-2 win over Danville the place he pitched a whole sport with 17 strikeouts.
It goes with out saying that when Smollen is on the mound, the Cubs have all the boldness on this planet that they’ll win any sport.
“I can inform there is a completely different stage of belief in my teammates when it is my day to pitch,” Smollen stated. “I’ve performed so many video games enjoying journey ball since I used to be 9 and have all the time been a 1-2 puncher for these groups and I really feel so snug and assured on the mound and I believe my teammates see that. I believe it calms them down and permits them to play. To be sincere, it is due to my protection that I can bowl with confidence. I do know if I do not hit somebody, they’re going to have my again and play for me.” I can hit pictures and if the ball is put into play they are going to make performs. It’s double sided. I belief them as a result of they belief me.”
Church additionally sees that religion in his crew and in Smollen.
“With him on the mound, it is a completely different sport,” Church stated. “We do not have to offer him loads of help for the run, however it could definitely be good to offer him some so he can settle in just a little higher. With him, we’re all the time in it and now we have his good friend (Hunter Church) behind the plate for certain.” it helps quite a bit. He and Hunter are punched 1-2 and when Hunter is pitching, Smollen is catching. I actually have not needed to name pitches all 12 months as a result of these two are sensible ballplayers who perceive.
Smollen additionally provides his senior catcher loads of credit score. Church supplies a security blanket behind the dish that provides Smollen the boldness to throw any pitch at any specific level within the sport. And vice versa as Smollen captures on days when Church is in bother.
“Hunter is one other man I performed quite a bit with,” Smollen stated. “He calls a giant play behind the plate. After I get just a little wild, that man takes all of it. Figuring out you’ll be able to actually throw any pitch and your catcher could have your again simply brings a complete new stage of confidence. Now we have loads of continuity. Tomorrow it will likely be his flip to pitch and I’ll decide for him”.
Wanting extra
With the Cubs (9-3, 4-1) eyeing one other MBC title, they need to beat Mansfield Christian in Recreation 2 of their sequence after beating the Flames 17-0 on Monday behind a 10-strikeout efficiency by Smollen and sweep Central Christian subsequent week to do it.
However that will not be sufficient for the Cubs. In every of the final two seasons, their event sequence ended prematurely within the sectional championship sport. They have not performed in a district event, in order that’s the main target this 12 months.
One of many greatest steps the Cubs had to absorb the offseason was constructing management, and it took a season-ending harm to key participant Andrew Fanello to construct that.
“Smollen deserves loads of credit score for the way he is stepped up as a frontrunner,” Church stated. “The whole senior group deserves loads of credit score. Andrew Fanello is out for the 12 months but he nonetheless exhibits up day by day. We name him Coach Fanello as a result of he exhibits up and does what he can to assist the crew. ‘subsequent 12 months”.
It was that harm that introduced the crew collectively. Fanello has been a key a part of the Cub’s success during the last two seasons and when he was sidelined for the 12 months, he introduced the boys collectively to proceed their current streak.
“There’s extra of a crew environment than final 12 months,” Church stated. “The report proper now appears good, however these youngsters aren’t glad and proceed to go hungry. Three extra wins and we will clinch a share of our third championship in a row, however we’re not glad with that. We wish to go play in a district event and we really feel with Smollen in bother, now we have an excellent likelihood to do this.”
And with Smollen’s incapability to be glad, as the nice Pat Riley stated, complacency is the final stand between a crew and its potential greatness, the Cubs must do one thing particular.
jfurr@gannett.com
740-244-9934
Twitter: @JakeFurr11
