Scott, Crouse return to the mound for Battlefield one last time
By Dan Roem
If the Battlefield baseball team has ever had the pitching to make a run at states, this is the year.Seniors Evan Scott and Matt Crouse are set to return as the Bobcats' No. 1 and 2 pitchers for the 2008 season after headline-grabbing stints last year.
The lefty Crouse (6-4, 1.98 ERA in 2007) struck out 20 Stonewall Jackson batters in a complete-game no-hitter during the regular season finale.
Right-hander Scott (3-2, 2.30 ERA) followed up a week later in the Cedar Run District tournament semi-finals with a complete-game shutout against tough Osbourn Park, clinching a regional berth for Battlefield.
“Defensively, we're going to be fine,” said coach Matt Caudle after his team's 10-inning, 4-hour scrimmage against South County on Monday. “Pitching: we're fine. We just got to find nine guys to hit the ball.”
Detroit Tigers scout Bill Buck came out to Haymarket for the practice game to check out Scott, Crouse and South County hurler Jesse Beal Jr.
Scott and Crouse only tossed one inning each while Beal pitched two, which Buck said was not nearly enough to form any solid opinions for a MLB scout.
However, their performances at least left enough of an impression that Buck said he wants to make an effort to see all of them again during the regular season.
Buck called Crouse a “premium” pitcher because quality lefties are always in high demand.
Scott and Crouse threw mainly fastballs that topped out at 89 and 88 mph, respectively. According to Caudle, both of them should be throwing in the low-to-mid 90s by spring.
For high school pitchers, “That's fast,” said the coach with a laugh.
As has become his staple, Crouse struck out the side in the second inning. Stallion batters had trouble catching up to Scott, too, as the right-hander came away unscathed on the scoreboard.
“I thought I threw pretty well,” said Scott. “[There was one] batter where I was letting everything run out of my hand. So I've just got to focus on staying back.”
Scott said Course was “hitting his spots” and “just dominating” batters with his fastball.
“Yeah, I didn't get a chance to utilize too many pitches aside from my fastball,” said Crouse, adding that “for early in the year, being March, we both looked pretty good, I thought.”
Caudle noted the pitchers have good arm speed and good velocity so far, and have “a lot of pop” in their bats, too.
During the 2007 campaign, Crouse and Scott both hit above .300. The former is expected to hit lead-off as he led the team with a .356 average last year.
“He's got to get on and score runs, and Evan's got to cut down on his strikeouts from last year,” said Caudle. “He's got tons of power; he's just got to put the ball in play more frequently. If he does, then he'll have a big year at the plate.”
Senior Danny McDonald, juniors Cooper Bull, Korbin Doss and Chase Garris and sophomore Brandon McMahon make up the rest of the pitching rotation for Battlefield. Crouse, who bats right-handed, is the only left-handed thrower on the squad.
Caudle said he so far has been impressed by Bull's work ethic because the transfer student, who also played varsity football and basketball, “doesn't do anything but full speed.”
He also noted that returning catcher Joey El-bisi has been “swinging well” during the pre-season. At this point, it's just a matter of filling out a full line up of hitters that is on Caudle's mind.
“We've got a lot of work to do to get where we want to go,” said the coach.