When Wauwatosa East junior Tyler O'Brien came out for baseball his freshman year, all he wanted to do was play shortstop. Now that he has become one of the top catchers in the Greater Metro Conference, has his attitude changed?
"I'm happy that I'm here, but I want to play shortstop," O'Brien laughed. "That's where I want to be. I'll catch, if that is where the team needs me to be. I will do anything the team needs me to do. It's fun, but shortstop is where I would love to be."
O'Brien and pitcher Danny Sayles both made the varsity as freshmen three years ago. When coach Matt Dahlstrom, who was an assistant under Jerry Toubl at the time, tried O'Brien behind the plate they knew they had something special.
Starting to like the position
It was not an easy transition for O'Brien.
"They (the coaches) were trying to find one (catcher), and they noticed I was good at scooping the ball," he said. "I just kept developing from freshman year until now. But there were a lot of things that bothered me back then.
"Will I get yelled at if I don't block the pitch? Every pitch matters. The kid who started (Ryan Lazenby) threw hard, and that was a big adjustment from Dan (as a freshman) to him. It was tough going back there right away. I adjusted, though, and did well."
Sayles, the Red Raiders' top hurler, has seen the growth in his teammate.
"I am very comfortable with Tyler," Sayles said. "He is one of the best catchers I ever had behind the plate. He knows batters of the opposing teams. He knows how to spot pitches. I would rather have him than anyone in our conference right now."
O'Brien admits the position is growing on him.
"Last year I started to like it," he said. "I was more involved in every play. I realized I was pretty good at catcher, I get the job done. It is real important to stay confident the whole time.
"You have to know the pitcher. You have got to stay tough, block the ball so the runners don't score or move up on the bases."
Getting noticed
Even umpires Brian Henson and Bob Grise appreciated O'Brien's effort during a recent 90-degree day game against Brookfield Central.
Grise went up to O'Brien, who was putting on his equipment between innings, and told him, "You are doing a good job, young man."
Dahlstrom is pleased with O'Brien's development, as a catcher and a person.
"He has so much experience now, and he has so much expectation for himself. He knows now that he is not going to hit .800. He knows he's not going to be able to throw out every guy. He's through that mental part, too."
O'Brien's offense also is important to this team.
"Hugely important," Dahlstrom said. "When he's in a zone, he can hit to all fields. I wish he was a terrible base runner, I would love to sit him down (for a courtesy runner), but I can't because he makes things happen."
But will he ever get a chance to play shortstop?
"If there were other catchers, if these other kids can develop, we can put him at short," Dahlstrom said. "But you can't tell the future."
TOSA EAST RESULTS
June 24 - Brookfield Central 12, Red Raiders 0: The Lancers scored three runs to start the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead, when Tosa East - with two outs - dropped a foul ball on a tough play, which opened the door for five more runs. June 25 - Brookfield Central 11, Red Raiders 2: Tosa East scored two runs in the first inning, but then Central's Mike Mierow slammed the door the rest of the way. June 29 - Marquette 8, Red Raiders 1: Tosa East trailed 3-1 after four innings and 4-1 through five, but a four-run sixth by the Hilltoppers put the game away.
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from Sports
- BOYS BASKETBALL Trojans' losing streak increases to 12
- East boys 'hit rock bottom' in 66-57 loss to Chargers
- Track and Field: Kilpin signs with Golden Eagles
- Trojans whip Tosa East girls
- SKY'S TAKE
- Tosa finishes second at conference meet
- Benz, Brovarney have third-place finishes
- GIRLS BASKETBALL Chargers beat Red Raiders
- GIRLS BASKETBALL First-place Packers beat Tosa West
- SKY'S TAKE
0 COMMENTS