Started By
Message
re: Baseball Recruiting Discussion
Posted on 6/22/13 at 10:54 am to CayceCock13
Posted on 6/22/13 at 10:54 am to CayceCock13
Murray shows off power arm at Tournament of the Stars
quote:
The right-hander put together a big high school season and has followed that up with a couple of invitations to high-profile events. At Perfect Game National earlier this month in Minneapolis, Minn., Murray hit 95 mph on the radar gun, which is sure to vault him in the Perfect Game rankings.
On Thursday, Murray took the mound at the Team USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C. in his first appearance in the Tournament of the Stars. He faced a lineup that included commitments to Florida, UCLA, LSU, Virginia and Vanderbilt so the talent level was high.
“It’s the best talent in the country out here, no doubt,” Murray said. “Top to bottom, everyone can hit. It’s not like high school where some guys are stronger than others. You have to come out and compete every single day and give it your best every day.”
Murray, who was the first pitcher in relief in the game for his team, threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. He walked one and struck out one in his 46-pitch outing.
His team went on to a comfortable victory and Murray was honored with the player of the game by the Tournament of the Stars.
“I was feeling pretty good,” Murray said. “I tried to go to my slider a lot. I tried to get ahead with the fastball and then throw the slider for strikes. I threw pretty well today and I’m pretty satisfied with it. You can’t really settle and try to get better each and every day.”
In addition to pitching, Murray also can play in the outfield and first base. He has the goal of being a two-way player at South Carolina but he is only performing as a pitcher at the Tournament of the Stars, a 144-player showcase tournament used to select the U18 National Team set to compete for the World Championships later this summer in Taiwan.
“I can probably be described as a power guy, a power pitcher,” Murray said. “I run my fastball up pretty decently but try to go to my off-speed often. I try to keep everything so I can throw all of my pitches for a strike at all times. I try to keep hitters off balance, change eye level, change planes and keep it unexpected so they don’t have any idea what’s coming.”
1
Posted on 6/26/13 at 8:27 am to CayceCock13
Tyler Romanik's strength is easily identified: Hitter
quote:
That’s one way, and probably the best way, to describe class of 2015 commitment Tyler Romanik (Blythewood/Blythewood). Sure, he can do a lot of things defensively. He can play various positions and run well for a stallion his size but what he can certainly do, what is easily identifiable, is hit.
Romanik was the second player to make a verbal pledge to South Carolina in his class. The staff wasn’t sure exactly where he would fit from a position standpoint in the years it will take for him to get to campus but they know he’ll swing the bat and drive in runs.
When the end of the regular season rolled around, Romanik hit .415 with five home runs and 29 RBIs for his Blythewood High School team. The Bengals played to the very last day forcing a Game 3 of the AAAA state championship game.
Romanik, who knows why he was recruited, is always looking for ways to improve though. Even though viewed as a hitter, he wants to be a defensive player. Standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 200-plus pounds, his athleticism can be overlooked.
“The coaches liked my overall demeanor and how I present myself,” Romanik said. “They like how I hit the ball and how I carry myself on the field. I need to improve to become a catcher at the college level, but I’d say catcher or third (as a college position).”
This summer with the EvoShield Canes, Romanik is playing predominantly the corner infield positions - first and third base. This summer, while he has some aspects at the plate he wants to improve, it’s defensively he wants to make his mark.
“I worked on my swing, staying short and hitting the ball back side,” Romanik said of his high school season. “I tried not to pull off the ball too much. I have more to work on but defensively, I need to have a better pop time, work on my footwork, lose a little weight and get a little quicker. I just have to develop a better style.”
“I just need to be out there every day and practice,” Romanik said. “I need to keep seeing change and keep improving. At the plate, I’m working on bat speed and staying through the ball and inside of it. Just hitting better pitches.”
Hitter, or whatever other title he’s given, Romanik knew he wanted to be at South Carolina. He owned offers from Florida and Clemson before deciding to stay close to home to take his next step in baseball.
“I’ve always been a diehard Carolina fan and I loved it here,” Romanik said. “I fell in love once I moved here. I got to see the school, like that it’s incorporated with the town and it’s very friendly. I love the school and the coaches here.”
“It’s a lot of fun to get to know your teammates,” Romanik said. “When we get to school, we’ll know our strength and weaknesses. We’ll know how to help each other and it’s just a lot of fun.”
The weaknesses may be hard to pick out but we know Romanik’s strength.
Hitter.
This post was edited on 6/26/13 at 8:28 am
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News