A Young Lion Makes an Impact : Loyola Marymount’s Scott Pitching Beyond His Years

Loyola Marymount pitcher Darryl Scott and his mean split-finger fastball have brought much-needed relief to the defending West regional champion Lions--not to mention Coach Dave Snow.

Scott, a 6-1, 180-pound freshman, was recruited out of Yuba City High in Northern California for duty as a long reliever and he’s become Loyola’s main man on the mound.

“He was so dominating and poised that he was able to throw every other day,” assistant coach Donny Perry said. “He’s very, very strong.”

Snow recruited the 19-year-old for long relief while he adjusted to college ball. But adjusting was no problem for Scott, who has been pitching since he was 9.

His upbringing is reflected in his early start. His grandfather played baseball at Stanford and his father at Fresno State, both of which have strong baseball programs. So Scott’s arm was put to work early, and it has paid off.

“He’s the best pitcher we’ve got,” said Snow, who did not have much else to cheer about after his team got off to a slow start.

Last season, when his team swept the NCAA West regional, Snow was overjoyed. The early part of the season brought dismay, however, when his team slipped from Baseball America’s No. 3 preseason ranking to 19th after three losses to crosstown rival Pepperdine.

But the Lions then went on an eight-game winning streak to improve to 30-14-1. In the early going, Scott, a right-hander with a 7-4 record and two saves, was the Lions’ only impressive pitcher.

“It’s still early in the season and he’s already established himself,” Snow said. “We’re excited that he’s done so well so soon.”

Added Snow: “He isn’t an overpowering pitcher. He’s got resiliency and mental toughness and those are good ingredients for a relief pitcher.”

When Scott was 15, he was throwing for an Alaskan team in American Legion ball. His parents had divorced and his mother had moved to Alaska, where he spent summers.

“Except for my first year, I was always a starter up there,” Scott said. “Now it doesn’t matter. I don’t mind relieving.”

By 16, Scott was pitching in the Thoroughbred League, which is open to college players 19 to 22 years old.

“I always played in higher leagues,” Scott said. “They had to forge my age and it said I was 19 and had played for some school in Arizona that I had never heard of.

“A scout came up to me and said, ‘I’ve scouted every school in Arizona and I’ve never seen you pitch there.’ ”

That’s because Scott was a junior at Yuba City High and was winning games that earned him the Outstanding Pitcher Award three years in a row in the Delta League.

“He was always a premier pitcher,” Yuba City Coach Joe Graben said. “When we put Darryl on the mound, we beat everybody.”

After so much success, Scott had hopes of being drafted by a major league team. But those hopes were crushed.

“I talked to scouts from the Reds and the Phillies, but nothing ever happened. That’s probably best because I was pretty set on going to school,” said Scott, who is working for a degree in psychology.

“Before, I could throw the ball past a lot of people. Now I worry because I can’t throw the ball past most of the batters. I have to work a lot harder.”

He recalled his first college game, against Cal State Los Angeles, when he got the first two batters out, then the third hit a line drive off his ankle that put him out of the game.

“That had never happened to me. I was scared and felt funny till I got on the mound again.”

Things went a lot better for the rookie in his next game against UCLA. He pitched three innings and received credit for a 3-2 victory.

“The more the pressure, the better he does,” Perry said. “He’s very competitive.”

And to keep his arm in shape in a league boasting some of the best collegiate pitchers in the nation, Scott’s been throwing every other day, and usually in a weekend series he’ll throw two consecutive days.

“I feel comfortable doing that. But I know I need to get stronger and put more velocity on the ball so I can have more command out there.”

That should happen with time, according to Perry, who says Scott is just a “pup” in pitching.

“There is no such thing as a 10,” Perry said, but Darryl is a 9, a solid 9. He’s going to get bigger and stronger and has a chance to be an outstanding pitcher.”

So Loyola will continue to feel the relief when Scott is warming up his split-finger fastballs as he prepares to take the mound.

“When we have him in the bullpen, a lot of the pressure is relieved and we know he’ll come out and do something good,” Snow said.