Boys’ Player of the Week : Criss Happy He’s Caught On With Servite

As a sophomore at Servite High School, Brian Criss would volunteer to catch during batting practice. It was a nice change from fielding ground balls at third base, where he was a part-time starter.

But, more and more, Criss found himself behind the plate during batting practice. In fact, it became a running joke between him and Coach Mike McNary.

“Coach McNary would tell me that I better keep the gear on the rest of the season,” Criss said. “He said they might need me to catch.”

The need materialized the next season when Criss became Servite’s starting catcher.

During the summer before his junior year, Criss not only continued to catch during practice, but started a few American Legion games. By the end of the summer, he was regarded as the Friars’ No. 1 catcher.

“I really didn’t think about changing positions,” said Criss, now a senior. “I just kept catching during batting practice and then Coach McNary started penciling me in (to the lineup).”

Criss, The Times’ player of the week, took advantage of the opportunity and has become a key part of Servite’s baseball team. Last Saturday, he went 7 for 7 with 10 RBIs and 7 runs scored in the Friars’ 36-0 victory over Pius X.

In that game, Criss set Southern Section single-game records for hits and runs scored.

Obviously, catching has not affected his abilities at the plate.

“I think catching gets a bad rap about that,” Criss said. “I can see if you’re in the major leagues that you might get fatigued. But you’re catching nine-inning games, 160 times a year. In high school, it’s maybe 30 games a year, twice a week.

“If anything, catching has improved my hitting. I have a better feel for what the umpire considers to be the strike zone and I have more knowledge about what pitchers throw in certain situations. It allows me to guess more.”

Catching has come naturally to Criss. It had to, because before high school he had played just one game behind the plate.

“That was in a Little League all-star game, where everyone on the team was a shortstop,” Criss said. “They asked me to play catcher and I said yes.”

When McNary asked him to catch, he again had no qualms. It was a chance to start.

“Catching suits my style,” Criss said. “I like to be involved and be in charge out there.

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