GOING BATTY
You’ve got to wait for your pitch, instructs University’s Jay Nichols. Be selective. But if you get a fastball to your liking on the first pitch, feel free to swing away.
Making contact is a must, advises Capistrano Valley Christian’s Thomas Grove. Every time you step into the batter’s box, you have to put the ball in play.
And don’t forget to study the pitcher, says Fairmont’s Chris Hebein. Know what he throws. Know how you’ll react. Take your stride and smash the ball.
Orange County hitters could learn a trick or two from Nichols, Grove and Hebein, who are among a handful of players making a run at .600. Each has an outside chance to surpass the county-record .630 average set by former La Quinta standout Gerald Laird through the playoffs of 1998. Laird is the only county player to ever hit better than .600.
Nichols, a junior center fielder, leads the charge with a .603 average (41 for 68) that was as high as .649 on April 19. Since then, Nichols has gone four for 11.
“Most guys’ batting averages would go up with those figures,” University Coach Chris Conlin said, “but his went down.”
Grove was hitting .630 as recently as a week ago but has cooled to a still-scalding .567 (34 for 60).
“The last month or so he’s hitting the ball right on the screws,” Capistrano Valley Christian Coach Terry Gaunt said of last year’s Academy League MVP. “Everything he’s hitting now is a line drive.”
Hebein, a sophomore transfer from Esperanza, is batting .541 (20 for 37). He was hitting .607 on April 18.
“And I know he could be better,” Fairmont Coach Mark Alves said.
Though one bats leadoff, another third and the other cleanup, the hitters are alike in that they don’t strike out often. Hebein has fanned once, Nichols three times and Grove only six times.
“That’s my goal every time I go to the plate--not to strike out, just to put the ball in play,” said Grove, who crouches low at the plate. “I’m compact in my stance because I’m not a power hitter,” said Grove, who has two home runs, 21 runs batted in and a .710 on-base percentage. “I’m more level with the ball. I just feel comfortable like that.”
Grove is successful at the plate by being aggressive. The senior shortstop/pitcher bats leadoff but has drawn only seven walks.
Hebein, too, only likes to reach base after putting the bat on the ball. Twice after being hit by pitches, the switch-hitter dawdled around home plate as if he wasn’t ready to surrender his at-bat.
“He looks for a pitch he can do something with,” Alves said. “He’ll foul off curveballs and changeups until the pitcher throws a fastball, and then he’ll take it for a ride.”
Hebein hasn’t hit a home run but has 17 RBIs and has scored 20 runs. He also has become a minor celebrity at school. “Everybody keeps telling me, ‘I’ve heard your second or third [among county batting leaders],’ ” Hebein said. “It’s kind of cool.”
But Hebein’s best may be yet to come.
“He could be a better hitter,” Alves said. “If he’s gone three for three and then he gets up for that fourth time, his concentration tends to [wane]. I think he could be a much better hitter if he concentrated a little more. But I can’t complain.”
Neither can Conlin, who possesses one of the county’s most dangerous hitters in Nichols. Conlin said Nichols compares favorably with former Trojans Garrett Atkins of UCLA and Steve Hagins, who is in the Angels’ minor league system. Nichols, who has two home runs, 36 RBIs and has scored 18 runs, is easily on pace to break the school batting-average record of .520, set by Atkins in 1997.
“He’s very physical and aggressive at the plate,” Conlin said. “He has the luxury of being able to sit back [because] he has really quick wrists. He uses all the fields and runs the bases.
“In the past, he was kind of emotional. A bad swing or call would ruin an at-bat. Now, it doesn’t bother him and he keeps his focus and gets right back to work.”
Nichols hit .310 last season as a sophomore. This season, a little help from a few friends has made much of the difference. Cal State Fullerton strength coach Rick Stassi has helped Nichols develop stronger wrists. University’s hitting coach, Jim Gattis, “has taught me to slap the ball around the field rather than go for bombs. He’s helped me be a hitter for average, not power.”
After Nichols went hitless in four at-bats Friday against Laguna Beach, he spent extra time in the batting cage Saturday to correct an upper-cut.
“I was trying to hit home runs,” Nichols said. “But I’d rather have a higher average and bring in more runs than just hit a few bombs. Having a better average not only gives you more RBIs, it also helps you get on base for the next guy.
“My goal is to stay above .580. I don’t want to drop. I want to show the college scouts I’m consistent.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunny Hills and La Habra, tied with Sonora and Buena Park atop the Freeway League standings, meet twice this week. The Lancers (12-10 overall, 6-5) and Highlanders (13-8, 6-5) play at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday at La Habra and at 3:15 p.m. Friday at Sunny Hills.
In the Olympic League, first-place Cerritos Valley Christian (13-7-1, 9-2) hosts second-place Calvary Chapel (14-7, 8-3) at 4 p.m. Friday.
If you have an item or idea for the prep baseball report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at ben.bolch@latimes.com
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
The 600 Club?
Five county baseball players have a chance to break the county-record .630 average through the playoffs set in 1998 by La Quinta’s Gerald Laird.
Jay Nichols: University, Junior, .603
Mike Mount: Fairmont, Senior, .579
Thomas Grove: Capistrano Valley Chr., Senior, .567
Peter Eberhardt, Whittier Christian, Senior, .545
Chris Hebein: Fairmont, Sophomore, .541
