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Changes helps Tigers slugger become one of MIAA's best
3/28/2008
By CONOR NICHOLL
Hays Daily News
During the Emporia State University baseball tournament on March 9-10, Fort Hays State University head coach Rick Sabath asked junior Dusty Washburn to change his hitting approach.
Instead of being patient and swinging at breaking balls, Sabath wanted Washburn to look for fastballs, especially early in the count. The coach also asked Washburn to keep his feet underneath him and keep his swing shorter.
Washburn, the Tigers' 6-foot-3 230-pound first baseman, the team's No. 3 hitter and leader, made the adjustments.
"Being in the middle of the lineup, there are more times when I look to hit a breaking ball," Washburn said. "I just started to looking for a fastball more and not until two strikes to look for a breaking ball and offspeed."
The new approach produced three multi-hit contests in the four-game series against Missouri Southern State University last weekend. Washburn, who finished the series with eight hits, 10 runs scored, three homers and six RBIs, helped the Tigers score 24 runs in one game.
"Those two factors of being more aggressive earlier in the count and having a really good base underneath him and not having too long of a stride. I think has really helped him bounce back," Sabath said.
Entering this weekend's series against Northwest Missouri State University, Washburn, a Thomas More Prep-Marian graduate, leads the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association in homers (seven) and ranks second in total bases per game (2.55), and fourth in slugging percentage (.729).
Since the change, Washburn has been more productive in hitters' counts, especially 0-0, 1-0, 2-0 and 3-1.
"Right away, I am looking for a good fastball to hit," Washburn said.
All but one of Washburn's homers have come on a fastball. In a recent game, he also hit a 3-0 pitch for a homer -- a count that batters rarely swing. In the at-bat, Washburn was going to take the pitch, but Sabath, coaching from third base, caught Washburn's eye.
"He gave me a green light and I knew that he wanted me to swing if it was right there," he said.
The shorter swing and balance have helped Washburn turn on inside pitches, especially the fastball, more often. Last year, Washburn, a transfer from Garden City Community College, played in all 53 games and batted .351 with three homers and 32 RBI.
"I struggled with the inside fastball," Washburn said.
He has -- or likely will -- eclipse all of his numbers from last year and could be on several top 10 school record lists by season's end. The numbers, though, are only half of Washburn's leadership role.
The only returning hitter who hit above .235 or collected more than 111 at-bats last season, Washburn has led a young Tigers' squad that regularly starts several redshirt freshmen.
Washburn described himself as the "loudest guy" on the team and "very emotional," characteristics that Sabath echoed.
"Absolutely," Sabath said. "He is a vocal leader, he is the guy the players look to in terms of how to handle situations and he is a very important guy for us on and off the field. It is very important for him to do the right thing at all times."
Washburn will talk to pitchers and hitters in the dugout during games, asking pitchers what they throw in certain counts. He'll speak with hitters about what they see at the plate, including whether a opposing pitcher's two-seam fastball is moving away from a batter or if a four-seam fastball is staying flat.
"I am just trying to be prepared for my next at-bat," he said.
The leadership, coupled with the improved hitting approach, has solidified Washburn as the Tigers' top player -- and one of the MIAA's best hitters.
Scouting the Tigers' staff
Fort Hays (6-14, 3-5 MIAA) will start junior left-hander Eric Gilliland in the first series' first game tonight. The contest, which starts at 7 p.m., is the annual "Pack the Park" game. Gilliland, the Tigers' ace in the first part of the year, is 1-3 with a 4.83 ERA after he allowed 10 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against Missouri Southern last season.
In his first four appearances, Gilliland had a 2.30 ERA, including three starts where he went at least 6 2/3 innings. The junior uses a sidearm delivery that allows him to put movement on the baseball and is especially effective against left-handed hitters.
However, against Mo. Southern, Gilliland had problems with command.
"With his fastball elevated and not moving as much, that led to him being hit around a little bit," Sabath said.
Sophomore left-hander Matt Augustine and sophomore right-hander Donnie Moore will pitch Saturday's games. For Moore, it will be his third appearance this season. Augustine, a consistent starter, ranks ninth in the MIAA with a 3.93 ERA.
"For him to be effective, he really has to have the 2-seamer (fastball) working down in the zone along with his good changeup," Sabath said of Augustine. "His 2-seamer and his changeup tend to run away from the right-handers and his breaking ball can get on his hands and jam them."
Bunts
Sabath expects Northwest Missouri to use the bunt, hit and run and steal more than other teams. Northwest ranks second in the MIAA in stolen bases per game behind Emporia State University. ... Junior right-hander Chris Brown and junior left-hander Sean Bartholomew will have shoulder and elbow surgery, respectively, and will miss the rest of the season. Brown has not pitched this season while Bartholomew went 0-1 with a 11.25 ERA in three games.
Sports Reporter Conor Nicholl can be reached at (785) 628-1081 Ext. 127 or at
cnicholl@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/11 | Central Missouri | L 4-2 |
| BB | 5/10 | Missouri Western | W 4-3 |
| BB | 5/09 | Emporia State | L 6-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
