Hanover Central junior pitcher Matt Cook still has questions.
Even with a fastball that reaches into the low 90s.
Even with broad experience in important games throughout his high school career.
Even with a Division I opportunity waiting for him.
“I have to have more confidence,” Cook said. “I’ve been trying to do too much.”
Cook, who has a 2.80 ERA with eight strikeouts and six walks in 10 innings for the defending Northwest Crossroads Conference champion Wildcats (10-2, 5-1) this season, thinks he has tried to work around batters too often. The Evansville commit wants to lower his ERA below 2.00.
“I just have to have confidence in my stuff and attack hitters,” he said. “I’ve been struggling a little bit throwing strikes. I have to work better and find my groove.”
But Hanover Central coach Sal Aguilar has plenty of confidence in Cook, who pitched against then-No. 1 Andrean in a Class 3A sectional championship game last year. The Wildcats won 22-2.
“He’s a guy that we entrust the ball to in big moments and in big games,” Aguilar said. “He knows that’s his MO. He does everything he needs to do. That’s one thing that’s impressive. He’s a self-motivator, and he gets himself prepared for starts.
“That’s one thing that I’m impressed with about him, just the way he goes about his business. You don’t have to prod him. He just goes about his business and handles his starts really well. He’s the ultimate baseballer, and he competes his tail off on the mound.”
Indeed, Cook has put in the work. He was diligent about his offseason training program. He hit the gym to add 10 pounds, getting up to 210 on his 6-foot-4 frame.
“I was a little fatter last year,” he said. “Nothing crazy, but I lost a little bit of the baby fat and gained muscle.”
Cook is seeing results. His fastball is topping out at 92 mph, up from 87 last season.
“My velocity ticked up, a big jump from last year,” he said. “The velo’s there. My velo and my stuff is there. I’ve been working on a change-up. It’s been really good. I just have to trust it more in games and get more work.
“The thing I need to work on is just attacking hitters and trust my stuff and keep the walks to a minimum because walks will kill you.”
Cook helps make things lively for the Wildcats, according to senior Caiden Verrett, who has committed to Indianapolis to play both football and baseball.
“Cookie’s a great guy,” Verrett said. “He’s a very likable person, someone you know you can joke around with and have fun with. He’s a competitor, always wants to win, so even with his joking side, he has a switch he can turn on and just lock everything in.
“I’ve had the pleasure to play with Matt for three years, and I’ve been able to say he’s gotten better each year with little to a lot of improvements.”
The Wildcats lost to eventual 3A state champion New Prairie in regionals last year and hope to improve on that. They’re viewed as contenders for the state title.
“These kids relish the spotlight, big games,” Aguilar said. “A lot of these kids have the experience of playing on the travel circuit in big games, big atmospheres. They’re used to that environment. They know how to turn it up another gear in moments such as those.
“It’s day by day, game to game. But they know what’s ahead of them. When it’s all said and done, they’re going to compete their tails off. Everything else will take care of itself.”
Cook figures to be a key figure as the Wildcats pursue titles.
“He’s a great kid,” Aguilar said. “He has great stuff and competes on the mound day in and day out. We’ve kind of tasked him with some of the better teams that we play, and he comes out and competes.
“He’s an ultimate competitor on the mound, and he backs it up with good stuff. He has good baseball acumen to know what he’s doing in certain counts and how to attack certain hitters. He’s a baseballer through and through.”
