It’s one thing for Isaiah Steinhilber to say it.
But the 2023 Boone Grove graduate said facing college pitchers is completely different.
“The game’s a lot faster, and the dudes throw way harder,” Steinhilber said.
Those were the lingering thoughts in Steinhilber’s mind following his first season at Marian University’s Ancilla College, where he’ll return for a second year after playing for the Hammond-based Vikings in the Northern League this summer.
Entering this week, Steinhilber had played in 17 games for the Vikings (7-21), hitting .259 with eight RBIs and five runs scored. The first baseman had walked 11 times and ranked fifth on the team with a .403 on-base percentage, a part of his game he highlighted before the Vikings played the Indiana Panthers on Monday.
“I’ve been really happy with how well I’ve been on time against those really hard pitches and how I’ve been able to keep a good eye with the off-speed ones,” he said.
Steinhilber has just one extra-base hit. But Vikings manager Jake Hunt thinks there are ways for Steinhilber to use his 6-foot-1 frame to generate more power at the plate.
“He’s a big guy, so if you can use his lower body more effectively, he’ll start hitting the ball over fences,” Hunt said. “We’ve been working on some of those little things in his swing because a guy like him has all of the size he needs. If he gets that down, he’ll be crushing the ball more.”
Steinhilber played in 21 games during his freshman season in Ancilla’s two-year program, just enough playing time to whet his appetite. He hit .237 with four RBIs and five walks.
“It was a pretty fun year,” he said. “I gained a lot of experience and faced some pretty big arms. I felt like I was ready to go to the next level, and I feel like I proved that.”
Steinhilber said he’s hoping to get even more playing time next season and find a four-year program where he can continue his career.
“After my sophomore year (at Boone Grove), I realized that I could compete at the next level against those big arms,” he said. “I knew that I had the talent to compete at the next level, so now it’s just seeing how much longer I can play.”
The soft-spoken Steinhilber has quickly become a leader in the Vikings’ dugout, according to pitcher Anthony Mangano, who didn’t know him before this summer.
“As soon as Stein came to the team, he was vocal with everyone,” Mangano said. “He’s always making sure that everyone does the little things right. Like if someone’s getting mad and throwing equipment in the dugout after striking out, he’ll make sure their head is still in the game and staying focused on winning.”
On the field, Steinhilber is focused on showing what he can do.
“It’s just seemed like the more at-bats that I’ve got, the better I’ve got,” he said. “So I’m hoping to prove that I gained some experience this summer and that I can continue to compete at the next level.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter.
