Maybe pitching would come easier for Munster’s Sam Hays if he threw 95 mph.
But the 6-foot-2 senior right-hander has learned that lighting up radar guns isn’t the only way to thrive on the mound.
“In my junior year, I was thinking that I’d just throw the hardest and I’d be good,” Hays said. “But it’s not just about throwing the ball into the catcher’s mitt. There’s so much more to it than that once you get into the game, things like rhythm and timing and different pitches.”
Relying more on the craft of pitching, rather than the overwhelming velocity that’s so prevalent in the sport, is Hays’ focus as the Triton commit takes the next steps in his career.
Hays’ strong right arm still got Munster coach Mike Mikolajczyk’s attention after he transferred from Lake Central before his junior year.
“I just remembered smiling and thinking that he’s definitely going to help us,” Mikolajczyk said. “You could see early on that he was going to help us from a pitching standpoint and as a middle infielder. We’re thrilled to have him, and he’s just been a great fit for us.”
Hays remains a middle infielder when he’s not on the mound for Munster (8-7), splitting time between second base and shortstop. He’s hitting .349 with a .440 on-base percentage, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Hays, who has been a capable hitter and fielder throughout his career, added pitching to his repertoire last season.
“I wasn’t as big of a pitcher when I came here,” he said. “But my junior year was when I really worked to be a pitcher. Some of these other guys have been pitching their whole lives.”
That realization is one reason Hays started working on the fundamentals of pitching.
“It’s not just about throwing 100 miles per hour,” Mikolajczyk said. “You have to mix up your pitches, change speeds and keep hitters off-balance. There’s a lot that goes into it, but he’s been getting better every day.”
Hays said there’s no better way to test out these theories than pitching to live batters.
“Time and experience help a lot — and learning from mistakes in every game you play so you can continue to get better on the mound and feel more comfortable too,” he said.
Hays’ results on the mound have been mixed so far. He went 1-3 with a 5.07 ERA in 29 innings last year. This season, he has been on the losing end of lopsided scores in two outings, but he picked up a Northwest Crossroads Conference win against Highland on April 9 by allowing just two runs over four innings.
Hays’ current challenge is recovery. He was hit on the tip of his right index finger by a pitch during a bunt attempt and said the injury has made it difficult to grip a baseball. It has kept him off the mound since April 18.
Hays has continued playing in the infield, however, displaying the same commitment that first endeared him to his new teammates — like senior catcher Bryce Gelarden — when he arrived at Munster.
“He showed up to every single offseason thing we had,” Gelarden said. “That really showed his dedication in finding a new fit here.”
Hays said Gelarden was the first player to introduce himself but added that the warm welcomes didn’t stop there.
“Every player, every coach, every person I’ve met has been awesome in accepting me,” Hays said. “They really preach being a family here, and I don’t think it’s talked about enough. That was a big part of them all accepting me after I came in here late.”
Hays said he wants to return the favor by doing whatever he can to ensure Munster plays as long as possible in the postseason.
“Our team is just a few little things away from being a great team,” he said. “So it’s just trying to get those little things down so we can be the great team that we’re capable of being.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter.
