Beverly/Lowell full of strong arms
State Legion tournament opens next weekBy Kevin Pierson, kpierson@mariettatimes.com
BEVERLY - All season long when Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750 has had its back against the wall and needed a clutch pitching performance, it's been there - no matter which guy coach Todd Engle turned to on the mound.
Blessed with a bona fide ace at the top of the rotation in Evan Brockmeier and solid stars right behind him with southpaw Josiah Fryman as well as Tyler Stevens, Chad Stengel and a host of others the Beverly/Lowell pitching staff has emerged as one of the state's best.
Beverly/Lowell heads into next week's Ohio state Legion tournament in Athens on the back of the pitching staff that posted a 1.33 team ERA during the District 11 tournament, giving up just eight earned runs.
"The pitching has been there all year," Engle praised. "We've always been in the game no matter which one (pitcher) I turn to."
Going up against the best hitters and best Legion teams next week the Beverly/Lowell pitchers know they will have to continue to pound the strike zone and give themselves a chance to pick up 'W's.
"Everybody's got to throw quality innings and all the pitchers, I know they can," Stevens said.
The tournament draw to determine who and when Beverly/Lowell first plays in the state tournament is Sunday evening, but regardless of who they play Post 389/750 will undoubtedly turn to Brockmeier for Game 1 before relying on Fryman for Game 2 in the double elimination tournament.
"I'm definitely looking forward to that," Brockmeier said of taking the ball in the state tournament.
What makes Post 389/750 so dangerous is that right behind Brockmeier and Fryman are the likes of Stevens, Stengel, Brandon Starr, Michael Bauman and Tyler Proctor who have all proven they can record key outs.
In the state tournament many Legion teams have one, maybe two good pitchers, but seldom does any team have a rotation close to Beverly/Lowell's.
"Everybody does their part and does their job and just stays within themselves," Stengel said.
Staying within themselves for the Beverly/Lowell pitchers this season has meant plenty of ground balls and pounding the strike zone.
"I think a big thing is going to be throwing strikes and playing good defense," Brockmeier said.
Very rarely have Beverly/Lowell pitchers recorded more walks than strikeouts and they have been effective at getting hitters to hit their pitch.
"We want to keep the ball low against all the batters and force ground balls and have quick innings," Fryman said.
Staying down in the strike zone and mixing pitches will help the Post 389/750 hurlers keep their team in the game, their goal from the first pitch.
Each of the Beverly/Lowell pitchers brings a different weapon to the mound that can stifle opposing hitters, whether it be Brockmeier's savvy, Stevens' bulldog mentality or Fryman's ability to change speeds and locations.
While Brockmeier, Fryman, Stevens and Stengel have seen the bulk of the innings this season for Beverly/Lowell they have a reliable trio right behind them in Starr, Bauman and Proctor.
Starr pitched six innings of one earned run baseball Friday against Marietta/Belpre in the district tournament while Bauman and Proctor have both answered the call when needed as well.
"I'm tickled to death with our pitching," Engle said.
Combine the steady pitching efforts Beverly/Lowell has been getting with a resurgent offense and confidence is high for the Post 389/750 squad.
"We're not done yet. Our ultimate goal is to win at the state," Fryman said.
