Blake Hershey has teammates in mind for Clyde baseball

Cole Schwochow thinks he could throw 170 pitches in one game.

Clyde coach Drew Linder, and the rules, would never allow such a thing. So, Schwochow hurled 119 pitches Tuesday in seven innings in a 10-5 victory over Tiffin Columbian in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division.

The senior wasn't just eating innings, six pitches shy of the limit. He was eating up batters, notching 15 strikeouts with no walks while allowing eight hits.

"I could go another 50," he said. "I call it my rubber arm. I don't feel anything until the next morning when it's sore."

Schwochow throws it for a loop to throw them for a loop.

"My go-to out pitch is my curve," he said. "It keeps batters guessing and sometimes it straight up fools them."

Schwochow worked on fine points with seams and his grip, the depth of the ball in his hand and pressure with his fingers. He always tinkers, trying to manipulate his mechanics as he adds information, including arm slot.

"My offspeed and movement pitches haven't moved," he said. "I made some minor changes."

Schwochow is a crafty lefty with four- and two-seam fastballs, slider, change and curve in the arsenal.

"My plan of attack, get in and out of innings so the offense can do their job," he said. "I like to locate my fastball. That's helped me through the years of varsity baseball. Get out with a win."

Junior catcher Blake Hershey helps Schwochow with this goal, as well as maintenance and recovery plans. Hershey's travel coach provides guidelines from an MLB source, and Hershey dives into books and his laptop to research the topic.

"He give me arm routines to keep my arm healthy," Schowochow said. "He helps people with their swings and their approach. He's vocal and he keeps positivity up."

Schwochow, who continues his career at Lake Erie College, often skips a bullpen between starts, with three or four days not throwing.

"I listen to my body, sometimes I'll throw a small bullpen," he said. "Sometimes my body can't take it and I give it a rest. I spend a lot of time in the weight room, even in the season. You want to maintain muscle and regenerate them.

"Not all guys believe the weight room is a during the season thing. I use the weight room. When you throw, you weaken your muscles. You need to get blood flow to heal, you need to get blood circulating."

Senior first baseman Mason Gurney, junior catcher Blake Hershey and classmate shortstop Caden Bumb are returning starters. Seniors Barry Criswell and Grayson Morgan share second base, junior Drake Guhn plays third base and junior Dawson Kinsey left field.

"Barry is leading us in average," Schwochow said. "Blake's been great up there. Blake and Mason have the most hits. Even though [Hershey's] a junior, he's a leader."

Freshman Mason Flewelling plays center field, sophomore Kam Shortridge right field and junior Evan Criswell is designated hitter.

"He's been impressive with his attitude," Schwochow said of Flewelling. "Things might not be going his way, he moves past it and keeps on going."

Sophomore Blake Gerstenberger, senior Grayson Morgan, Kensey and Gurney join Schwochow on the bump. Not at the same time.

Senior DJ Rewoldt and junior Chancy Miracle are in the varsity mix.

Clyde is 5-7-1. The Fliers fell 3-2 to Perkins on Wednesday.

"We've had our ups and downs," Schwochow said. "When we're on, we're on. When we're off, we struggle. We've been focusing on a good approach at the plate and limiting errors on defense. The offense has proved we can hit and put the ball in play.

"That's something we can back up. We have some weapons. Sometimes that's overlooked with a bad game. We shouldn't be taken lightly."

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Clyde's Cole Schwochow rolls along, prepares for more