Schwochow breaks down, personalizes mechanics on mound as Clyde pitcher
A small tweak can go a long way.
The plate is always the same distance from the mound, but Clyde pitcher Cole Schwochow likes to take what he learns about getting the ball there and make it his own. He continues his baseball career at Lake Erie College, with his senior season on the diamond yet to come for the Fliers.
"Everybody is different a little bit," he said. "If something works for someone else, but not for you, you have to find a way through it and try different ways for yourself."
Schwochow trained with Kyle Harris for at least five years, before Harris moved. They remain in touch and Harris suggests drills and mechanical techniques.
"He made me understand what's needed with the mechanics of pitching," Schwochow said. "He's the reason I got where I am. I understand more. I understand the importance. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's boring. There are a lot of small details, going over and over them.
"Muscle memory, it's a slow process. I change drills, I add movements and my athletic ability. Small details matter. Every workout I notice a tiny thing. It keeps coming, every time, no matter what there's always something you can get better at."
Schwochow throws four- and two-seam fastballs, a slider, changeup and curve.
"I feel I should go out and try to prove there's a reason I'm going to Lake Erie and there's a reason people should know my name in the SBC and around here," he said.
Schwochow occasionally finds ways to increase velocity or movement and improve location. Any tiny adjustment to specific movements can prove to make a pitch a weapon.
"Just improve, then I can show off what I can do," he said. "I don't expect to be great going in [at Lake Erie], but to get better over time."
He knows the changes are born before the ball does anything in an enhanced fashion. Spin, legs, release, arm slot, grip and the list is long.
"Work ethic when nobody is watching," he said. "I'm in the gym trying to find a way to make it work. The baseball part, it's locating pitches."
A game of threes, Schwochow (3-3) had a 3.33 ERA over 33⅔ innings, with 34 strikeouts and 14 walks last season.
"I struggled at the beginning of the season, coming off basketball there's not a ton of time to prepare," he said. "I got into a routine and got better as we continued."
He retired the first 10 batters by strikeout in a win over Sandusky. He allowed one hit and struck out 11 in six innings.
"My curveball was working," he said. "They just couldn't hit it."
He joined the starting rotation midway through his sophomore season.
"My work ethic changed," he said. "Last year, during the season I was getting better. I was constantly working during the season to get better. Coming into high school I thought I could play in college. Junior year it clicked.
"It was an idea. I realized I could hang and hold my own against good teams."
Lake Erie is a Division II school in Painesville.
"It's not too far away from home," Schwochow said. "I'll play games around here and family and friends can come see me. It's another step up. I hope to succeed and it's another chance playing baseball."
And continue to make physics his own while trying to help Clyde rebound from a tough campaign.
"Going to coach's house for dinner and team meals," Schwochow said of Drew Linder. "That's my favorite. That's the time when we come together for the best laughs possible, the best memories, the best ideas. Everything."
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Clyde's Cole Schwochow mixes baseball knowledge with comfort
