Baseball school is in session and Clyde's Hershey never stops learning

Blake Hershey knows best.

The senior catcher tells Clyde pitchers as much. He also proves it every day.

"I don't let my pitchers shake me off," he said. "I told them they aren't allowed to shake me off. Controlling the game. I know what pitch to call and where I want that pitch. I make their job easier. As soon as a pitcher trusts their catcher and defense, they can be the best in the league.

"I'm a firm believer in that."

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Catcher fits Hershey like a glove.

"Some describe it as the quarterback of the baseball field," he said. "They're the leader calling pitches; they're the leader calling plays with runners at first and third. Everybody is looking at you; everybody looks at you. That's where the pitch is going.

"If your body language is bad, 'Man, our leader is down.'"

Brad Hennessey, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants, is Hershey's summer coach. They text often, which Hershey refers to as debriefing and Hennessey sends videos.

"He's been around the game," Hershey said. "You don't go to the Majors by accident."

Hershey's highlight on defense occurred against Bellevue. He couldn't hold on to a curve in the dirt for strike three, before throwing behind a runner at first base for the final out in a one-run victory.

On offense, Hershey struck out five times this season.

"Being aggressive in the count and knowing what you want in that count," he said. "I learned that last year with the curve. Hit it or spit on it. It's all approach. I like hitting fastball, who doesn't. Battle with two strikes. Sit fastball and don't hit the curve until two strikes.

"Make the defense make a play."

Hershey, Evan Criswell and Drake Guhn are Clyde's top run producers.

"He knows what he's capable of doing," Hershey said of Criswell. "When he realizes he doesn't have to do it every at-bat 1,000 miles per hour off the pitcher's face, he's our best hitter. He struggled with the curve and now he hits every pitch.

"His strikeouts are significantly lower. We string hits together. We get timely hits, it's not relying on one guy."

Hershey was varsity designated hitter for the first half season as a sophomore.

"They gave me the bone to catch," he said. "That's all I wanted, a taste. Varsity is an addiction. You get that first taste, all you want is more. They gave me a chance. The first game or right around there I had five RBIs and I never looked back.

"I wasn't the best catcher sophomore year; my bat was better."

He worked on footwork, which was already a strength. He recognized blocking and transfer of the ball to his throwing hand as weaknesses to attack.

He had 13 passed balls in 90 innings as a sophomore. He has five in 124 innings this season.

After Hershey was inserted at catcher, he dove into the science of the game. He scours the internet for pitching resources, reaches out to common opponents to help identify batters' weaknesses and his thirst for knowledge is never quenched.

He studies and wants to be trusted because he's thorough and makes the right decisions. He continues his education as a catcher at Heidelberg.

"Baseball has been part of my life since I was 6, I'm going to keep rolling with it," he said. "Since I stepped on the field, I loved baseball. It's close to home. It's a good program. Nice campus. It fits me well. Why give up something you love?"

For now, six-seed Clyde (11-10) plays host to 10-seed Mansfield Madison at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a Division II sectional semifinal. The Fliers advanced to a district final last season.

"It keeps us humble," Hershey said. "One game at a time. You cant get ahead of yourselves. It makes you work harder, knowing what you're capable of. It makes you realize what you can do. Learning from that pushes everyone."

Freshman Colt Flores, junior Blake Gerstenberger and senior Dawson Kinsey are starting pitchers. Senior Guhn is a reliever.

Hershey takes their success personal. He wants them to be their best selves.

"We like to have fun," he said. "We pick on each other. We've grown up with each other. Nobody wants to listen to me, especially arm care. I want them to do a strength regimen and they don't all listen. They give me a hard time and call me Coach Hershey trying to get under my skin."

Coach, Hershey.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

X: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Clyde Fliers OHSAA baseball Blake Hershey