Caledonia High School”s Jeremy Reed-Wood and Glenn Robinson of Columbus High”s entered Saturday”s Dizzy Dean tournament in similar situations.
Reed-Wood, a rising sophomore, needs to show this summer he has improved enough as a catcher to earn the starting varsity job next season.
Robinson must show he can improve and produce when given the opportunity to play, as he has been given this summer.
So far, so good. But …
“I”ve gotten better, but I”ve got a lot more (improving) to go,” said Reed-Wood, who went 1-for-3 and drove in a run during an 8-1 win against Columbus.
His biggest improvements have occurred behind the plate, where he is better at blocking balls and throwing out runners. In the fourth inning against Columbus, he threw out a runner trying to steal second base.
Hitting, though, is still a challenge, although his single was a hit in the right direction.
“He”s come a long way from where he was at,” said Jason Dyer, Caledonia”s summer baseball coach. “If he continues to improve, he”ll be a pretty good ballplayer.
“When he started, he was a kind of middle-of-the-road catcher. His fundamentals are kinda slow, but he”s worked on it pretty hard. All summer and this past spring, he”s progressed a long way.”
Like Reed-Wood, Robinson has just about figured out half of the game. He has the speed to motor around the bases, but it will take more than that to become a productive part of the Falcons” lineup in 2012.
“He”s played (baseball) his whole life; he just needs an opportunity to play every day,” said Greg Dees, Columbus” summer baseball coach. “Sometimes he tries to do too much, but you can”t play the game trying to do too much, trying to prove something. Some guys can, some guys can”t.”
Robinson went 1-for-3 with a run scored Saturday.
“When you come out here every day and give it all you got, it shows in the game,” said Robinson, who will be a senior this fall. “When the fall comes, I should already know what to do, what to expect.”
His summer improvements have included learning how to drag bunt, how to steal, and how to get a good lead, which is key to getting a good jump before stealing, Dees said.
Hitting, though, is still an up-and-down challenge. It”s all about hand-eye coordination — seeing the ball and hitting it — something he wants to improve.
“He”ll have a two-hit game here and drive a ball to right-center gap then he might pull off a couple of balls, have a couple of Ks the next game,” Dees said. “He”s getting there. He”s starting to figure out his load — what I want to do when the pitcher releases the ball, what am I looking for in certain counts. When he gets his pitch selection down, that”s where he”s going to start getting there. It”s just a work in progress.”
Just like Reed-Wood.
For Caledonia, Caleb Brown doubled, driving in a run. Jonathan Comer also drove in a run with a double. Brandon Darling went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Starting pitcher Jake Stewart allowed just one hit in four scoreless innings.
Robinson has had to watch three of his former teammates in the outfield play standout baseball and earn college scholarships. Now, he feels, it”s his turn.
“I feel I can play at a college level. I can do it,” he said. “I”ve been coming out here every day. I”ve got to show them what I”m made of.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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