Sports
Still Rolling
Pleasant Grove pitching standout Zach Stilwell is having another great year on the mound. After a perfect season as a sophomore, Stilwell is having another monster season as a junior. His game has earned him Athlete of the Week honors here at Patch.
Zach Stilwell didn’t give himself much room for improvement after a flawless season last year as a sophomore.
The Pleasant Grove High School left-handed pitcher was a perfect 7-0 last season as a first-year varsity player, including a shutout in the playoffs against Elk Grove.
Though this season’s numbers may not look so dramatic on paper in terms of record, Stilwell is proving to be an improved all-around player for the Eagles in his junior year.
The lefty has a 3-2 record with a 1.47 earned run average (ERA) and is holding opposing batters to a .193 average. He averages more than a strikeout per inning, with 30 punch-outs on the year in 28.2 innings.
He’s more than just a pitcher now too.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Stillwell is also second on the team in hitting, with a .362 batting average and a .415 on-base percentage. He plays first base when he doesn’t pitch.
“That’s the area where he has really improved,” said Pleasant Grove Head Coach Robert Rinaldi. “He’s really having a good season both on the mound and at the plate.”
The Eagles are 16-3 overall and 5-2 in league play so far this season.
“He has good command of all his pitches,” said Eagles assistant coach David Beaudin. “He has a good breaking pitch, hits 84-85 MPH but hits his spots and changes speed well with his curveball and changeup.”
Though his coaches describe him as a quiet leader, they say Stillwell has plenty of confidence. Patch.com chatted with the 16-year-old about his season so far and looking ahead.
What type of pitcher would you say you are?
I am more of a command guy. I hit my spots really well.
How many different pitches do you throw and what are they?
Fastball, changeup, and two types of a curve - a cutter and curveball.
What’s it like to take that mound before each game?
Basically, the only thing I think is to keep the ball low and hit my spots. I don’t really get nervous; I am more excited to throw.
And how good does it feel to shut a team down?
It feels real good. I know when all my stuff is working, it’s hard to describe but it feels really, really good.
Are there any Major League pitchers who you most model your style from?
No, I actually don’t try to be like anyone else. I like to do my own thing. I don’t really like to copy another pitcher.
Has anyone ever compared you to anyone else?
Um, not that I know of.
How did you learn how to pitch?
When I was five, my Grandpa kind of showed me the basic motion of pitching. I never really had a pitching coach; it just kind of came naturally.
Unfortunately, you’ve had losses in both of your last two starts. What needs to change?
It’s not that I did bad, I actually did really well. But the other pitcher just shut our team down, we couldn’t score runs. I worked through it and kept pitching my game.
Your hitting has improved greatly this season, what has changed?
Last year as a sophomore I only got five at-bats and didn’t play first base. I just kept working on it and this season my bat just got hot. I hit every day in the cages, practice and my bat has been doing really well.
Would you rather throw a no-hitter or have a three-homer game?
Definitely a no-hitter.
What do you like to do outside of sports?
I just like being a kid, hanging out with friends. Just a regular kid – skate, snowboard or wakeboard.
Coaches describe you as a quiet leader. Is that accurate or are you just quiet in baseball?
Yeah that’s pretty accurate. I don’t like being a loud leader because I feel like the team should be shown how to do things, not told. I believe in leading by example.
What are your personal goals for this season?
I was trying to go undefeated again, though that didn’t work out. I am trying to keep my ERA below 1.00 and have no more losses for the rest of the season.
What are your goals for the team?
Sections. Definitely to win sections.
What’s it going to take to do that?
I’m trying my best to get our team together and to buy into what we need to do.
What are your future goals in baseball?
Every kid’s dream: to go pro. Obviously it will take a lot of hard work; hopefully another great season next year and I’ll need to get my velocity up.
If I don’t end up in the draft out of high school, I probably will end up going to college, either four years to a Div. I school or to a junior college. I haven’t really thought about that much.