Published: July 02, 2008 11:31 pm            

MIKE MASTOVICH | Well worth the wait for 20-year-old player

Zack Martin joined the AAABA League a year later than GMI Renegades manager Roland Black had hoped he would.

But the Renegades outfielder-first baseman quickly made an impression on Black and the rest of the league.

Entering this week, Martin, who recently turned 20, led multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.390) and RBIs (17). He’s also tied for the lead with one homer in a league that has lacked a true home-run presence.

“Zack’s tenacity makes him a great player,” Black said after Martin scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over first-place Martella’s Pharmacy on Tuesday night at Point Stadium. “He’s been a student of the game since he was a little child. His swing is perfect. He has an absolute perfect swing. There’s nothing wrong with it.

“He’s on the ball, hitting hard line drives. He should have double the number of hits but he has so many line drives right at people. He’s always on the ball.”

A clean-up batter, Martin had 23 hits entering this week’s action. The junior at John Carroll University was on Black’s recruiting list last season but he instead opted to complete his American Legion career with West Hempfield near his hometown of Irwin, Westmoreland County.

“Coach Black contacted me last year but I declined because I felt obligated to my prior coach,” Martin said. “Coach Black called me again this year and I said I’d come out and play.”

Martin had a .500 on-base percentage and .525 slugging percentage in the first 20 games. The left-handed hitter only struck out three times in 59 at-bats.

“I’ve been really patient at the plate, waiting for my pitch and not trying to do too much,” Martin said. “I’m willing to hit the ball the other way, and that’s helped a lot too. I’m not trying to pull everything. I take what they give me.”

He’s made up for the time he missed last season.

“I like this league,” Martin said. “It’s a fun league to play in. It’s an awesome environment. This stadium is gorgeous. It’s a lot of fun to come out and play every day.”

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Zeroes: Renegades pitcher Eric Bruno tossed a one-hit shutout on Tuesday against league-leading Martella’s. Bruno hasn’t allowed an earned run in 301⁄3 innings in six games.

He has 45 strikeouts and 15 walks.

“I mostly just used fastballs because I had a little bit of control problems (Tuesday),” Bruno said after improving to 3-1 with one save. “I just geared up and threw it with two strikes. My arm felt pretty decent. I knew if I could throw strikes I’d be all right. For the most part, I threw strikes.”

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Over the wall: Finally, a AAABA League player cleared the left-center field wall at Point Stadium this season.

MCS Bulldogs first baseman Mark Saxman launched a solo shot across Johns Street in a 3-2 loss to Principle Development on Tuesday. That was the first homer hit over a wall or fence at the Point this AAABA League season.

But it’s worth noting that 14-year-old City Pony League player Justin Gdula of the Boilers put one out during a June 1 game at the Point. Like Saxman, Gdula sent his shot to the right of the Big Screen Monster in left-center (near the 336-foot sign). While it’s difficult to confirm, Gdula might be the youngest player to hit one out of the Point. He had eight homers through last week’s Pony games as well as a .481 batting average and 29 RBIs.



Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.

        

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