Slippery Rock already had pushed a run across in the sixth inning to break a 0-0 tie with Cal (Pa.) and was threatening to add on. The Rock had men on second and third with two outs when Cal coach Mike Conte summoned freshman Colin Watson from the bullpen.
Riding on Watson’s young arm was more than just the outcome of the game. The Vulcans were trying to stay in line for a high playoff seed in the PSAC West, and every victory would be crucial.
The Plum grad was up to the challenge. On a 2-1 count, he got Slippery Rock’s Clay Wiesen to hit a harmless pop foul to the first-base side, where Colin Patterson secured it for the third out.
Cal went on to win the game 2-1 in 10 innings.
“I was just trying to fill the strike zone up and let him put it in play,” Watson said. “I’m confident in my fielders behind me to make the play.”
Suffice it to say Watson’s fielders have grown in confidence with his abilities. In 11 regular-season appearances covering 14 2/3 innings, Watson went 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA and did not give up a homer. After allowing a pair of runs to Tiffin in a nonconference game March 3, he didn’t yield an earned run in his final nine appearances (11 innings).
The two against Tiffin are the only earned runs he has given up this season.
“Aside from his physical talent — and he is physically gifted — he is very mature, very hard-working and very willing to learn,” said Cal coach Mike Conte, in his 29th season at the helm. “I think he’s able to throw multiple pitches for strikes on a downhill plane.”
Watson’s arsenal is pretty standard: fastball, curveball, changeup, slider. And he isn’t blowing away the opposition, recording only six strikeouts. Instead, he pitches to contact using a lot of backspin generated from his over-the-top throwing motion.
He said he has worked to improve his changeup and slider to complement his other pitches. That, he said, was a must if he wanted to be successful at the college level.
As far as how he has handled being put into some high-leverage situations so early in his college career, Watson said he simply draws on experience from Plum. Playing against Class 5A and 6A competition — and facing a lot of college-bound hitters in the process — helped prepare him.
“I’ve just been going back to my roots and taking deep breaths and always knowing (I’m) here for a reason,” he said. “Everyone trusts you, so just go out there and do what you’ve always done.”
Watson also has benefited from a talented group of veteran pitchers around him. Starters Roman Gill (5-2, 1.77 ERA) and Mike Valente (10-0, 2.31 ERA) and closer Jake Kramer (10 saves, 2.20 ERA), Watson said, have helped him in his development.
Working with them and picking their brains during the fall and winter, Watson said, gave him a good foundation for his current success. Conte said Watson has played an equally important role by being a teachable student.
“Coach (Joey) Noro does a great job with the pitching staff,” Conte said. “He lays the plan out for the pitchers, and Colin has followed it and grown from it.”
While Conte couldn’t say how Watson’s role might change in the next couple of seasons, he is confident the young righty will continue to take steps forward. In the meantime, Watson would like to add a PSAC championship to his strong freshman season.
The Vulcans earned the PSAC West’s No. 2 seed after going 19-8 (34-11) in the regular season.
“I think if we just stick to what we’ve been doing all year and stay on that consistent plane through the ups and downs,” he said, “I think we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
Chuck Curti is a TribLive copy editor and reporter who covers district colleges. A lifelong resident of the Pittsburgh area, he came to the Trib in 2012 after spending nearly 15 years at the Beaver County Times, where he earned two national honors from the Associated Press Sports Editors. He can be reached at [email protected].
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Categories: District College | Sports