Clark’s Mysiewicz boasts big bat, slick glove

Updated: June 3, 2011 9:39PM

Chad Mysiewicz’s teammates get a chuckle when he stands next to one of the coaches on the Clark baseball team.

With a couple days worth of beard scruff on his face, Mysiewicz looks as if he could actually be one of the coaches.

“He’s got that older look,” Clark coach Chris Moore said. “And he’s bigger than a lot of the guys on the team. He fits right in with the coaches. All the guys on the team kind of get on him and joke about it.”

And considering how well Mysiewicz’s senior season has gone with the Pioneers, opponents probably wish he was a member of the coaching staff. Because as Clark’s cleanup hitter, Mysiewicz has been an absolute nightmare for opposing pitchers.

The right-handed Mysiewicz is batting a nearly unfathomable .557 heading into Saturday’s Class 3A Plymouth Regional. In 79 official at-bats, he has 44 hits.

“All the hard work and extra batting practice is paying off,” Mysiewicz said. “I just go up there and wait for my pitch. You don’t want to go to the plate and start swinging at everything.”

As the season wore on, Mysiewicz said pitchers began to realize the danger of serving him a fastball across the middle portion of the plate. He has 10 doubles, four triples (Clark’s home field has no outfield fence) and a homer to go along with 30 RBI.

“They’re throwing me more curveballs on the outside of the plate,” Mysiewicz said. “And I’m getting more walks now.”

Mysiewicz batted fifth last year in helping Clark to a third straight sectional title, before making it four straight this year.

“He’s a big kid,” Moore said. “He doesn’t hit too many home runs, but he hits a lot of balls to the gap. He stays with the ball. It’s a credit to his work in the offseason, taking swings in the cage inside the gym. It’s working out for him, and he’s hitting very well this year.”

But Moore is equally impressed with Mysiewicz’s play at first base.

“What really doesn’t make the box score is his defensive play,” Moore said. “He’s a tremendous defensive player. I think I have him down for two errors this season, and one was kind of a fluke popup he lost at our windy field.

“He makes every play. He’s very good at getting the ball out of the dirt, and he usually has good wherewithal to come off the bag.”

Mysiewicz said he just wants to keep the runner from advancing if a throw is off line. It’s as simple as that.

“I work on my scoops,” Mysiewicz said. “I’ve learned how to block the ball and keep it in front of me. It’s saved a couple runs.”

And that could come in handy anytime, especially the postseason. Clark (21-9) meets Mishawaka Marian (23-7) in the first semifinal Saturday at Plymouth. The Pioneers are trying for their first regional title since 2006.

“This has been a fun year,” Mysiewicz said. “As long as we keep our heads on straight, we’ll be fine.”

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