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EAsTUTE —1
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Making His Pitch
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Steve Stein
I Contributing Writer
ach Oshinsky's pitching
style can best be described
as crafty.
"I'm not overpowering, but I like
to think I have good control, and
I do a good job adjusting to game
situations!' the West Bloomfield
High School senior said.
West Bloomfield baseball coach
Eric Pierce is happy to have the
southpaw standout on his mound
staff for a simple reason.
"When we need strikes and outs
at any time, we can go to Zach," he
said.
"He knows his abilities. He
pitches to contact and he's a smart
pitcher. Every pitch has a purpose
And that makes him a good team-
mate, Pierce said.
"Zach understands what the game
is all about and what he can do to help
his team!' he said.
Oshinsky will continue his role as a
starter and reliever this spring in his
third season at West Bloomfield.
Because of a solid core of seniors
and the addition of Central Michigan
University recruit Dazon Cole, a
transfer from Pontiac, the Lakers are
expected to make waves after going
16-16 and 18-11 the last two years and
losing to Birmingham Brother Rice in
pre-district games.
Oshinsky also has made a college
commitment for baseball.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder will be
heading to Grand Rapids Community
College, which has one of the nation's
top junior college baseball programs.
"I'm glad that weight is off my
shoulders!' Oshinsky said about his
college decision. "I won't have to keep
scrambling to find the right place for
me
He feels Grand Rapids CC will be
the perfect spot to continue to pursue
his dream of pitching at a Division I
university.
"I need to develop both as a pitcher
and academically and get stronger
physically!' he said.
Pierce agrees that Grand Rapids CC
is a good fit for Oshinsky.
"Zach isn't a hard-throwing pitcher,
which makes it tough for him to get
looks right now from big universities!'
he said. "He needs a place where he
can continue to pitch"
Mike Cupples is the coach at Grand
Rapids CC.
He led the club to its fifth national
championship in 10 years in 2005 and
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has since been runner-up in 2006,
fourth place in 2008 and 10th place in
2012 in the national tournament.
Oshinsky has an interesting middle
name. It's Maddux, as in star pitcher
Greg Maddux, who will be inducted
into the National Baseball Hall of
Fame this summer.
"My dad (Steve) met Greg Maddux
at spring training several years
ago and became friends with him!'
Oshinsky said. "We're going to
Cooperstown to see his induction!'
Oshinsky, 17, pitches a lot like
Maddux, who frustrated batters for
22 seasons with his pinpoint control,
ability to make the right pitch at the
right time and paint the corners of the
plate.
"But I don't compare myself to
him!' Oshinsky said. "That's kind of a
cliche!'
Plus, Maddux was a starter.
Oshinsky likes starting, but he readily
admits he loves being a closer.
Oshinsky has played a lot of sports
competitively including football, bas-
ketball and hockey. He said he decided
last year to focus entirely on baseball
because it was his best sport.
"And time was running out if I
wanted to play college ball!' he said.
Besides playing baseball in high
school, Oshinsky works with former
collegiate and minor league pitcher
Brad Mumma, a pitching coach, "who
is teaching me to think like a pitcher
and carry myself like a pitcher!'
He's played on travel baseball teams
since he was 8 including the last few
years with the Michigan Marlins, a
team his father coaches.
"Zach works at pitching 365 days
a year. He doesn't take any days off!'
Steve Oshinsky said.
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January 23 • 2014
45