The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, March 28, 2014 - 7 In Maezes, Wolverines have new leader sho ft Sophomore rtstop the spark or Wolverines By ZACH SHAW Daily Sports Writer ndiana pitcher Christian Morris stepped up to the mound and gazed at his opponent strolling to the plate. The 6-foot, 190-pound figure 60 feet away was as cool as the March Midwestern air around them. Travis Maezes swung his bat around himlike a toy, hisstill face treating every movement with the same precision and care as the last. A calm confidence sets in as Maezes digs into the left-handed batter's box. For the sophomore, the confidence has always come easily. No matter what sport he tried growingup, he couldn't lose. Today, that sport is baseball, and as Michigan's man, it was on his shoulders to prevent Michigan from losing a third straight game and falling to 0-3 in the Big Ten. The 0-1 pitch by Morris came in low and away. But Maezes made solid contact and shot the ball into the Hoosiers' bright new turf at Bart Kaufman Field. As the ball bounced high into the air, Maezes took off. The former hockey player glided down the line, touching the "He's' bag before the ball even been a c reached the shortstop. kid. F Within seconds, alwan Maezes' job as leadoff man the rig] was done. Energizing his hab teammates and getting on base, the sophomore helped pave the way for other Wolverines. After mustering just five hits the previous game, Michigan posted three in the first inning, allowing Maezes to score the opening run. Like with many leaders, the progressofthe Michiganbaseball team mirrors the progress of Maezes. Using the momentum of a freshman year full of potential, the sophomore is looking to take the reins from former outfielder PatrickBiondiastheteam'sleader and sparkplug. Michigan's latest leader is looking to use natural ability and a lifetime of athletic intensity to deliver the program's 36th Big Ten Championship. And possibly beyond. "He's going to play this game for a long time," Bakich said. "But for him, the best thing he can do now is be in our leadoff spot and be our sparkplug and our catalyst and get on base. When he can get on base, he can get things in motion and make things happen." Kids who grow up in Ann Arbor often dream of one day competing for Michigan. Whether it's high-stepping into the end zone at Michigan Stadium or stopping a slap shot beneath the cathedral lighting of Yost Ice Arena, the allure of donning maize and blue can be as strong as any. Livinglessthantwomilesfrom Michigan Stadium, Maezes was one of those children. But as a member of always the Michigan baseball team, 'onfident his fate strayed from the initial le has goal. "I can ys had honestly say that baseball ;ht work was definitely second )its. growing up," Maezes said. "I was into hockey. I played baseball over the summer, but I felt like hockey was my sport and always came first." As the years went on, it looked like Maezes' commitment to hockey would pay off. Playing for elite Triple-A youth hockey team Compuware and for Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, Maezes began drawing attention from colleges for his play on the ice. After a promising freshman season, Maezes' name began popping online as' a potential candidate for the U.S. National Team Development Program. But in the fall of his sophomore year, an ankle injury wiped out his season. Unable to sit still, Maezes turned to a different sport to keep busy. "I started hearing from schools for hockey and baseball," Maezes said. "I had to pick which route I wanted to take. Sophomore year, I needed surgery on my ankle that took me out of the entire hockey season. I couldn't go skate, but I was able to go hit, so I did that and baseball kind of took over from there." Once focused solely on ALLISON FARRAND/Daily baseball, Maezes began to Sophomore shortstop Travis Maezes could have been a hockey player, but his path to baseball led him to Michigan. shine brighter on the diamond. The Pioneers won the state last year. A summer in Ann Arbor dispute that hand in hand. Now *** championship in Maezes' first spent rehabbing and training has he's become more of a voice, year as captain. put Maezes in position to change whereas he didn't have to be the s Indiana pitcher Chris- The following two seasons, that. voice last year. Now he's one of tian Morris stepped up Maezes was named first-team the guys who's speaking up and to the mound again, all-state while his potential made *** talking on the field and directing and once more gazed at his him the consensus No. 1 prospect traffic and showing others how opponent strolling to the plate. in Michigan, drawing attention n paper, the young to do it." Again, Maezes swung his bat as far east as Maryland, where 2014 season doesn't As the team enters Big Ten around him like a toy, his face Bakich was then coaching. look much different play seeking its 36th title, with the same precision, same "Everyone recruited Travis," from 2013. Maezes' average has Maezes will have to be at his focus and care as the last. Bakich said. "He was a national climbed to .322, but the rest best each day. Already lauded Michigan was down 2-1to the recruit and a great player. He's of his numbers are consistent by scouts for his abilities to Hoosiers with two outs in the one of the fiercest competitors with this point last year. Yet, throw, run, hit and field at a fourth this time. A bloop single, I've ever coached, and he's an since moving to the leadoff spot, professional level, Maezes will Indiana throwing error and hit- extremely aggressive kid - a Maezes has only further estab- one day eye the big leagues. But by-pitch had loaded the bases, hockey player with a hockey lished himself as the leader of for now, Maezes - ineligible and Maezes was looking to come player's mindset. He is full-speed, the team. for the draft until the end of his through for his team with a 2-0 full-tilt, 100 percent all of the "He's always been a confident junior year - is focusing instead pitch on the way. time, every day. Practice, games kid," Bakich said. "He has on leading his teammates and With the same smooth, - doesn't matter." always been an aggressive kid, being a sparkplug for success to confident swing, he did just that. During his first year at he has always had the right work come. This time, he pulled a careful Michigan, Maezes refused to habits, but where he has turned "He's staying in the moment, pitch on the inside corner down slow down. Starting at shortstop the corner is not just his ability focusing on the process of, how the right-field line, sailing past for all 56 games, Maezes hit .313 to lead by example and play is he going to get better today?" the right fielder for a bases- with 44 RBI and stole 16 bases in hard, but to inspire other people Bakich said. "What is he going to clearing double. 2013, good enough to be named to play better than they are. His do to get better today? Because With two celebratory to the Big Ten and Louisville work ethic is contagious. he'snevergoingtogettodayback. claps and a hand signal to the Slugger All-American freshman "The younger guys feed off And by doing that and getting Michigan dugout, Maezes made teams. that, and even the older guys better everyday, championships, one thing clear: This is his team But the number that sticks out see it. Anytime you see a guy getting All-American, getting now, and after a lifetime of most to Maezes is 0-2, Michigan's work extremely hard and have drafted and getting into the big athletics, Travis Maezes is more record in the BigTen Tournament positive results, it's hard to leagues, that stuff will happen." than ready to take control. RUBINSTEIN From Page 6 pressure on the defense when you strike out and don't put the ball in play. We know it's a prob- from off-season labrum sur- lem; it's not going to continue to gery? How would the outfield bea problem." rebound after losing Michael Bakich consistently points O'Neill and Patrick Biondi to the out that he doesn't look at bat- MLB minor leagues? ting average as an indicator Early on, the concerns were of his players' hitting ability. justified. The team struggled to Rather, he looks to quality at-bat definitively answer any of the percentage, which gives players above questions and lost virtu- credit for hard-hit balls, seeing ally every close game. Now, just more than eight pitches with short of the season's midpoint, two strikes and a bunt for a hit, Michigan has played in 12 one- among other things. run games and lost nine. Quality at-bat percentages The mar- above 50 per- gins have been cent tend to close, sure, lead to wins. and this record "These guys are Right now, could be vastly Michigan's different. ready to start quality at-bat In their percentage is opening playing a really between 45 weekend, the and 46 per- Wolverines good style of cent, which blew early is just below leads against baseball here." where Bakich Texas State, wants to be. Washington But the stat and Houston. doesn't mat- Blame for those losses landed on ter when an opposing pitcher the bullpen, which wasn't at full racks up 15 strikeouts, while strength and relied heavily on conceding just two hits. Regard- freshmen. less, Michigan needs an answer "Figuring out the roles in the on offense, and the batting- bullpen was certainly a process average cover-up isn't doing it that we didn't have nailed down any good. going into the season," said To its credit, Michigan has Michigan coach Erik Bakich. squeaked out a few tough victo- Cronenworth was sorely ries against solid opponents. To missed, but now has five saves, begin, look back no further than a win and a 0.96 ERA in six the Wolverines' win against appearances since his return. Indiana. But as the pitching strength- The Hoosiers are a favorite to ened, the bats became anemic. win the Big Ten, and this could After a strong start to the season be the win Michigan has been offensively, the Wolverines are looking for all season: It showed currently batting .242, good for that the Wolverines can compete second to last in the Big Ten. with anyone. Even so, Bakich is still primar- And even though Indiana ily concerned with the team's edged the Wolverines, 5-3, Fri- strikeout rate, rather than bat- day night, the Wolverines tallied ting average. three runs against the Big Ten's "We lead the Big Ten in best pitcher, Joey DeNato, who strikeouts; well that's not shock- held a three-year ERA of 2.90 ing," Bakich said. "We're going before the season. to have to make an adjustment "I think some guys who have because it's just too many easy really been struggling offensive- outs for the defense. That's no ly probably look at conference play as a new beginning," Bakich said. "But if they weren't really struggling offensively, then they wouldn't say that. I think that's pretty normal." In the Indiana series, Michi- gan showed it has what it needs to contend. It's all about piec- ing the puzzle together, which for the Wolverines may finally be solved after all. Maybe all it needed was a fresh start, or the Big Ten season. Michigan's freshmen have gotten valuable road-playing experience, with 24 of 25 games being away - the youth jitters are gone. The bats have shown to be effective against the best of the best. And with the heart of Big Ten season looming, there's no time for excuses. After all, Bakich defines success asa Big Ten title. Anything less is a mere improve- ment. The Wolverines can't play sloppy baseball anymore. "We know that we haven't caught any breaks," Bakich said. "I think these guys are ready to start playing a really good style of baseball here, and hopefully we can make it last as long as we possibly can." It's time to show it. STAFF PICKS The Daily baseball beat writers do their best to predict what will happen in the world of college baseball this season. MICHIGAN From Page 6 rounded player on the Michigan roster is sophomore shortstop Travis Maezes, whose average has been sitting in the low .300s for much of the year but has undergone a recent uptick. The lefty showed power when he pounded two home runs in the same day against the College of Charleston. With a tremendously young infield, senior catcher Cole Mar- tin provides a breath of leadership where it's most desperately need- ed. Perhaps his greatest strength this season has been durability. Multiple times, Martin has held his post behind the plate for three or four games in a weekend - a physical toughness that not all catchers can offer. Though he is putting up a miserable .176 batting average, his worth is well-covered by his defense and leadership. Two other offensive forces reside at first base in Jusick and junior Kendall Patrick. The duo usually fills the four and five holes in the batting order, with one or the other at designated hitter. Patrick has two home runs on the season - one of just three players on the team to hit a single dinger this year. Starting Pitching The starting rotation has given a mixed bag of results so far this season. Many expected more stability from a rotation that returned every arm that started a game in the 2013 season, but that dependability is hit or miss. The group is led by fifth-year senior right-hander Ben Ballantine, who carries a 2.81 earned-run average through six starts this season and has tentatively been named the team's ace. Ballantine's ERA was among the best in the Big Ten until his start Friday against the Hoosiers, when he was roughed up for three runs in 1.2 innings pitched. The combination of sophomore left-hander Evan Hill and junior left-hander Trent Szkutnik have combined for a shaky tail-end to the weekend rotation. Though they only have one combined win, their strikeout numbers are among the best in the Big Ten. Power pitching is one of the staff's goals, and these pitchers perfectly fill that role. Bullpen The story of the season so far has been the young bullpen's highs and lows. It's the area that the team lives and dies with - when playing in so many close games, having reliable arms in the late innings is key. Junior right-hander Donnie Eaton, senior right-hander Alex Lakatos, freshman right-hander Mac Lozer and freshman right- hander Keith Lehmann are pitchers who have emerged as being most dependable. Cronenworth acts as the closer and is considered one of the best in the country. Offseason labrum surgery kept him off the mound through the first few weeks of the season, but he has rebounded well enough to maintain an 0.96 ERA while racking up a Big Ten-best five saves. The veterans and the newcom- ers have a sense of optimism about the team and its future. Bakich's methods and style have meshed well with the Wolverines, by all accounts. Bakich is focused not only on this teams success but on the program's future. "The players are buying into the enthusiasm and the style that we bring," Bakich concluded. "Our program will have an identity, we don'thave an identity right now, but I think all great organizations know exactly what they stand for." Ben Fidelman Brad Whipple Jason Rubinstein Zach Shaw Michigan regular-season record 29-26-1 32-23-1 30-25-1 29-25-2 Big Ten record 13-1i 15-9 16-B 14-10 Big Ten Champion Indiana Indiana Indiana Nebraska Big TenTournament champion Ohio State Indiana Nebraska Nebraska Big Ten MVP Jake Mangler, Iowa Pat Kelly, Nebraska Kyle Schwarber, Indiana Schwarber Michigan Freshman of the Year Jackson Lamb, OF/RHP Lamb Lamb Lamb Big Ten sarprise team Ohio State Ohio State Iowa Iowa Michigan MVP Travis Maezes, SS Jacob Cronenworth, RH? Cronenwort aezes Michigan Offensive POY Kyle Jusick, O/DH Jackson Glines, OF Maezes Gines Michigan's season ends here Big Ten Tournament Final B1G Tournament 2nd Rd. B1G Tournament 2nd Rd. 81G Tournament 2nd Rd.