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Bunch's talent is emerging
By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer CRYSTAL RIVER -- William Bunch began throwing a baseball when he was 3. Perhaps that explains why his motion is so effortless, his arm so strong and his location so precise. "I've been pitching all my life," Bunch said. But only now has he come into his own. The Crystal River junior, on a staff with six quality pitchers, including area ace Jimmy Metz, might be the most talented of the group. In recent weeks, Bunch has dominated a state-ranked team, no-hit a county rival and held a Class 5A power in check with a high-powered fastball and an assortment of breaking balls. "William always had great talent," Pirates coach Brent Hall said. "But he has matured a great deal this year. He really developed as the season went on." Although Hall said Bunch had the ability to play varsity in 2001, the right-hander was placed on the junior varsity to fine-tune his skills. He responded by going unbeaten. "I wanted to make sure he learned all the little things," Hall said. The plan worked. Because Crystal River returned four of its top six pitchers from last year and added a transfer (Metz), Bunch's playing time was limited early in the season. But in a 7-6 loss to state-ranked Jacksonville Trinity Christian on March 16, he replaced starter Clayton Trenary in the fifth and allowed one hit in three innings. "I was a little nervous at first, but after I started throwing, I figured I could do it," Bunch said. "That built my confidence up a lot. I knew they were a good club. If I could pitch that good against them, I could probably pitch good against all teams." Three weeks later, Bunch no-hit Lecanto. "The way he pitched (against Trinity Christian) showed he could pitch in front of a big crowd, against a good, hard-hitting team," Hall said. "He controlled them." Bunch will start tonight (against the Citrus-Hernando winner) in the Class 3A, District 6 Tournament or in Thursday's final if Crystal River advances. He is 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 42 strikeouts (8 walks) in 28 innings. Bunch's loss came after firing 22/3 innings of one-hit ball last week against Gainesville Buchholz. He allowed two unearned runs. Bunch's fastball regularly is clocked in the mid-80s. He also throws a curve, slider and change-up. "The fastball is his strength," Hall said. "For a young man to throw with that velocity is not that common. He definitely throws as hard as anybody on the team. And his breaking ball is what's devastating. He's got a curve and a slider that both move so much. He has the ability to freeze hitters. "William already has professional scouts looking at him. He has the most potential to make it to the big leagues of anybody in our program." Hall wants Bunch to become stronger and better conditioned in the offseason. "The next 6-8 months are going decide whether he's going to be a small college player or a pro player," the coach said. Bunch would prefer the latter. "That's what I want," Bunch said. "That's what I've always wanted."
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