It shows, too. The senior catcher is the team's most consistent player at the plate.
By FRANK PASTOR
Published April 16, 2004
[Times photo: Kevin White]
Through 15 games, Kevin Brennan led the Bears with a .333 average.
BROOKSVILLE - By the time most of Kevin Brennan's teammates arrive at Central's field, the senior catcher already is there, playing long toss or sitting alone in the dugout, lost in thought.
But Brennan, who regularly arrives 15-20 minutes early to batting practice, is not daydreaming. He is sharpening his mental game.
"I'm mostly just thinking about the game and what I can do to help out the team," Brennan said.
Brennan's preparation pays off at the plate, where he is the Bears' most consistent hitter and run-producer.
"He just does a good job when he puts that uniform on knowing that it's baseball time, and he's able to focus," interim coach Dan Madril said. "He's not easily distracted."
A singles and doubles hitter, Brennan led the Bears with a .333 average, 14 hits and 10 runs batted in through 15 games. As his five RBIs in an 11-4 victory over Springstead indicate, no Central player has been better in the clutch.
Brennan credits his quiet time in the dugout.
"I think it helps a lot, because whenever I get up in those types of situations, I usually don't get nervous," he said. "I know I can hit, so I don't really get nervous and I just do what I can. If I get the runners in, then that's good. If not, then I keep it up. I never get down. There's ups and downs in the game."
There were more downs than ups for Brennan last year, when he batted .216 from the No. 7 spot in the order and lacked confidence in his first full varsity season.
But he raised his average more than 100 points after being moved up to the No. 3-5 spots and accepting more of a leadership role this season.
"I just have better confidence at the plate, I guess, because I'm a senior," Brennan said. "I feel I have to step up so I can't let the team down. We're a young team, so everybody's looking at the seniors to step up, so I kind of feel that I have to."
He's done it on offense and defense.
A good blocker and receiver who gets along well with his pitchers, Brennan compiled a .973 fielding percentage and team-high 105 putouts while catching every game this season. In 100 innings behind the plate, he allowed one passed ball.
If Brennan has a shortcoming, it's his throwing arm. Twenty-five of 29 runners (82 percent) have stolen against him this season.
Brennan has caught since age 8, when he played for West Hernando Little League. His father, Jack, put him behind the plate because nobody else wanted to play there.
"I just kind of got stuck there, and I've been catching my whole life," Brennan said.
He would like to catch next season, when he plans to try out for the Pasco-Hernando Community College team. But his size (5-feet-10) and arm strength could force a move to another position.
"If he wants to stay behind the plate, he's going to need to improve his times to second base, and that's going to come with some arm strength," said Madril, who previously coached at Saint Leo University.
"He's going to have to get a little stronger overall to be more productive at the plate numbers-wise. If he leaves the dish, he'll have to really have someone give him some instruction defensively on the infield positions - second base or third base or wherever it might be."
Brennan will try to improve his arm strength by playing long toss and spending more time in the weight room during the offseason. If it's still not enough, he said he'll gladly move out from behind the plate.
"I'll play anywhere," he said. "As long as I get to play, it doesn't bother me."
Wherever he plays, he'll be prepared.
- Frank Pastor can be reached at 800 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com
