The art of deception

Hessler impresses with trickery, talent

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo laurie dewitt⁄the gazette Springbrook pitcher Keith Hessler is the classic crafty left-hander, leading to his selection to Team Maryland for this week’s Sunbelt Classic in Norman, Okla.

‘‘Since I don’t really know their strengths and weaknesses, I try to keep them off-balance,” Hessler said. ‘‘I go inside and out and try to change eye level and change speed. I’m throwing a fastball, a change-up and a curveball, and I’m working on a slider.

‘‘I feel comfortable throwing the ball in the dirt and I’m good enough to throw any pitch in any count. Most guys are looking for first-pitch fastball, so I start them with off-speed pitches and then come back with a fastball. You can’t start every batter with a fastball. You have to mix up your first pitch.”

Hessler’s mixture of an upper-80s fastball along with some sharp off-speed pitches has transformed the left-hander into one of the most accomplished high-school pitchers in Maryland the last two seasons and helped lead to his selection to Team Maryland, a collection of some of the state’s best players for play in this week’s 30th annual Sunbelt Classic in Norman, Okla.

‘‘I can’t wait to get out there,” Hessler said. ‘‘It’s going to be a great time with great competition. I’m looking forward to it.”

Hessler joins 19 other players, who were selected by a group of coaches during play in the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Classic, which pits the top players from each region (East, West, North, South) against each other in game competition in May. Hessler was the only Montgomery County player selected for Team Maryland. Last year, five county players were chosen.

Team Maryland will compete against all-star teams from Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, California, Arizona, Florida and Ohio. Last year’s squad compiled a 4-4 record to finish in fifth place.

Team Maryland was to begin competition Tuesday with a doubleheader against Oklahoma and California. It will then compete against Florida and Texas Wednesday and face Ohio Thursday. Friday’s action consists of a doubleheader with Georgia and Arizona. Saturday’s opponent will depend on how Team Maryland fared throughout the week.

‘‘I know there are 12 guys [on Team Maryland] who can actually pitch,” Hessler said. ‘‘I don’t mind either role [starter or reliever]. I’ve done both. I’ve generally been a starter in high school, but I do both in the summer [for the Maryland Patriots, a travel baseball team]. I don’t mind coming in later in the game. You get to see what the hitters are doing.”

As mainly a starter at Springbrook the last two years, Hessler has compiled a combined 10-5 record with 174 strikeouts in about 100 innings of work. He went 5-1 with a save, 96 strikeouts and a 1.51 earned-run average as a junior and followed with a 5-4 mark, a 2.42 ERA and 78 strikeouts this spring.

The greater number of losses this season had a lot to do with Springbrook’s struggles in the field, including during the team’s 10-3 playoff loss to Thomas Johnson. Hessler struck out seven and allowed just two earned runs, but the Blue Devils were plagued by numerous errors.

‘‘As an Oriole scout, high-school coach and the Team Maryland pitching coach for the past 10 years, I’d say he looks very polished,” Team Maryland pitching coach Fred Kreiger said. ‘‘He knows how to pitch and obviously he’s left-handed. That’s a big plus. He looks pretty composed.

‘‘He looks like a prospect to me. I see him as being a starter, but he’s a junior and generally what we try to do is give the seniors a chance to start. He’s a guy who will certainly get a lot of action.”