With all the attention given to the starting pitchers and the batting order, it is easy to forget how important Loyola’s bullpen is to the baseball team’s success.
At the core of Loyola’s pitching staff are the three regular starters marketing senior Mike Kelly, management junior Taylor Domengeaux and general studies business sophomore George Smith. However, with a 48-game regular season schedule and conference tournament games to be played sometimes pitchers who normally come out of the bullpen will have to start providing the starters with some rest.
“We have a few guys that can bridge the gap between starters,” said closing pitcher and psychology senior Kevin Fontenot.
Alex Wolf, accounting sophomore is one of the pitchers used for this job. Wolf, who started regularly last season, has more often come into games as a reliever this season, but is available to make the occasional start. Though he has two distinct roles on the pitching staff, Wolf said that his strategy is the same whenever he takes the mound.
“I don’t really do anything differently,” he said. Wolf also pointed out that the main difference between starting and being in the bullpen is that relievers inherit the situation of the previous pitcher. “A lot of times you’re coming into a ball game with men on base and you’re trying to keep your team in the game,” he said.
Though Wolf has been one of the stronger pitchers in the bullpen, he is waiting to be medically cleared after getting hit in the head with a line drive in a game against Faulkner. Wolf said that he is experiencing some after affects from the ball hit him.
“I’ve been having a few minor headaches and I’ve got some fluid built up behind my ear drum that’s probably causing the headaches,” he said. Wolf went on to say that the injury is not severe enough for him to miss much time, and he is hopeful to be cleared to practice by Friday, March 26.
Along with Wolf, there are other relievers that have pitched well this season. “Trey Campeaux has been doing really well for us,” said Fontenot. Fontenot also gave praise to Joey Pajares, general studies business freshman, who is one of the most heavily relied-on freshman on Loyola’s roster with 16.2 innings pitched, leading freshman pitchers.
Another first year pitcher making an impact is marketing junior and transfer student Carl Labit. “He’ll give you every ounce of energy he’s got out there. He won’t ever give in,” Fontenot said.
While the bullpen has its bright spots, they have also been shaky at times. “Our bullpen is starting to step it up. They didn’t do their job against Shreveport like they should have but they know that,” said Fontenot.
“The bullpen has been just about the same as the rest of the team. We’ve been inconsistent,” Wolf said.
As pitchers like Wolf, Pajares, Campeaux and Labit take care of the middle innings, it is Kevin Fontenot’s job to close out the end of games as opposing batters take their last at-bats.
“I love closing,” Fontenot said. “I revel in the high pressure situations.”
Fontenot will primarily come into games to get the save. When he is not coming into games with the lead he will also be brought in to stop the opposition from taking the lead if the game is already tied.
Because situations like this can be few and far between, Fontenot has gotten used to going weeks without seeing any in game action.
“I don’t feel like I get rusty. Either I have good stuff or I don’t,” he said. Loyola hopes that he will have the “good stuff” as he will be instrumental in helping them win close games.
The bullpen will try to get back on track as the Wolfpack takes on NCAA D III team Birmingham Southern on the road for a two game series starting March 30.
Hasani Grayson can be reached [email protected]
