'Goofy' Podeszwa among best closers in NECBL

Groton — Connor Podeszwa has a closer’s personality.

He’s a bit goofy.

He’s also a bulldog.

That combination, along with an effective pitching repertoire, has helped the Mystic Schooners right-hander become one of the best closers in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL).

The Gatorade Connecticut Baseball Player of the Year during his Waterford High School days, Podeszwa entered Wednesday’s action with a team-best five saves.

“First of all, he’s goofy, which helps as an end-of-the-game type of guy,” Mystic manager Phil Orbe said before Wednesday’s game at Fitch High School, a 3-1 loss to the Ocean State Waves. “So pressure doesn’t get to him. But he’s got some bulldog in him. Who would have thought a kid from Waterford has some bulldog in him? I say that sarcastically.

“But he does have some bulldog in him where he does go at people.”

Podeszwa, who’s in his second stint with the Schooners, started off the summer season as a starter before moving into the bullpen to fill a need at closer.

Podeszwa quickly developed into a shut-down reliever.

In eight appearances in relief for the Schooners, he hasn’t allowed a run and only two hits while walking two and striking out five in 7.2 innings.

Overall, he’s tied for first on the team in appearances with 11. He has a 1-1 record with a 3.00 earned run average.

“I knew he was very versatile so we put him into the ’pen,” Orbe said. “And he’s flourished since. It also fits his personality and his approach. He’s such a great energy guy for us. He’s one of the first guys that we asked back for this coming summer last August, just knowing what type of kid he is. He comes from an outstanding local family that I’ve known for a long time.”

Podeszwa achieved NECBL All-Star status for the first time.

And he proved that he belonged.

Podeszwa, who plays for Division III Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, sparkled on the All-Star stage Sunday at Muzzy Field in Bristol. He pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save, allowing one hit and striking out one in the East team’s 3-0 win over the West.

“That was awesome,” Podeszwa said. “Muzzy Field is awesome. I got to play there a couple of times in high school. The atmosphere was crazy.”

While Podeszwa doesn’t have blow-you-away-stuff, he does have get-you-out stuff.

His fastball hits as high as the low 90s. He locates the ball well and has the ability to adjust on the fly, an important quality. He’s revamped his arsenal this summer, throwing a true four-seam and a true sinker. He’s also learning how to pitch without his breaking ball, which he’s heavily leaned on in the past.

But he’s still the same fun-loving guy who switches into his serious closer’s mode when coming into the game.

“As soon as I get on the mound, I’m all business,” Podeszwa said. “I bring a lot of energy. And coach Orbe pointed that out, that I really shoot a jolt of energy into the lineup in the field. That’s pretty suitable for a closer’s role.”

And he’s having a blast doing it and also playing for the Schooners (20-17), who are in contention to earn a postseason berth..

“I love this team and I love our culture,” Podeszwa said. “It’s unique with summer ball. We’re all pretty close-knit and we’re ready to make a playoff push.”

He’s not only been a valuable closer. He’s also been a reliable setup man, but not in the way that you think.

Podeszwa and fellow Schooner and Waterford graduate Dan Driscoll, who attends Eastern Connecticut State University, are working as interns for Mystic’s grounds crew.

They regularly arrive before home games to prepare the field at Fitch, the home of the Schooners. And they also work after games.

“They’ve done a really, really good job,” Orbe said. “Sometimes that goes unnoticed. It’s been a good experience for both the organization and them. I think he likes the idea of being able to boss people around, telling people to grab a rake or get on the tractor, things like that.”

Podeszwa learned his grounds crew skills from his father Chris, an assistant coach at UConn and former assistant in the Cape Cod League.

“The best field is like a child, you’ve got to have 24-7 care to make sure it’s good,” Podeszwa said. “I watched my dad do it on the Cape for 17 years.”

g.keefe@theday.com