When you steal something — and somebody knows it — there are usually consequences.
Not if you're Lakota's Chase Dussel. The senior might be the best thief of all time; he is in Ohio.
From sophomore season until last week, Dussel swiped 88 consecutive bags without ever being erased from the base path to establish a state record. It's difficult to do most anything 88 times in a row, especially when someone is trying to stop you.
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"When I'm on base, that's what I'm looking to do," he said. "Anything I can pick up on to snag a base. It helps the team when I advance without a hit, or even a ball in play. The two-three hitters have a chance for an RBI."
When you're a threat to advance a base or two without much help, if you get on, it's wise to craft a corresponding approach at the plate. Much to opponents' chagrin, he's drawn 25 walks.
"Seeing some pitches, whatever I can to get on base," he said. "I like to see pitches. If they walk me, it's a mistake to give me first base. My goal is to run all over the bases."
No fool, Dussel bats leadoff in coach Aaron Bomer's lineup. Even Coach gets excited when teams fail to keep Dussel in shackles, even though his leadoff screams 'I'm going.'
"Second to third, you're in awe," he said. "He's done that so many times, especially against lefties. It's amazing to watch."
Dussel has only paid the price for his burglar behavior on three occasions in his career. He avoided freshman mistakes with 15 steals in 15 tries his first season.
Hopewell-Loudon's Ashton Bour (third base) and Arcadia's Adam Emerich (second base) nabbed Dussel as a sophomore. He got away with it 88 straight times, until Mohawk's Lance Frankart threw him out at second base last week.
He was 17 for 19 swiping bags as a sophomore and never punished in 52 tries as a junior. He had 40 steals this season and 124 for his career is one steal shy of the top 10 all time in the state.
Dussel, who plays a rangy shortstop when not on the mound, scored 24 runs this season, with a .321 average. He holds the program record for single-season steals (52).
He stole six bases in one game last season and scored 43 runs for Lakota records, along with 115 runs for his career.
"He reads pitchers well and he gets great jumps," Bomer said. "He has phenomenal speed and good instincts. He figures out when a pitcher is leaning. He's competitive, he likes to compete in that sense."
Dussel (2-3) struck out 52 and walked 25 in 44⅔ innings, with a 3.45 ERA.
"He never pitched before last year," Bomer said. "His willingness to try something new; he went 8-1. He was No. 1 most of the year. That means Calvert, New Riegel, Hopewell-Loudon. It's tough. He always has to fight and he gives us a chance."
He struck out five and walked two while allowing an unearned run and five hits on 72 pitches in a 1-0 complete game setback to Oak Harbor in a Division III sectional final.
"That was my best outing of the year," he said. "Maybe my best ever. It's about getting my curve to work; there have been outings I struggled. It felt great from warmups. I was getting guys guessing. I was confident."
The cat and mouse game is different for Dussel, he knows it from both sides.
"As a baserunner, I know what I don't want a pitcher to do," he said. "Quick to home. Slide step. Mix it up for timing. Toy with them a little. Fake to second (base) can be good."
Some catchers make it hard to steal. Some pitchers make it easy.
"It could be a top catcher in the area," Dussel said. "It depends on the pitcher. If he's got that leg kick, I'm taking off. Is the pitcher a one-looker? I'll take my chances. Watch that first leg on a righty. Does he have a quality move (to first base)?
"It's about timing and getting a quick jump."
Dussel, who plans to study business administration, continues his career at Heidelberg as a position player.
"The coaches are awesome," he said. "It's nice and close to home. Throughout high school, I didn't want this to be my last year. It's awesome to see guys continue to play and there aren't many from my school to do it. I want to prove we can.
"Same thing with the records. It's possible. Give the young guys something to work for."
mhorn@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Lakota's Dussel loves the hustle, runs into Ohio high school baseball history
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