SAUGERTIES — Kyle DeGroat is well aware of those projections, and he doesn’t dismiss the possibility of himself being selected in the MLB draft this summer. There are “good things to come,” the Wallkill star said, be it the start of a professional baseball career or his enrollment at the University of Texas.
It’s all exciting, he acknowledged. But no more important than this quest to end his high school career on a high note.
“I have to stay focused in the now,” the superstar said. “I’m playing ball with my best friends, and that’s coming to an end soon, so I want to make the most of this. They’ll always get my best effort.”
Even if he isn’t feeling his best. DeGroat was under the weather Saturday, pitching while enduring weakness and dehydration. But even in his diminished form…
“Michael Jordan had the famous ‘Flu Game,’” Panthers coach TD Mills said, “and Kyle had the stomach bug game. He wasn’t feeling well, but he pushed through some discomfort, wanting to get it done for his teammates.”
The pitcher was ill, but his curveball was sick .
DeGroat dominated despite his reduced fastball velocity, allowing two hits and a run and striking out nine in a five-inning complete game as top-seeded Wallkill thumped Valley Central, 11-1, in the Section 9 Class AA final.
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Teammates picked him up, erupting for six runs in the fifth inning and forcing the game to end early via mercy rule. The offense saved DeGroat and this pitching staff two additional innings of work and allowed the ace to be better rested for the upcoming round. That, the right-hander said, "was awesome."
The Panthers (17-4) will again face Section 4’s Horseheads in a subregional Thursday, 3 p.m. at Cantine Field in Saugerties.
“They have almost their entire team back, which is kind of a benefit to us in preparation,” said Mills, whose team beat Horseheads 5-0 last season. “We’re gonna start working on a game plan Monday."
Jason Murphy drove in a run to put third-seeded Valley Central (10-9) on the board in the first inning, but Wallkill answered with four in the bottom of the frame. Sean Asendorf’s three-run triple put them ahead and set the tone.
“That was huge, especially since he was only cleared to come back three weeks ago,” Mills said of Asendorf, who spent the winter recovering from arm surgery. “He’s been very impactful.”
Jake Spindler was 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs for the Panthers. Chris Wager went 2-for-3, and Niko Mandich and Ryan Rauschenbach each drove in a run.
“None of our guys cheat the game, even throughout the offseason,” said DeGroat, whose team won the Class A section title last season. “These championships are a product of that constant work, so we’re proud of it.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Baseball: DeGroat, Asendorf lead Wallkill over Valley Central for Section 9 Class AA title
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