10-K outing leads to another UECU Pitcher of the Week award for Matt VanOstenbridge
Wilson’s Matt VanOstenbridge calls his big-breaking curveball “The Hammer.”
The left-hander used it effectively last week to nail down an 11-2 victory over Exeter, a game which saw him strike out 10 batters and allow just four hits, all singles.
“That’s what we expect out of him every time,” Bulldogs coach Bill Underwood said. “That’s big expectations, but that’s what we needed today. We needed a big pitching performance because we knew that with Deven (Sheerin) on the mound we were going to have to keep it close. He did that for us today.”
VanOstenbridge, who ended the game with three straight 1-2-3 innings, has been named Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.
The junior fell behind after giving up a pair of fourth-inning runs but made some adjustments and finished strong.
“I lost feel (of my curveball) a little bit (in the fourth),” said Van Ostenbridge. “I just needed to come back (after that), attack with the fastball, throw strikes. We had a big bottom of the fourth; that was big for us.”
VanOstenbridge’s slider is much improved this season and he used it effectively with his curve to keep the Exeter hitters off balance.
“The difference between good games and bad games is being able to land both pitches for strikes,” VanOstenbridge said.
“It’s not often (you can) throw both offspeed pitches for strikes,” Underwood said. “He’s doing a real good job of advancing his game with more pitches.”
VanOstenbridge has struck out 50 batters over 32 2/3 innings this season, with just eight walks. He ranks third in Berks in strikeouts, third with 32 2/3 innings pitched and is among the league leaders with a 2.57 ERA. He has allowed just 20 hits.
The Bulldogs saw late last season they’d have a true No. 1 on the mound coming into this season. VanOstenbridge, then a sophomore, threw a four-hit shutout in the opening round of the District 3 Class 6A playoffs as the Bulldogs knocked out fifth-seeded Dallastown.
He went 4-2 in 12 appearances with a 1.46 ERA as a sophomore. He was second on the team with 57 strikeouts, over 38 1/3 innings.
He was named a preseason underclass All-American by PerfectGameUSA and is getting interest from Division I programs such as Penn State, Kent State, Kansas State and Boston College.
VanOstenbridge was named Pitcher of the Week earlier this season after throwing a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 9-2 win over Twin Valley on April 5.
VanOstenbridge is the fifth Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week this season. Players considered for UECU Union Pitcher of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by MikeDragoSports.com.
Also nominated for Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week:
- Parker Nein, Berks Catholic
- Aidan Hall, Brandywine Heights
- Eli Rhoads, Daniel Boone
- Bryce Detwiler, Gov. Mifflin
- Matt Remick, Kutztown
- Drew Fidler, Muhlenberg
Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week earlier this season:
- April 3: Deven Sheerin, Exeter
- April 10: Matt VanOstenbridge, Wilson
- April 17: Ethan Grim, Gov. Mifflin
- April 24: Carson Renner
Selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week last season:
- April 4: Tristan Baer, Hamburg
- April 11: Alexander Velez, Gov. Mifflin
- April 18: Cole Leaman, Wilson
- April 25: Tristan Baer, Hamburg
- May 2: Matt Kramer, Wyomissing
- May 9: Luke Macdonald, Oley Valley
- May 16: Luke Macdonald, Oley Valley
- May 23: Rueben Livingston, Wilson
