Tristan Baer of Hamburg is UECU Pitcher of the Week
Tristan Baer had a strong junior season on the mound for Hamburg, striking out 43 batters over 35 innings. Few noticed because he was pitching behind All-Berks pick and pro prospect Hunter Shuey.
The right-hander has become the Hawks’ big-game pitcher this season and has raised the level of his game accordingly.
Baer earned a pair of key wins last week, beating Berks League Division III rival Oley Valley and Berks IV-leading Kutztown to earn Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week honors.
“He was pretty good for us last year,” said Hamburg coach Nick Evangelista, “we just happened to have another really good guy in front of him. He’s definitely improved (this season). He’s got more velocity on his fastball, his breaking pitch is better, he’s able to use his change-up when needed.”
Overall, Baer is 5-1 with a 1.01 ERA and 62 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings. He has allowed just 17 hits. He has a pair of one-hitters and a two-hitter.
Last week he allowed one hit over five innings in a 13-1 rout of Oley, then struck out 11 over five innings in a 7-3 win over Kutztown.
“We weren’t planning to, (but) we were able to bring him back on Saturday (against Kutztown) because he kept his pitch count down against Oley,” Evangelista said. “He works very hard in between starts to be able to recover and be at full strength for the next start. It’s a nice bonus when we score runs like (we did against Oley); we stole an extra start of him.”
The Hawks enter the week in first place in Berks III, where they’re 5-2 in league play. Berks Catholic and Oley Valley are each 4-2, half a game back; Wyomissing is 4-3, one game back. Hamburg plays at Oley Wednesday and against Wyomissing at Owl’s Field Friday.
Baer was an all-division pick last season, when he posted a 2.40 ERA and allowed 21 hits over 35 innings. He also batted a team-best .397 and had a team-high 24 RBIs.
His stuff has been better this season, Evangelista said, but so too has been his understanding of pitching.
“His command (of the strike zone) and his ability to understand the game plan and how to get guys out has tremendously improved,” he said.
Baer is the fourth Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week this season, and the first pitcher to be named twice. He also received the honor after the first full week of play, on April 4.
Players considered for UECU Union Pitcher of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or byMikeDragoSports.com.
Also nominated for Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week:
- Derek Brynildsen, Berks Catholic
- Aidan Hall, Brandywine Heights
- Matt Novotny, Gov. Mifflin
- Grant Fitzgerald, Kutztown
- Owen Rhoads, Twin Valley
- Cole Leaman, Wilson
- Matt Kramer, Wyomissing
Previously selected as Utilities Employees Credit Union Pitcher of the Week:
- April 4: Tristan Baer, Hamburg
- April 11: Alexander Velez, Gov. Mifflin
- April 18: Cole Leaman, Wilson
