The RoundHouse | 9/13/2021 11:27:00 AM
Wichita State's
Seth Stroh came to college after multi-sport career in high school and as someone who wanted to pitch and play a position.
That is a lot to take on for relatively inexperienced baseball player. Stroh learned a lot and worked his way into the starting lineup, mostly in center field. When he looks back on the experience, he realizes he could have learned a little more about honing his swing, crafting a batting stance and all the intricacies of baseball as a full-time pursuit.
"What I didn't do is ask enough questions – be ready to learn and ask questions," he said. "Constantly be ready to learn. I didn't know a whole lot about baseball, so I wanted to understand everything."
The Shockers are back in learning mode this fall. On Monday, they get to test that knowledge against Cowley College (3 p.m.) in a scrimmage at Eck Stadium. They also play Team Canada (Sept. 27), a touring team of high school athletes, and at Nebraska (Oct. 2) before the five-game Fall World Series begins Oct. 9.
Wichita State returns seven position players who started 20 or more games in 2021, including All-American Athletic Conference first baseman
Garrett Kocis. Freshman All-American pitcher
Jace Kaminska and standout relievers
LJ McDonough and
Ryan Stuempfig lead the staff.
That leaves room for new faces in the lineup and rotation and coaches believe this roster is deeper than last season and getting bigger, stronger and faster as a whole.
Scrimmages such as Monday's give coaches a chance to evaluate newcomers such as two-way freshman Payton Tolle, transfer shortstop Sawyre Thornhill and infielder Xavier Casserilla, who was drafted in the 20
th round by St. Louis in July. They can also see how returners such as Stroh progress as they attempt to maintain their spots in the lineup.
"We'll see how our guys handle different competition," assistant coach
Mike Sirianni said. "It will be good to see kids put in spots in an actual game, instead of practice. Young guys, new guys – it's always huge to see them in a different scenario."
Stroh started 36 games last season, 26 in center and 10 in right field. He hit .231 with four double, four triples and three home runs. He found a groove over the season's final 15 games and hit .311 with two home runs, three doubles and three triples.
"He matured a lot," Sirianni said. "It was hard coming from small-town Nebraska baseball to playing in a very competitive baseball conference at a high level. He handled it well. He didn't get overwhelmed."
Stroh dropped pitching in the fall, which gave him more practice using his speed and strength at the plate and in the outfield. The solid end to the season gave him a blueprint for going forward.
"Like the coaches say, it's just being on time," he said. "Having a mind-set of going in there to attack early and attack hard. You want to be on time, be in rhythm."
Stroh played in the Northwoods League over the summer. Every at-bat, every hit and every strikeout add to his knowledge, which coach
Eric Wedge knows is critical.
"Playing every day, that's a learning experience, grinding through that," Wedge said. "We've already seen early this fall that's going to make a difference for him. I like him being on time. I like him barreling up the baseball. He's so athletic and so strong, the ball is going to carry."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
