The RoundHouse | 5/10/2024 10:42:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Pitcher Tommy LaPour does his most important work one day each week as one of Wichita State's starting pitchers. He did that job well on Friday.
 
That leaves three or four other days to help the Shockers and his role should not go unnoticed when he uses his big voice to keep the dugout focused and alive with chatter, goofy rituals and a lively presence.
 
"Tommy, he's always a great teammate, and when he's not pitching, he's always the best teammate in the dugout," freshman shortstop Kam Durnin said.
 
LaPour, a freshman from Blue Springs, Mo., is one of the loudest Shockers and one of the leaders of dugout energy. Dugout energy is a big topic for the Shockers as they continue to put April struggles behind them and use May to move up the American Athletic Conference standings.
 
"It's May," coach Brian Green said. "April is over. We're still standing here. We're still in the middle of the race. Let's focus on May and how are we going to be great in May. It's going to start with our dugout energy and it's going to start with being positive with everything we do."
 
 

Just a kid from Camdenton 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gUlqcZ9eA8

— Wichita State Baseball (@GoShockersBSB) May 11, 2024

 
 
On Friday, the Shockers defeated Charlotte 2-1 at Eck Stadium to win their third straight game and move into a tie for third place in the American. WSU (25-26, 11-11 American) is tied with Charlotte (22-28, 11-11).
 
LaPour held Charlotte to one hit – a solo home run – over six innings. Hunter Holmes held that one-run lead for 2 2/3 innings before Nate Adler got the final out. Durnin hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his sixth of the season and fourth in the past nine games.
 
May is already a lot better than April, when the Shockers lost eight of nine to end the month. WSU is 3-2 in May after winning the series at second-place UTSA last weekend.
 
"The energy died," Durnin said. "We are a high-energy group, so if you get that in the dugout it helps. We feed off that. We got a little bit of that back at UTSA. We said, 'Enough is enough.' We spoke it into existence."
 
Dugout energy takes a lot of voices. LaPour is one of the loudest. He and first baseman Ryan Callahan organize the juice inning rituals to up the energy. LaPour leads a blacksmith chant.
 
"It sounds silly, but it's our thing," LaPour said. "It's from a video. It keeps the guys engaged."
 
That engagement – goofy or not – is how LaPour contributes on days he doesn't pitch.
 
"You've got to do your part," LaPour said. "I'm a very high-energy, loud guy. I try and bring energy and pick up the guys. Bring juice."
 
LaPour walked five and struck out three but didn't let the 49ers take advantage of the walks.
 
"He continues to get better and continues to get older on the mound," Green said. "He's turning into a real Shocker on the mound."
 
While the demands of the season can grind down freshmen, Green points out several of his – including LaPour and Durnin – are on an upswing. Green credits proper rest, nutrition, and weights with keeping them in a good place.
 
"Those are the guys you tend to see getting better," Green said. "(LaPour) is working like a pro. We had five freshmen on the field on a Friday night in a must-win game. A lot of our freshmen have done a really good job."
 
That Green can point to a must-win game demonstrates how balanced the AAC race is. While first-place ECU is clearly the conference's top team, the Shockers can take aim at UTSA (14-8 in the conference). Six teams own 10 or 11 conference wins.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.