ZS: Which aspects were most pivotal in neutralizing Frederick CC’s bats during a recent 8-1 victory? Which pitches were instrumental in keeping them off-balanced throughout?
DH: I think the essential ingredient in keeping them off balance was throwing a lot of two-seam fastballs low and a lot of change ups and cutters to keep them off balance and really slow the pace of the game down. Offensively my guys were really effective and it allowed me to dig in and really work.
ZS: How would you depict the recovery and bounce back process after a nagging injury? What have you done in particular that’s helped you return to prime form following a sabbatical?
DH: The recovery process has been good and really what’s worked is my regimen of working with bands and weighted balls and doing a lot of cardio workouts. Running, doing strength and conditioning workouts and putting in a lot of labor with that has helped me get back to my prime just in time for fall ball.
ZS: What would you pinpoint as significant goals and aspirations for your (post graduate) season and ultimately what is it you hope to attain through this additional year of development?
DH: My goals this post grad season are to ratchet up my velocity to 85. Long term wise, I’m hoping to get to a school like Shippensburg University on full athletic scholarship. This would continue my dreams of playing baseball at the next level.
ZS: How do you describe the focus and the spirit of this team right now being a first-year program that’s looking to make a statement with some talented no highly-lauded prospects and also some guys who may be overlooked and could potentially ascend their stock in 2019? How has the meshing process gone?
DH: We are all extremely competitive. Our focus as a team right now is getting better every day. This runs hand in hand with our desire to get stronger and faster. We’ve been able to mesh by doing everything as a team and eating out on the weekends and really getting to know each other off the field. We like to buy into what the culture is here and it is predicated on thorough hard work. Coach (Todd) Weldon will always emphasize working hard everyday and trusting the process.
ZS: What type of pitcher would you envision yourself evolving into at the next level?
DH: Definitely a crafty left handed guy who can induce ground balls and fly balls and also get vital strikeouts when I need to.
