Three weeks following a forgettable performance during a 12-4 loss to Hagerstown, Scotland Campus’ Class of 2019 RHP Sam Collier bounced back with his most notable performance of the season.
Collier turned in accurate account of himself against the same Hagerstown team that handed him a tough loss, helping pioneer the Knights to a 5-0 victory with his work on the hill.
Collier fanned seven, walked just one, yielded six hits, and squandered zero runs in seven innings. Scotland coasted to a 5-0 defeat of Hagerstown.
“I actually approached Coach (Todd) Weldon before the game and I told him ‘I’m going to redeem myself and I’m going to erase that last performance,” Collier said.
“I actually promised (Weldon) I would shut them out. That was my mindset heading into the game. My mental preparation and physical preparation put me in a better place between the ears. I wanted to make sure I could hone in and really string together some efficient innings.”
Yesterday, during the Knights thorough 12-6 win at Gettysburg College, Collier twirled three innings of shutout ball. The Western Australia native has adapted to a reliable starter’s role after working his way up from the bullpen.
Collier was quick to cite how his disappointing initial start against Hagerstown enabled him to take the necessary time to re-evaluate. The next day, after absorbing a shelling, Collier arrived at practice early and left late. He made sure to put in the extra and unrequired work, getting as many reps as possible.
And so Collier took the next start, against the same team, as a true test of his grit and mental moxie.
With an arsenal which included a changeup, sinker, cutter, and curveball, Collier was able to find his rhythm.
“My location was on point, I only gave up one walk and I threw about 85 percent strikes,” Collier said.
“I knew, heading into the performance that this was a high level team with a lot of guys capable of stringing together good at-bats. It was good run support, all the boys were putting together good at bats. Josue Cisnero and Lochlan Spinelli were able to really put a barrel on it and give me tremendous run support.”
On adjustments to the American Game
Understanding the American style of baseball, I’ve developed a greater grasp for the mental side of it all. The weather has been a bit of adjustment because I’m coming from a place (Perth, Australia) where the weather is constantly cranked up to 100+ degrees.
So, I had to learn how to deal with the elements especially with it being snowing at the start of the season. For the first time in my life, I learned how to pitch through freezing conditions. Unless you attend school in California or Florida or Arizona, the weather is a huge component that every pitcher coming from a place like I do must adjust to.
On the Recruitment Process
Mercyhurst Northeast and Hagerstown CC have been most active in my recruitment. I have already visited Mercyhurst. They have a great campus, first rate facilities, the coaching staff is really amazing. The vibe I got from the players was positive and I knew they were workers and take pride in making each other better.
The coaching staff as a whole told me this is a place where I have the opportunity to get my work in and become a better student-athlete and a better baseball player. Hagerstown has reached out to coach Weldon following my most recent performance and there is intrigue. It’s only a half hour away from here and they have a great hitting team. They certainly know what they are doing, the pitching and the pitching staff is top notch.
On Team Camaraderie
It’s been really good. It has been easy because coach Todd has done an amazing job with helping me develop as a player and a person. On the mound, he’s allow me to improve both my mechanics and my location. He’s helped me find out who I am as a person and mature in that regard. He’s introduced me to a whole new lifestyle that entails sacrifice and hard work. Baseball here in the states, it is much more competitive. It is a harder working environment, but I feel I’ve adjusted quickly and I feel very comfortable in this situation.
On Preparation
I never had the sort of structure and discipline that we have here, getting up at 5am to work with coach Travis (Scott). In the winter, we have long intense warmups and work on stretching with bands. It’s a whole new mindset coming from Australia. I came here 180, but not a healthy 180. I was able to initially shed 15 pounds. Working with Travis, doing all the bench press, front squats, and back squats, as well box squats, I’ve managed to gain it back. I am currently at 182. It has definitely helped me prepare for what college is going to be like, it simulates that experience. I know that I am ready for any situation whatsoever.
On Scotland’s Recent Slew Of Commitments
Two months ago, we were nervous about the chances of getting scholarship offers and finding schools where would be able to play. We realized that recruitment is a process that you have to let play out and also trust. It’s been great seeing people I’ve become really close with sign with top notch colleges and see their success here translate on the field. They’ve taken their game to the point where college coaches are in heavy pursuit of them and really want them in their program. We’ve learned that scholarship offers are not going to be delivered overnight, the respect has to be earned.
It is our first year with this program. We realize we have to set an example and also be a great selling point for the future teams and show what this program is really capable of. I think all the college commitments are very indicative of just how hard we work on a day to day basis and how passionate we are about the game.
