Stobert making most of chance
Alex Stobert admits he was humbled in his first season as a pitcher at Tallahassee Community College.
It may have been the best thing for the tall right-hander who had a storied high school pitching career at Knoch.
“I came in there, not with a big head, but confident,” Stobert said. “I got whacked around a little bit, but you push through it and learn from it.”
The Knoch graduate, who helped the Knights to a state championship during his junior year, was hoping to land a spot on the Butler BlueSox Prospect League roster this summer.
But he had to wait until mid-season to get the call.
“They talked to me a little bit before the season started,” Stobert said. “But they had a full roster. Then they had a few guys drafted and they went.”
Stobert pitched for a few other teams while biding his time, including Saxonburg in the Butler County legion league.
He got the call he was waiting for last week and joined Butler in Chillicothe.
He got the win Thursday against the Paints, going six strong innings, striking out four and giving up just two runs.
“It was good. I felt good,” Stobert said. “I knew a couple of the guys. It felt good playing for a hometown team.”
Stobert will get the start tonight when the BlueSox host Chillicothe.
After his first start against the Paints, Chillicothe manager Brian Bigam asked Butler manager Cody Herald just where he dug up Stobert.
“I told him he was right in our backyard,” Herald said. “He's like 10 minutes away. He's a good pitcher. He really is.”
Stobert, though, admitted he had to better learn his craft in Tallahassee this spring.
“The biggest thing being in college for a year was learning how to be a real pitcher,” Stobert said. “You can't blow anything by anybody. You have to learn how to outsmart the hitter in a sense and hit spots and really locate your pitches.”
Stobert throws a fastball, slider and change-up.
Herald said Stobert's slider is what sets him apart.
“He throws it a lot and it's his best pitch,” Herald said. “He changes a lot of swings with it.
“I honestly think he has the stuff to get to the next level,” Herald added. “He's still young. As he gets older he'll mature more than he already is, he'll understand more of the game, but he's a great pitcher and I'm happy we got him.”
Stobert said his main priority now is to just get better with each outing.
He said the off-days are key to that.
“I learned a lot about how to take care of myself better,” Stobert said. “The days leading up to your start, you have to prepare. I never really did that in high school — I just went out there and threw. You really take the off-days seriously.”
