Making his pitch
BUTLER TWP — Colin McKee just wanted to pitch.
Desperately.
The Butler High graduate spent most of his freshman season at Mercyhurst College watching as others toed the rubber. He pitched just a third of an inning for the Lakers this spring.
In a short stint with the Butler BlueSox in the Prospect League, he managed to only log 1 1-3 innings on the mound.
“It was obviously a little bit disappointing (at Mercyhurst),” McKee said. “But we had some really good pitchers and a lot of them. There were 19 pitchers on the roster and I watched and learned a lot from them. I did my work, ironed out my mechanics and nailed down a good consistent arm slot. It was the best thing for me.”
But the desire to throw against live pitching was great this summer. Luckily for McKee, he’s gotten a chance to show off his electric stuff with Saxonburg in the Eagle County League.
In his two stints with Saxonburg, he has been dominant with a 4-0 record and a 0.58 ERA.
His secondary numbers are just as solid. He’s surrendered just eight hits in 24 innings pitched and had 38 strikeouts to go with 12 walks.
He is coming off a two-hit shutout Monday against one of the better hitting teams in the Eagle County League, Mars II.
“(Monday) was the best he’s been yet,” said Saxonburg manager Dan Cunnuingham, who has had his share of top hurlers in his time in the league. “He’s going to certainly help us down the stretch here and in the playoffs. He has a great attitude about baseball.”
McKee started his summer with Saxonburg at the urging of his former teammate at Butler, Mick Fennell, and was so dominant early that Cunningham suggested to BlueSox manager Anthony Rebyanski that McKee could help his club.
McKee joined the BlueSox, but saw little action. He said he and Rebyanski, who is also the pitching coach at Indiana (Pa.) University, discussed it and the decision was made for him to return to the Eagle County League.
“(Rebyanski) recruited me at IUP, he was the one who showed me around campus on my visit, so we have a pretty good relationship,” McKee said. “It was a mutual decision and I left on good terms. If things work out, I would love to pitch for the BlueSox next summer.”
For now, McKee is concentrating on his work with Saxonburg.
McKee is more fundamentally sound than he has ever been and that has helped his stuff.
He has developed a slider and a changeup to go with a live fastball and a curve.
And he likes being “the guy” again.
“It’s definitely a good feeling,” McKee said. “I’m pretty confident attacking the zone with my stuff. I’m pretty much going with the attitude of it’s my best against their best right now.”
His best has been better so far.
“I think with my cleaner arm slot and my more consistent, repeatable delivery, I’m a better pitcher. I’m just going to go back (to Mercyhurst) this fall and compete. The door is open for me there.”
