Sturdy and steady
CALIFORNIA, Pa. — When it came time to declare a position as a 12-year-old baseball player, Justin Stewart went for it.
Nearly a decade later, he’s still reaping the benefits of that decision.
“Our coach was asking us what position we wanted to play and nobody wanted to play catcher,” the Butler graduate said. “I thought it (catching) was interesting, so I decided to try it.
“I’ve never left it.”
Stewart went on to become a team captain on the Butler High School baseball team. Now a senior at Califiornia (Pa.) University, he is hitting .303 with three homers and 16 RBI for the PSAC West-contending Vulcans in his third year as a starter.
“He is simply dependable back there,” Califirnia coach Mike Conte said. “He started 16 games for us as a freshman. I can catch him in both ends of doubleheaders on consecutive days and he’s fine with it.
“Justin is a wizard defensively. He always has been. With experience, he excels at the plate now. He’s one of those guys we can count on, day in and day out.”
Stewart caught all four games of California’s last two weekend PSAC West twinbills against Mercyhurst and Indiana (Pa.). His on-base percentage is at .410 this season and he’s collected seven doubles.
He’s even seven for nine on stolen base attempts.
“I’ve never really had any type of significant injury,” Stewart said. “It would take a lot to get me to come out of a game or miss a game. Baseball’s always been my No. 1 game.”
It hasn’t always been his only game.
Also a wrestler in high school, Stewart won approximately 60 matches for the Golden Tornado. He wrestled from third grade all the way through high school.
“A lot of my flexibilitry and agility, physical toughness, I owe to wrestling,” Stewart said. “That sport made my body feel comfortable being uncomfortable. It taught me how to stay in shape and be durable as an athlete.”
Conte appreciates that toughness.
“I never have to worry about him being ready,” the coach said. “He is always in shape, always consditioned ... I know I can put him out there virtually every game and he can physically handle it. Justin is a tremendous athlete, a strong young man.”
After hitting .292 with four doubles his freshman year, Stewart slipped to .167 at the plate his sophomore season. Last year was lost to COVID-19.
“I had to learn to swing naturally, hit line drives,” he said. “When I first got to college, I saw our upperclassmen hitting home runs and I wanted to be one of those guys. It took me a while to trust my swing and allow the power to come naturally.”
He plans to take advantage of the NCAA granting athletes another year of eligibility due to the COVID year. Stewart will graduate in early May with a degree in criminal justice. He will play baseball for the Vulcans again next spring while pursuing a second degree, this one in physical education.
“My dream job is to become a federal agent,” Stewart said. “The physical education degree will be something to fall back on if my first choice of career doesn’t work out. I’m expanding my education while I can.”
His baseball goals remain the same: Just win.
“One championship at a time,” Stewart said. “Win the PSAC West championship, then the PSAC title, the regional and hopefully a national championship. That’s what we’re all playing for.”
