Falcons sporting 1-2 punch
FOXBURG — For the better part of three years, Allan Eaton has been trying to coax his arm into action.
A dominating pitcher with electric stuff, the only thing slowing the A-C Valley junior's ascent into stardom has been the tinges of pain in his powerful arm.
"I used to love baseball since the Little League," said Eaton, who was on an A-C Valley District 25 championship team. "I've always loved to pitch, to be in control with the ball in my hand. Not doing that — it's not the same."
Eaton threw just 12 innings last season, but this year, those arm problems appear to be a thing of the past.
That's not good news for the rest of the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and District 9.
Eaton is throwing pain free now and mowing batters down at a prodigious rate.
In 17 2/3 innings pitched this season, Eaton has struck out 29 and walked just three. He has posted a 1.98 ERA while pitching in the bandbox that is the Falcons' home field. Opponents are hitting a mere .230 off of him.
It's just like old times for Eaton, a 6-foot-6 beast on the hill.
"It's bringing back a lot of great memories of when I could pitch and pitch and pitch," Eaton said. "I used to pitch all the time."
A-C Valley coach John Irwin has purposely held Eaton back this season, waiting to spring him on unwitting opponents late in the season and in the playoffs — a place the Falcons are most assuredly heading with an 8-4 record in the KSAC.
Eaton struck out 10 in a 111-pitch complete game last week against Karns City. It was his first win of the season.
"I've been trying to keep his innings low," Irwin said. "I've been babying him."
Eaton was fine with that. Playing first base most of the time, the lefty swinger is batting at a .512 clip this season.
But being on the mound is where Eaton feels most at home. With a fastball that touches the mid-80s, a cutter and a fluttering knuckleball, he has been a nightmare to opposing batters.The knuckleball especially gives hitters fits in combination with his 85 mph fastball."I try not to slow my arm motion when I throw it," Eaton said. "When I throw a good one, the batters literally triple clutch. You try not to laugh."Eaton may not be the Falcons' most valuable pitcher.That honor may belong to junior Cole Smith. A left-hander, Smith leads the team with a 5-1 record and a 1.57 ERA.In 35X\c innings, Smith has struck out 56. Opponents are batting .204 against him.Unlike Eaton, Smith doesn't overpower hitters. He frustrates them with a 70 mph fastball and a sweeping curveball that he throws with precision."Cole came into the season as my No. 5," Irwin said. "Now he is my No. 1. I kind of lucked into Cole. Last year, he only threw a wee bit. He never really had confidence, but he worked hard on locating his pitches and hitting his spots, keeping guys off balance and now he's been great for us."Smith said it took him two or three starts before he realized he had turned the corner."It makes me feel pretty good to be able to pitch so well," Smith said. "I worked on my motion. I have more control now."A-C Valley could be a dangerous team come playoff time with Eaton and Smith available to Irwin.The duo are about as different as they come on the mound."I'm very confident in Allan and his pitching," Smith said. "I'm feeling confident, too. We could be a pretty good 1-2 punch."That is what Irwin is counting on.With an offense that is averaging nearly six runs per game, A-C Valley may not need dominating pitching performances every game.But Irwin will take it."I'm just as happy as all get out," Irwin said. "With Allan and Cole, and how different they are — it's pretty exciting to think about what we can do in the playoffs."
