ADAMS TWP — Most pitchers wanted nothing to do with JJ Wetherholt this past season.

The word was out on the young Mars shortstop. The scouting report on the sophomore read like a horror story to opposing hurlers.

“A number of them really tried hard to pitch around him,” said Mars baseball coach Andy Bednar.

Wetherholt shrugged that off. He looked for a fastball to hit early in counts. If that didn't come, he patiently waited for an offering to his liking.

If the pitcher was determined to walk him, he took the walk.

What resulted was an eye-opening season for Wetherholt, who batted .500 with 22 RBI despite pitchers trying everything they could to keep him from hurting them.

“I was pretty aggressive because I knew I was probably only going to get one or two pitches to hit,” Wetherholt said.

Bednar toyed with batting Wetherholt in the leadoff spot this season — a spot in the lineup where the left-handed hitter was most comfortable.

But Bednar instead moved the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Wetherholt down to third in the order to try to take advantage of his ability to drive in runs.

Wetherholt warmed to it throughout the course of the season.

“I don't really see myself as a No. 3 hitter,” Wetherholt said. “I've never been the biggest dude and I've always been the little leadoff hitter. I'm not a guy who's going to come up and hit a three-run homer. I'm a guy who is going to fight off pitches and battle. But it really helped me. I saw a lot more curveballs and that was something I didn't really see a lot of before.”

Wetherholt showed a keen ability to adapt and helped Mars advance to the WPIAL 5A semifinals, where the Planets lost to Shaler.

Mars was eventually eliminated in the consolation game by Franklin Regional.

Wetherholt has also had to adjust to a different position these least two seasons.

Growing up, Wetherholt was always a second baseman. But between his eighth- and ninth-grade years, he had a growth spurt. Coupled with work in the weight room, Wetherholt gained 11 mph on his throws from short to first.

“As a shortstop, you only have half the time that you have at second base,” Wetherholt said. “You have to make quick, good, hard throws.”

That's something that came almost naturally to Wetherholt, who has already committed to play college baseball at West Virginia University.

“More impressive was he came in as a freshman and has been our shortstop,” Bednar said. “His hands are probably the best we've ever had.”

Wetherholt's goal now is to get stronger and faster.

That means getting into the weight room, which isn't always easy with his hectic schedule.

Wetherholt also plays for the Beaver Valley Baseball travel team.

“I think there's definitely room for improvement,” Wetherholt said. “I still think I have work to do on defense and I want to get stronger and faster.”

Wetherholt started playing baseball when he was 4. But growing up he was torn between two sports.

Wetherholt was also a standout football player.

But he made a decision in elementary school that baseball was probably his best sport.

And the safest.

“I got really big into travel baseball and I didn't want to risk injury,” Wetherholt said. “I miss (football) a lot, but there's never been a time when I thought I need to go back. I'm happy with the decision I made.”