Brian Warheit doesn't blow people away with his fastball.

He doesn't bend knees with his breaking pitches and he doesn't intimidate hitters with filthy stuff.

All the 6-foot-3 right-hander does, though, is get people out.

He did it at Butler High School and at Seton Hill University. And he did it last summer with the Butler BlueSox in the Prospect Collegiate League.

He's back with Butler again this season, looking to take one more big step forward heading into his senior year at Seton Hill.

"Brian does what he does, man," said BlueSox manager Jason Wuerfel. "He mixes his pitches, he hits his spots. As a hitter, when you are always 0-and-1, it makes it tough to hit. You know the ball is going to be around the plate, but you don't know what location, what pitch."

Warheit has made his living working on the corners. He has command of three pitches — a two-seam fastball, hard slider and changeup — and has been amazingly consistent at all of his stops in his career.

This year at Seton Hill, he emerged as the Griffins' No. 1 starter. He led the team with seven wins and posted a 3.27 ERA.

In 74 innings pitched, he struck out 50 and only walked 15.

Last summer with the BlueSox, his numbers were almost identical. He posted a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA and walked just 12 batters in 63 innings pitched.

Warheit works fast and works efficiently.

"Unlike a lot of pitchers who are developing in this age range, Brian can throw the ball where he wants," Wuerfel said. "When you have a pitcher who can throw the ball where he wants, he can throw 60 mph and he's going to be tough to hit."

Part of the reason for Warheit's success is he knows who he is.

He doesn't try to overpower hitters.

"The key to my game is hitting spots," Warheit said. "I don't strike that many guys out. I just try to keep them off-balance and get them to hit weak ground balls."

That strategy has served Warheit well.

In his first start with the BlueSox this season, he made just two mistakes that led to three earned runs and was hurt by errors that led to two more.

Still, he pitched well enough to keep his team in the game in a 6-5 loss to Chillicothe.

Monday night, he allowed just two runs in five innings' work in a 4-2 loss to Slippery Rock, receiving a no-decision.

Warheit has plenty more opportunities to hone his skills this summer with the BlueSox.

Coming back to the team this year after his experience last season was a no-brainer.

"I had a great time last year," Warheit said. "It's good, competitive baseball, and I love playing in front of the fans. It's close to home. I can't complain."

"I'm learning something new every day."

One of the things Warheit is hoping to learn this summer is a fourth pitch.

Warheit is trying to get a feel for a curveball to add to the three solid pitches he has already.

"During school ball, my slider was real good," Warheit said. "The main thing I'm working on this summer is my curveball."

Warheit said it is a work in progress. He tried to throw the pitch several times in his first start, but was unable to master the feel for the pitch.

"Once I find the grip and release point that is comfortable, it won't take very long," Warheit said. "That's the problem right now. I found the grip, but I haven't found the release point to be consistent. Once that's found, I should have it for the rest of the summer."

Warheit admitted he struggled with the feel of his secondary pitches in his first start this season.

But that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Part of being a successful pitcher, Warheit said, is learning to get outs when the stuff just isn't there.

"Summer ball, it's a great time in a tough situation to throw a pitch you are struggling with," Warheit said. "It's a great time to learn how to work though that stuff. It will make you better."